Passive voice

ACTIVE: John built this house in 1921.

PASSIVE: This house was built in 1921 (by John).

1. In which sentence are we more interested in:

a) the house?
b) John?

2. What is the subject in each sentence?

• In the active sentence we are more
interested in John (the person doing the
action - the doer), so we make him the
subject.

• In the passive sentence we are more

interested in the house, so we make it
the subject.
 OBJECT
• Active: John built this house in 1921.

Passive: The house was built in 1921.

SUBJECT
 PASSIVE OR ACTIVE?

We are more interested in the doer.

• PASSIVE
• ACTIVE
• We are more interested in the action/in what
happened to someone or something than in
who did the action.

• PASSIVE
• ACTIVE
We don’t know who does/did the action.

• PASSIVE
• ACTIVE
When it’s obvious who does/did the
action.

• PASSIVE
• ACTIVE
 PASSIVE OR ACTIVE?
The person doing the action is the subject.

• PASSIVE
• ACTIVE
We can use by to say who or what did the
action.

• PASSIVE
• ACTIVE
 How do we make it?
Present Simple
is
are + P.P.

Active: John eats an apple.

Passive: An apple is eaten.
Present Continuous
is being
are being + P.P

Active: John is eating an apple.

Passive: An apple is being eaten.
Present Perfect
has been
have been + P.P

Active: John has eaten an apple.

Passive: An apple has been eaten.
Past Simple
was
were + P.P

Active: John ate an apple.

Passive: An apple was eaten.
 Future Simple
will be + P.P

Active: John will eat an apple.

Passive: An apple will be eaten.
Modal verbs
Can / must / should  be + P.P

Active: John must eat an apple.

Passive: An apple must be eaten.
Be going to
be going to be + P.P

Active: John is going to eat an apple.

Passive: An apple is going to be eaten.