© Oxford University Press

© Oxford University Press

• what the subject does

Passive voice

Active voice

• what happens to the

subject

© Oxford University Press

it is obvious who

does the action

Passive voice

© Oxford University Press

Example:

The thief was arrested

last night.

© Oxford University Press

we do not know or

cannot remember

who does the action

Passive voice

© Oxford University Press

Example:

My wallet was stolen.

© Oxford University Press

we think the action

is more important

than the person

who does it

Passive voice

© Oxford University Press

Example:

The first 30-hour fast

was organized in 1971.

© Oxford University Press

How do we form

the passive voice?

© Oxford University Press

Example:

They built this house in 1988.

verb to be

This house was built in 1988.

+ past participle

© Oxford University Press

This house was built by them

in 1988.

This house was built in 1988.

Mention the

doer with by

© Oxford University Press

Passive voice in

different tenses

© Oxford University Press

Tense Active voice Passive voice

Simple present do/does am/are/is done

Present

continuousam/are/is doing am/are/is being done

Simple past did was/were done

Past

continuouswas/were doing was/were being done

Simple future shall/will do shall/will be done

Passive voice in different tenses

© Oxford University Press

Questions in the

passive voice

© Oxford University Press

Tense Question in the passive voice

Simple presentAm/Are/Is + subject +

past participle?

Present continuousAm/Are/Is + subject + being +

past participle?

Simple pastWas/Were + subject +

past participle?

Past continuousWas/Were + subject + being +

past participle?

Simple futureShall/Will + subject + be +

past participle?

Yes/No questions

© Oxford University Press

Tense Answer in the passive voice

Simple present

Yes/No, + the subject + am/are/is (not).Present

continuous

Simple past

Yes/No, + the subject + was/were (not).Past

continuous

Simple future Yes/No, + the subject + shall/will (not).

Yes/No questions

© Oxford University Press

Example:

Is the magic show

being held today?

Yes, it is.

© Oxford University Press

Example:

Will the meeting be

held next Monday?

No, it won’t.

© Oxford University Press

Tense Question in the passive voice

Simple presentWh-word + am/are/is + subject +

past participle?

Present continuousWh-word + am/are/is + subject +

being + past participle?

Simple pastWh-word + was/were + subject +

past participle?

Past continuousWh-word + was/were + subject +

being + past participle?

Simple futureWh-word + shall/will + subject + be

+ past participle?

Wh-questions

© Oxford University Press

Example:

When were the thieves

arrested?

They were arrested

last night.

© Oxford University Press

Example:

What were they seen

to be doing?

They were seen

breaking open a door.

© Oxford University Press

Passive voice

© Oxford University Press

It focuses on the receiver,

not the doer, of an action.

© Oxford University Press

How do we form

the passive voice?

© Oxford University Press

verb to be +

past participle

of the main verb

© Oxford University Press

Images provided by Dreamstime.com and EmojiOne