https://www.ego4u.

com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Examples of Passive
Tense

Simple

Subject

Active:

Verb

Object

writes

a letter.

is written

by Rita.

wrote

a letter.

A letter

was written

by Rita.

Rita

has written

a letter.

has been written

by Rita.

will write

a letter.

will be written

by Rita.

can write

a letter.

can be written

by Rita.

Rita

Present
Passive

A letter

:
Simple Past Active:
Passive

Rita

:
Present
Perfect

Active:
Passive

A letter

:
Future I

Active:
Passive

Rita
A letter

:
Hilfsverben

Active:
Passive
:

Rita
A letter

Examples of Passive
Tense

Present

Subject

Active:

Verb

Object

is writing

a letter.

is being written

by Rita.

was writing

a letter.

was being written

by Rita.

had written

a letter.

A letter

had been written

by Rita.

Rita

will have written

a letter.

Rita

Progressive
Passive

A letter

:
Past
Progressive

Active:
Passive

Rita
A letter

:
Past Perfect

Active:
Passive

Rita

:
Future II

Active:
Passive

A letter will have been written by Rita.

:
Conditional I Active:
Passive

Rita
A letter

would write

a letter.

would be written

by Rita.

would have written

a letter.

would have been

by Rita.

:
Conditional II Active:
Passive

Rita
A letter

written

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects
becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject
depends on what you want to put the focus on.

Subject

Active:

Rita

Verb

Object 1

Object 2

wrote

a letter

to me.

Passive:

A letter

was written

to me

by Rita.

Passive:

was written

a letter

by Rita.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. Thats why it is usually
dropped.
Personal and Impersonal Passive
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the
passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. Houses are built.
Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as
there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an
intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction therefore this passive is
called Impersonal Passive.
Example: he says it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In
English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. It is said that women live longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of
perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction
with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active
sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/activepassive.html
Active / Passive Overview
Active

Passive

Simple
Present

Once a week, Tom cleans the

house.

Once a week, the house is cleaned by

Tom.

Present
Continuous

Right now, Sarah is writing the

letter.

Right now, the letter is being written

by Sarah.

Simple Past

Sam repaired the car.

The car was repaired by Sam.

Past
Continuous

The salesman was helping the

customer when the thief came into
the store.

The customer was being helped by

the salesman when the thief came into
the store.

Present
Perfect

Many tourists have visited that

castle.

That castle has been visited by many

tourists.

Present
Perfect
Continuous

Recently, John has been doing the

work.

Recently, the work has been being

done by John.

Past Perfect

George had repaired many cars

before he received his mechanic's
license.

Many cars had been repaired by

George before he received his
mechanic's license.

Past Perfect
Continuous

Chef Jones had been preparing the

restaurant's fantastic dinners for two
years before he moved to Paris.

The restaurant's fantastic dinners had

been being prepared by Chef Jones
for two years before he moved to Paris.

Simple Future

Someone will finish the work by

5:00 PM.

The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

BE GOING TO

Sally is going to make a beautiful

dinner tonight.

A beautiful dinner is going to be made

by Sally tonight.

Future
Continuous

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be

washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be

being washed by John.

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to

be washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are

going to be being washed by John.

They will have completed the

project before the deadline.

The project will have been completed

before the deadline.

They are going to have completed

the project before the deadline.

The project is going to have been

completed before the deadline.

WILL

Simple Future

WILL

Future
Continuous
BE GOING TO

Future Perfect
WILL

Future Perfect
BE GOING TO

Future Perfect
Continuous

The famous artist will have been

painting the mural for over six
months by the time it is finished.

The mural will have been being

painted by the famous artist for over
six months by the time it is finished.

BE GOING TO

The famous artist is going to have

been painting the mural for over six
months by the time it is finished.

The mural is going to have been

being painted by the famous artist for
over six months by the time it is
finished.

Used to

Jerry used to pay the bills.

The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Would Always

My mother would always make the

pies.

The pies would always be made by

my mother.

Future in the
Past
WOULD

I knew John would finish the work

by 5:00 PM.

I knew the work would be finished by

5:00 PM.

Future in the
Past
WAS GOING TO

I thought Sally was going to make a

beautiful dinner tonight.

I thought a beautiful dinner was going

to be made by Sally tonight.

WILL

Future Perfect
Continuous

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive/exercises
Write passive sentences in Simple Present.
1.

the documents / print ______________________________________________

2.

the window / open ______________________________________________

3.

the shoes / buy ______________________________________________

4.

the car / wash ______________________________________________

5.

the litter / throw away ______________________________________________

6.

the letter / send ______________________________________________

7.

the book / read / not ______________________________________________

8.

the songs / sing / not ______________________________________________

9.

the food / eat / not ______________________________________________

10.

the shop / close / not ______________________________________________

Write passive sentences in Simple Past.

1.

the test / write ______________________________________________

2.

the table / set ______________________________________________

3.

the cat / feed ______________________________________________

4.

the lights / switch on ______________________________________________

5.

the house / build ______________________________________________

6.

dinner / serve ______________________________________________

7.

this computer / sell / not ______________________________________________

8.

the car / stop / not ______________________________________________

9.

the tables / clean / not ______________________________________________

10.

the children / pick up / not ______________________________________________

Write passive sentences in Present Perfect.

1.

the postcard / send ______________________________________________

2.

the pencils / count ______________________________________________

3.

the door / close ______________________________________________

4.

the beds / make ______________________________________________

5.

the mail / write ______________________________________________

6.

the trees / plant ______________________________________________

7.

the money / spend ______________________________________________

8.

the room / book / not ______________________________________________

9.

the rent / pay / not ______________________________________________

10.

the people / inform / not ______________________________________________

Write passive sentences in Future I.

1.

the exhibition / visit ______________________________________________

2.

the windows / clean ______________________________________________

3.

the message / read ______________________________________________

4.

the thief / arrest ______________________________________________

5.

the photo / take ______________________________________________

6.

these songs / sing ______________________________________________

7.

the sign / see / not ______________________________________________

8.

a dictionary / use / not ______________________________________________

9.

credit cards / accept / not ______________________________________________

10.

the ring / find / not ______________________________________________

Passive Voice - Exercise with Auxiliary Verbs

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.

I can answer the question. - ______________________________________________

2.

She would carry the box. - ______________________________________________

3.

You should open the window. - ______________________________________________

4.

We might play cards. - ______________________________________________

5.

You ought to wash the car. - ______________________________________________

6.

He must fill in the form. - ______________________________________________

7.

They need not buy bread. - ______________________________________________

8.

He could not read the sentence. - ______________________________________________

9.

Will the teacher test our English? - ______________________________________________

10.

Could Jenny lock the door? - ______________________________________________

Exercise on Passive Voice - Present Progressive

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.

Sheila is drinking a cup of tea. - ______________________________________________

2.

My father is washing the car. - ______________________________________________

3.

Farmer Joe is milking the cows. - ______________________________________________

4.

She is taking a picture of him. - ______________________________________________

5.

I am writing a poem. - ______________________________________________

6.

We are not playing football. - ______________________________________________

7.

He is not wearing a tie. - ______________________________________________

8.

Is she preparing the party? - ______________________________________________

9.

Are they talking about the meeting? -

______________________________________________
10.

Is she watering the flowers? - ______________________________________________

Exercise on Passive Voice - Past Progressive

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1.

We were talking about Francis. - ______________________________________________

2.

He was playing the guitar. - ______________________________________________

3.

She was watching a film. - ______________________________________________

4.

I was repairing their bikes. - ______________________________________________

5.

They were not eating dinner. - ______________________________________________

6.

We were not painting the gate. - ______________________________________________

7.

You were not driving him home. - ______________________________________________

8.

He was not feeding the dogs. - ______________________________________________

9.

Was she reading these lines? - ______________________________________________

10.

Were they carrying bags? - ______________________________________________

Exercise on Passive Voice - Past Perfect

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.

I had worn blue shoes. - ______________________________________________

2.

Joe had cleaned the tables. - ______________________________________________

3.

We had lost the key. - ______________________________________________

4.

They had started a fight. - ______________________________________________

5.

I had been reading an article. - ______________________________________________

6.

I had not closed the window. - ______________________________________________

7.

They had not bought the paper. - ______________________________________________

8.

She had not noticed me. - ______________________________________________

9.

Had she solved the problem? - ______________________________________________

10.

Had he recorded that song? - ______________________________________________

Exercise on Passive Voice - Future II

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
Frank will have ordered the drinks. - The drinks will have been ordered by Frank.
2.

You will have spent all the money. -

______________________________________________

3.

I will have taken the dog for a walk. -

______________________________________________
4.

She will have sold the car. - ______________________________________________

5.

They will have solved the problem. -

______________________________________________
6.

She will not have read the book. -

______________________________________________
7.

They will not have trusted him. - ______________________________________________

8.

He won't have rung Barbara. - ______________________________________________

9.

Will they have paid the bill? - ______________________________________________

10.

Will you have washed my socks? -

______________________________________________

Exercise on Passive Voice - Conditional I

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
Jenny would congratulate you. - You would be congratulated by Jenny.
2.

We would pick you up. - ______________________________________________

3.

She would order a pizza. - ______________________________________________

4.

He would build a new house. - ______________________________________________

5.

They would take the opportunity. -

______________________________________________
6.

You would not recognize Jim. - ______________________________________________

7.

I would not do that kind of job. - ______________________________________________

8.

Would they decorate the room? - ______________________________________________

9.

Would the DJ play this song? - ______________________________________________

10.

Would Simon open the window? - ______________________________________________

Exercise on Passive Voice - Conditional II

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

They would have told you. - You would have been told by them.
2.

We would have spoken English. - ______________________________________________

3.

Mario would have bought a paper. -

______________________________________________
4.

She would have called the police. -

______________________________________________
5.

We would have painted the walls green. -

______________________________________________
6.

She would not have noticed the mistake. -

______________________________________________
7.

I would not have given this book away. -

______________________________________________
8.

Would my mum have packed the bag? -

______________________________________________
9.

Would you have accepted that offer? -

______________________________________________
10.

Would they have given the right answer? -

______________________________________________

http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/alternative-ways-form-passive-voice/
Alternative ways to form the passive voice
You can form sentences that are passive in meaning but not in form by using the verb to get or the
verb to have in place of the verb to be. These constructions often describe situations where we want
someone else to do something for us or where we are going to hire someone else to do something for
us. The subject is active, but he is only doing the "getting". It is the unnamed person who is gotten
who will perform the action of the main verb in the sentence. That second person is not explicit in the
sentence when the sentence has a passive meaning. We are more interested in the result of the
activity than in the person that performs the activity.

Examples

I must get my hair cut.

I must have my hair cut.

When are you going to get that window mended?

We're having the house painted.

This type of construction can refer to the completion of an activity, especially if a time expression is
used.
Examples

We'll get the work done as soon as possible.

I'll get those letters typed before lunchtime.

She said she'd have my lunch delivered by noon.

You should have your roof repaired before next winter.

If the verb refers to something unwanted, it has the same meaning as a passive sentence.
Examples

Jim had his car stolen last night.

Jim's car was stolen.

They had their roof blown off in the storm.

Their roof was blown off in the storm.

Using "to need" in passive constructions

You can also use the verb to need followed by the gerund in an active construction with a passive
meaning. The important thing in our minds in these sentences is the person or thing that will
experience the action, not the person performing the action.
Examples

The ceiling needs painting.

The ceiling needs to be painted.

My hair needs cutting.

My hair needs to be cut.

That faucet needs fixing.

That faucet needs to be fixed.

http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/Green%20Level/G16%20Unusual%20Uses%20of
%20Get%20and%20Have.html
Unusual Uses of Get and Have
(Causative Verbs)
As you have noticed, the Green Level is focused entirely on the passive voice. Normally
the passive voice is constructed with the verb "be" or "get" and then the past participle.
However, there are other similar verb constructions you should know about. This lesson
introduces verbs that are used to create the causative form.
have + the past participle
I have my oil changed once every three months.
or
get + the past participle
I get my oil changed once every three months.

Both sentences have the same meaning. What makes them different from the passive
voice is the word order:
S + V + DO + V
Generally, when you use this word order, it sounds like you had some kind of work
done for you. You paid someone or got someone to do something and you didn't do
anything.

He got his hair cut by a barber.

(A professional barber did the work.)
or
He had the barber give him a haircut.
Note: If a person doing the work comes after the verb,
the verb is in the simple form. If a thing comes after
the verb, the verb is in the form of the past participle.
In the first sentence, the word "cut" is a past
participle. In the second sentence, "give" is in the
simple form.

They had their house painted blue.

(Professional house painters did the work.)
or
They had a company paint their house.

She got her teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist.

or
She had the hygienist clean her teeth.

http://www.grammaring.com/the-passive-with-get
The passive with GET
GET + PAST PARTICIPLE
Get is often used instead of be in the passive voice in informal spoken English to refer to an action
that happens by accident or unexpectedly:

Their car got stolen in front of their house last night.

Jerry got fired because he was always late for work.
Get expresses action and change and is only used with action verbs, not state verbs:
Jerry was fired because he was always late for work.
Jerry got fired because he was always late for work. (fire is an action verb)
Nothing is known about the thief.
Nothing gets known about the thief. (know is a state verb)
As get in the passive voice expresses action, it makes it possible to differentiate between an action
and a state if it is not otherwise clear:
The living room window was broken. (state or action)
The living room window got broken. (action)
The passive with be and the agent mentioned also makes the distinction clear:
The living room window was broken by the burglar. (action)
A reflexive pronoun after get indicates that the recipient of the action is in some way involved in or
responsible for what happened:
He got injured while playing football. (it was an accident)
He got himself injured while trying bike stunts. (it was partly his fault)
The get passive is also used in certain idiomatic expressions:
Idiomatic expressions with the get passive
get dressed
get washed
get engaged
get married

get divorced
get lost
get mixed up
get started

I took a shower and got dressed.

When did they get married?
Have you ever got lost while travelling?
http://www.really-learn-english.com/have-something-done.html
There is a special passive construction with have:
have + something (the object) + past participle

example: I have my business taken care of.

(Somebody is taking care of my business.)
another example: He has his dog walked.
(Somebody walks his dog.)
In this construction, like in all passive sentences, we need to use the past participle.
Remember that for regular verbs, this is the same as the simple past.
However, for irregular verbs, the past participle can be different!
Be sure to review them and use the correct form of the verb in passive constructions.
We can use this construction in the following cases:
1. We make someone else do something for us, or we pay someone else to do something for us.
2. Something negative happens and we have no control over it (something bad happens to us).

First, let's talk about when someone else does something that we ask of them.
Example:

Jeremy's car is in terrible condition! He is going to have his car fixed. He hopes it won't be too
expensive!

This means that Jeremy will not do the work himself. He will pay a professional mechanic to do the
work for him. He will have the work done to his car.
More examples:

The living room in Terry's new house is a terrible salmon pink color. She wants to have it
painted before she moves in.

Lizzy can't talk right now. She's having her hair cut by the barber at the moment.

I need to go to the dentist today to have a tooth pulled. I hope it's very fast!

Will you have your party catered, or are you going to cook all the food yourself?

Emily had her dress sewn by a professional seamstress. She wanted it to look perfect for her
special day!

We can use this construction in any of the English verb tenses. All we need to do is use the correct
form of have depending on the verb tense we are using. The rest of the construction (object + past
participle) remains exactly the same.
Now, let's look at the second meaning of have + object + past participle.
We can also use this construction when something negative happens to us when we don't expect it or
want it.

Example:

The homeowner had all his money stolen! The police still haven't caught the mysterious
robber.

The owner of the money did not want it to be stolen. This was a negative experience that this person
suffered.
More examples:

The children are all upset because they had their toys taken away. They wanted to keep
playing!

The event was supposed to be outside, but look at all this rain! The organizer, Ms. Huffington,
is terribly upset because she's had her big event ruined.

Bruno is still not back at work. He says he's had his heart broken! It's so terrible that he's going
through that divorce.

Phil doesn't want to come back to class. He had his feelings hurt last week, and he just isn't
enthusiastic about the subject anymore.

Poor Phil! He suffered a negative experience that he did not expect! He certainly didn't want to be
teased!
These constructions can seem confusing at first, but with practice, you'll feel comfortable with them. If
you're still not sure how to use the passive voice, look at more examples. And keep on practicing!