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• what the subject does
Passive voice
Active voice
• what happens to the
subject
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it is obvious who
does the action
Passive voice
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Example:
The thief was arrested
last night.
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we do not know or
cannot remember
who does the action
Passive voice
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Example:
My wallet was stolen.
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we think the action
is more important
than the person
who does it
Passive voice
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Example:
The first 30-hour fast
was organized in 1971.
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How do we form
the passive voice?
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Example:
They built this house in 1988.
verb to be
This house was built in 1988.
+ past participle
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This house was built by them
in 1988.
This house was built in 1988.
Mention the
doer with by
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Passive voice in
different tenses
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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
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Questions in the
passive voice
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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
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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
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Example:
Is the magic show
being held today?
Yes, it is.
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Example:
Will the meeting be
held next Monday?
No, it won’t.
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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
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Example:
When were the thieves
arrested?
They were arrested
last night.
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Example:
What were they seen
to be doing?
They were seen
breaking open a door.
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Passive voice
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It focuses on the receiver,
not the doer, of an action.
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How do we form
the passive voice?
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verb to be +
past participle
of the main verb
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