Passive voice

Meaning

Passive voice is a voice that indicates that the subject is the patient or recipient of the action denoted by the verb.

Form

The pasive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active verb and adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes ‘agent’ of the passive verb. The agent is very often mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by and placed at the end of the clause

When do we use passive voice?• When we want to change the focus of the sentence

• When who or what causes the action is unknown or unimportant or obvious or 'people in general‘

• In factual or scientific writing

• In formal writing instead of using someone/ people/ they (these can be used in speaking or informal writing)

• In order to put the new information at the end of the sentence to improve style

• When the subject is very long

How to make a passive:

To make a passive sentence you need to start with object first and then use the be form of the verb (depending on the tense) and then add a past participle. If we want to say who or what performs the action, we use the preposition by:

object + be + past participle + by

Present tense

Structure :

Subject + to be (is, am, are) + past participle

Past tense

Structure :

Subject + to be (was, were) + past participle

Simple Future:

Structure :

Subject + will be + past participle

Example of Present Perfect:

Structure :

Subject + have/has been + past participle

Past Perfect

Structure :

Subject + had been + past participle

Past Perfect Continuous

Structure :

Subject + had been being + past participle

Example of Future Continuous (Will):

Structure :

Subject + will be being + past participle

Example of Future Continuous (Going to):

Structure :

Subject + to be (is, am, are) + going to be being + past participle

Example with Modal Verb:

Structure :

Subject + modal verb + be + past participle

- object of the "active" sentence becomes subject in the "passive" sentence

- subject of the "active" sentence becomes "object" in the "passive" sentence" (or is left out)

$FWLYH 3HWHU EXLOGV DKRXVH

3DVVLYH $KRXVH LVEXLOW E\ 3HWHU

Changes in the sentence:

Passive with get

• The word “get” is sometimes used instead of be to form the passive. In such cases, get indicates a change in status or condition.

• Examples :

I got sick after eating the red meat

They will get married tomorrow

He got killed in the accident

Some verbs cannot be used in passive form• Come example :

• Die John came to the meeting

• Go John was come to the meeting (incorrect)

• Happen

• Itch

• Occur

• Rain

• Rise

• Walk

1. Active: Anne writes a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by Anne.

2. Active: Anne wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Anne.

3. Active: Anne has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Anne.

4. Active: Anne will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Anne.

5. Active: Anne has to write a letter.

Passive: A letter has to be written by Anne.

5 Examples:

Exercises

Make passive sentence!

1) the picture / draw (Simple Present) 

2) the door / close (Simple Past) 

3) the window / break (Simple future)

4) the house / steal (Present Continuous) 

5) the bike / repair (Past Continuous) 

6) the room/ clean (Present Perfect) 

7) the homework / do (Past perfect) 

1) the picture / draw (Simple Present)  The picture is drawn

2) the door / close (Simple Past)  The door was closed

3) the window / break (Simple future) The window will be broken

4) the house / steal (Present Continuous)  The house is being stolen

5) the bike / repair (Past Continuous)  The bike was being repaired

6) the room/ clean (Present Perfect)  The room has been cleaned

7) the homework / do (Past perfect)  The homework had been done

Answers

Thank You :*