Passives

Passives are used when: the doer is unknown

the doer is obvious
the doer is not the focus
Tense Active Passive
Present Simple
am/is/are
base verb(+s)
am/is/are + Past Participle
Malaysians celebrate Malaysia Day on
16
th
September.
Malaysia Day is celebrated on 16
th

September
Past Simple
was/were
base verb(+ed)
irregular verb
was/were + Past Participle
People built the pyramids thousands
of years ago.
The pyramids were built thousands of
years ago.
Present Perfect Simple
have/has + Past Participle have/has been + Past Participle
Jennifer Lopez has written many
songs.
Many songs have been written by
Jennifer Lopez.
Future Simple (will)
will + base verb will be + Past Participle
The government will make a new
highway next year.
A new highway will be made next
year.

Sentence:
active
doer verb receiver
Active: Malaysians celebrate Malaysia Day on 16
th
September.

Passive: Malaysia Day is celebrated by Malaysians on 16
th
September. (doer is obvious)
receiver passive doer
verb

Question:
active
aux. v. doer base v. receiver
Active: When do Malaysians celebrate Malaysia Day ?

Passive: When is Malaysia Day celebrated by Malaysians ? (doer is obvious)
passive receiver past doer
aux. v. participle
Passive Forms
Common
Tense Active Passive
Present Simple present verb am/is/are + Past Participle
Past Simple past verb was/were + Past Participle
Future Simple will will + be + Past Participle
Present Perfect Simple has/have + Past Participle has/have + been + Past Participle
Past Perfect Simple had + Past Participle had + been + Past Participle
Future Perfect Simple will have + Past Participle will have + been + Past Participle
Present Continuous am/is/are + Present Participle am/is/are + being + Past Participle
Past Continuous was/were + Present Participle was/were + being + Past Participle
Modals modal verb + base verb modal verb + be + Past Participle

Hardly used
Future Continuous will be + Present Participle will be + being + Past Participle
Present Perfect Continuous has/have + been + Present Participle has/have + been + being + Past Participle
Past Perfect Continuous had + been + Present Participle had + been + being + Past Participle
Future Perfect Continuous will have + been + Present Participle will have + been + being + Past Participle
Infinitive Continuous to + be + Present Participle to + be + being + Past Participle
Infinitive Perfect Continuous to have + been + Present Participle to have + been + being + Past Participle

Advanced
Infinitive to + base verb to + be + Past Participle
Gerund base verb + -ing being + Past Participle
Infinitive Perfect to have + Past Participle to have + been + Past Participle
Gerund Perfect having + Past Participle having + been + Past Participle