THE PASSIVE VOICE

PRESENT
PAST
FUTURE
PRESENT PERFECT
 What is the passive voice?
 In passive sentences, the subject receives
the action of the verb.
EXAMPLE:
The convicted person was taken to jail.
 EXAMPLES
 The passive voice is used frequently. (=
we are interested in the passive voice, not
who uses it.)
 The house was built in 1654. (= we are
interested in the house, not who built it.)
 The road is being repaired. (= we are
interested in the road, not who is fixing it.)
 FORMATION (PRESENT)
Subject + present form of the verb to be +
Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)

Charles writes a book.

A book is written by Charles.

Charles cleans the windows.

The windows are cleaned by Charles.
 ACTIVE PASSIVE
I write a book. A book is written by me.
You write a book. A book is written by you.
He writes a book. A book is written by him.

We write a book. A book is written by us.

You write a book. A book is written by you.
They write a book. A book is written by them.
 FORMATION (PAST)
Subject + past form of the verb to be +
Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)

Charles wrote a book.

A book was written by Charles.

Charles cleaned the windows.

The windows were cleaned by Charles
 ACTIVE PASSIVE
I wrote a book. A book was written by me
You wrote a book. A book was written by you
He wrote a book. A book was written by him

We wrote a book. A book was written by us.

You wrote a book. A book was written by you.
They wrote a book. A book was written by them.
 FORMATION (FUTURE)
Subject + will future form of the verb to be +
Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)

Charles will write a book.

A book will be written by Charles.

Charles will clean the windows.

The windows will be cleaned by Charles.
 ACTIVE PASSIVE
I will write a book. A book will be written by me
You will write a book. A book will be written by you
He will write a book. A book will be written by him

We will write a book. A book will be written by us.

You will write a book. A book will be written by you
They will write a book. A book will be written by them
 FORMATION
(PRESENT PERFECT)
 ACTIVE PASSIVE
A book has been written
I have written a book. by me.
You have written a A book has been written
book. by you.
He has written a book. A book has been written
by him.
We have written a book. A book has been written
by us.
You have written a A book has been written
book. by you.
They have written a A book has been written
book. by them.