PASSIVE VOICE

The passive is formed by be + a verb ending in ed (past participle or an irregular past

participle). In a passive sentence, the object of an active verb becomes the subject of the
passive verb. The passive is used when the person or the thing done is more important, or
when the agent who did the action is not known.

RECOGNIZE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MEANINGS

ACTIVE MEANINGS PASSIVE MEANING

We mailed the package at the post office The package was mailed by us today
TO BE V3

*PASSIVE SENTENCE: TO BE + V3
The subject does the action of the verb The subject receives the action of the verb

Active: archeologists discovered the ruins.

Passive: the ruins were discovered by archeologists.
The following table shows how to form the passive.

Active Voice Passive Voice

1. The flame opens the Games. The games are opened by the flame.
2. The flame opening the Games. The games are being opened by the flame.
3. The flame has opened the Games. The games have been opened by the flame.
4. The flame opened the Games. The games were opened by the flame.
5. The flame was opening the Games. The games were being opened by the flame.
6. The flame had opened the Games. The games had been opened by the flame.
7. The flame will open the Games. The games will be opened by the flame.
8. The flame is going to open the Games. The games are going to be opened by the
9. The flame will have opened the Games. flame.
The games will have been opened by the
flame.

1. Present Tense
 Active : S + V1 + O
Passive : O + tobe (is/am/are) + V3 + by +
S

Example:
She reports them to the security.
They are reported by her to the security

2. Past Tense

Active : S + V2 + O
Passive : O + tobe (was/were) + V3 + by + S

Example:
They invited her to the party.
She was invited by them to the party

3. Present Continuous

Active : S + tobe (is/am/are) + Ving + O

Passive : O + tobe (is/am/are) + being + V3 + by + S

Example:
I am checking the bills.
The bills are being checked by me.

4. Past Continuous

Active : S + tobe (was/were) + Ving + O

Passive : O + tobe (was/were) + being + V3 + by + S

Example:
We were negotiationg the cost
The cost were being negotiated by us.

5. Present Perfect
 Active : S + have/has + V3 + O
Passive : O + have/has + been + V3 + by + S

Example:
The Manager has signed up the agreements
The agreements have been signed off by the Manager

6. Past Perfect

Active : S + had + V3 + O
Passive : O + had + been + V3 + by + S

Example:
The Director had read the reports you submitted
The reports you submitted had been read by the Director

7. Future Tense

Active : S + will + V1 + O
Passive : O + will + be + V3 + by + S

Example:
The Staff will check the emails soon
The emails will be checked by the Staff soon

Active : S + tobe (is/am/are) + going to + V1 + O

Passive : O + tobe (is/am/are) + going to + be + V3 + by + S

Example:
The Staff is going to check the emails soon
The emails are going to be checked by the Staff soon

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. He opens the door.

___________________________________________________________________________

2. We are setting the table.

___________________________________________________________________________

3. They have paid a lot of money.

___________________________________________________________________________

4. I drew some pictures.

___________________________________________________________________________

5. She is going to wear blue shoes.

___________________________________________________________________________

6. Jo had not writen the letter.

___________________________________________________________________________

7. The police officer was interogating the thief.

___________________________________________________________________________