1

Active / Passive Overview

Tense Active Passive

Simple Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.
Present

Present Right now, Sarah is writing the letter. Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.
Continuou
s

Simple Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.

Past

Past The salesman was helping the The customer was being helped by the salesman
Continuou customer when the thief came into the when the thief came into the store.
s store.

Present Many tourists have visited that castle. That castle has been visited by many tourists.
Perfect

Present Recently, John has been doing the Recently, the work has been being done by John.
Perfect work.
Continuou
s

George had repaired many cars Many cars had been repaired by George before

Past
before he received his mechanic's he received his mechanic's license.
Perfect
license.

Past Chef Jones had been preparing the The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being
Perfect restaurant's fantastic dinners for two prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he
Continuou years before he moved to Paris. moved to Paris.
s

Simple Someone will finish the work by 5:00 The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
Future PM.
will

Simple Sally is going to make a beautiful A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally
Future dinner tonight. tonight.
be going
to 

Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being

Continuou washing the dishes. washed by John.
s
will

Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be
Continuou be washing the dishes. being washed by John.
s
be going to
 2

Future They will have completed the project The project will have been completed before the
Perfect before the deadline. deadline.
will

Future They are going to have The project is going to have been

Perfect completed the project before the completed before the deadline.
be going to deadline.

Future The famous artist will have been The mural will have been being painted by the
Perfect painting the mural for over six famous artist for over six months by the time it is
Continuou months by the time it is finished. finished.
s
will

Future The famous artist is going to have The mural is going to have been being
Perfect been painting the mural for over six painted by the famous artist for over six months
Continuou months by the time it is finished. by the time it is finished.
s
be going to

Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Would My mother would always make the The pies would always be made by my mother.

Always pies.

Future in I knew John would finish the work I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.
the Past by 5:00 PM.
Would

Future in I thought Sally was going to make a I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be

the Past beautiful dinner tonight. made by Sally tonight.
Was Going
to