Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Passive Voice Form and Examples

    Uploaded by

    Luisa
    6 views3 pages
    The document discusses the passive voice. The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action rather than the subject performing the action. It is sometimes used to avoid assigning blame. The passive is formed by using some form of "to be" plus the past participle of the main verb. When changing a sentence from active to passive voice, the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence. Examples are provided demonstrating how to change different verb tenses, such as simple present, past, future, etc., into the passive voice.

    Original Description:

    Use of passive

    Original Title

    Use of Passive

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    The document discusses the passive voice. The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action rather than the subject performing the action. It is sometimes used to avoid assigning blame. The passive is formed by using some form of "to be" plus the past participle of the main verb. When changing a sentence from active to passive voice, the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence. Examples are provided demonstrating how to change different verb tenses, such as simple present, past, future, etc., into the passive voice.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    6 views3 pages

    Passive Voice Form and Examples

    Uploaded by

    Luisa
    The document discusses the passive voice. The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action rather than the subject performing the action. It is sometimes used to avoid assigning blame. The passive is formed by using some form of "to be" plus the past participle of the main verb. When changing a sentence from active to passive voice, the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence. Examples are provided demonstrating how to change different verb tenses, such as simple present, past, future, etc., into the passive voice.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 3

    Use of Passive

    Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not
    known, however, who or what is performing the action.
    Example: My bike was stolen.
    In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not
    know, however, who did it.
    Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the
    following example shows:
    Example: A mistake was made.
    In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame
    anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

    Form of Passive
    Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
    Example: A letter was written.
    When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

    the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

    the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

    the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence
    (or is dropped)

    Examples of Passive

    Tense

    Simple Present

    Subject

    Active:
    Passive:

    Simple Past

    Active:
    Passive:

    Present Perfect

    Active:
    Passive:

    Future I

    Active:
    Passive:

    Hilfsverben

    Active:
    Passive:

    Verb

    Object

    writes

    a letter.

    is written

    by Rita.

    wrote

    a letter.

    A letter

    was written

    by Rita.

    Rita

    has written

    a letter.

    has been written

    by Rita.

    will write

    a letter.

    will be written

    by Rita.

    can write

    a letter.

    can be written

    by Rita.

    Rita
    A letter
    Rita

    A letter
    Rita
    A letter
    Rita
    A letter

    Examples of Passive

    Tense

    Present Progressive

    Subject

    Active:

    Rita

    Verb

    is writing

    Object

    a letter.

    Passive:
    Past Progressive

    Active:
    Passive:

    Past Perfect

    Active:
    Passive:

    Future II

    Active:
    Passive:

    Conditional I

    Active:
    Passive:

    Conditional II

    Active:
    Passive:

    A letter

    is being written

    by Rita.

    was writing

    a letter.

    was being written

    by Rita.

    had written

    a letter.

    A letter

    had been written

    by Rita.

    Rita

    will have written

    a letter.

    will have been written

    by Rita.

    would write

    a letter.

    would be written

    by Rita.

    would have written

    a letter.

    would have been written

    by Rita.

    Rita
    A letter
    Rita

    A letter
    Rita
    A letter
    Rita
    A letter

    You might also like