THE

PASSIVE
VOICE
 FORM

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE
(same verbal tense of the active sentence)

Columbus discovered America in 1492

America was discovered by Columbus in 1492

ACTIVE PASSIVE
Pres. Cont 🡪 is/are eating is/are being eaten

Pres. Perf. 🡪 has/have eaten has/have been eaten

Past S. 🡪 ate was/were eaten

Past Perf. 🡪 had eaten had been eaten

Will 🡪 will eat will be eaten

Going to 🡪 is/are going to eat is/are going to be eaten

Modals 🡪 can/must/should eat must/can/should be eaten

Intransitive verbs (take no object) 🡪 No passive! (die, sleep, swim)

 USE
■ To emphasize the action rather than who or what did it.
Thousands of phones are bought every day.

■ When the agent is unknown or not important.

Anne was given a kiss.
The house can be visited between 9 and 11 am.

■ In writing and formal speech, such as public information

(rules, signs, brochures …) and media reports.
Cycling is not permitted in this area.
Bookings can be made online.
A man has been arrested for the murder of a bus driver.
 By + agent

We omit it:

■Unknown
■Obvious / not important
■Don’t want to name it
 TWO OBJECTS

bring, give, ask, pay, sell, offer, owe, show, tell, send, lend, leave,
promise, take, teach, throw, write 🡪 DO + IO

They gave Susan a prize:

🡪 Susan was given a prize.

🡪 A prize was given to Susan.
 IMPERSONAL & INFINITIVE PASSIVE
(news reports)

Common verbs 🡪 believe, think, consider, say, report, know, expect, rumour…

IMPERSONAL 🡪 IT + BE (form) + Past Participle + that + sentence

Act 🡪 They say / think / know that he started the fire

Pas 🡪 It is said / believed / known that he started the fire.

INFINITIVE🡪 OBJECT/SUBJECT + BE (form) + Past Participle +

TO + INFINITIVE (PRESENT / PERFECT)

The thief is believed to have got away.

Sales are thought to be going up.
The shop is rumoured to be closing.
Shoplifters are reported to have been arrested.
 THE CAUSATIVE
HAVE / GET + OBJECT + Past Participle

❑Sb does a task for us

I have / get my grocery shopping delivered.

❑Sb does sth bad to us

I’ve had my FB account hacked.