Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Present Simpleam / is / are + PPNice clothes are sold in this shop.Present Continuousam /
is / are being + PPHe is being taught how to drive.Past Simplewas / were + PPTom was
bitten by a snake.Past Continuouswas / were being + PPA story was being told when I
entered the room.Present perfecthave / has been + PPThe doctor has been called.Present
perfect Continuoushave / has been being + PPLately, all the work has been being done by
Kate.Past Perfecthad been + PPThe cake had already been eaten when we arrived.Past
Perfect Continuoushad been being+ PPThe restaurant's succulent meals had been being
prepared by Chef Hall for ten years before he retired. Future with WILLwill be + PPI hope he
will not be sent to prison.Future with GOING TOam / is / are going to be + PPTheir house is
going to be sold.Conditional 1would be + PPThese books would be read if there were
more pictures in them.Conditional 2would have been + PPA mail would have been sent if
there had been a computer.Modal ("present")modal + be + PPThe doctor must be called at
once.Modal ("past")modal + have been + PPHe should have been punished for that.
WHEN TO USE THE PASSIVE VOICE
OTHER REMARKS
Do not use by with a pronoun.
Ex: He has washed the car. → The car has been washed by him.
When an active sentence has two objects (a direct object and an indirect object), it
is possible to make two passive sentences.
Ex: Her boyfriend sent her a dozen roses for her birthday.
→ A dozen roses were sent to her (by her boyfriend) for her birthday.
→ She was sent a dozen roses for her birthday.
TIME TO PRACTISE!
Exercise 1: Transform into PASSIVE sentences. (Pay attention to the tense.)
Present Simple Tourists take many pictures of the Eiffel Tower.
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Present Simple Does your mother help you?
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Present Continuous Someone is cleaning your room, Sir.
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Present Continuous The children are painting a fresco at their school.
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1. Past Simple Burglars broke into her house.
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2. Past Simple Did they send the letter?
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3. Past Continuous He was telling a story when I arrived.
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4. Present Perfect They have eaten all the cookies.
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5. Present Perfect Has she typed the letter?
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6. Future with WILL Kate will buy a new dress.
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7. Future with WILL He will not repair her bike.
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8. Modal You must fill in this form.
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9. Modal He should leave the window open.
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2. I have made you a cup of tea. → You have been made a cup of tea.
→ A cup of tea has been made for you.
3. Kate will give them some advice. → They will be given some advice (by Kate).
→ Some advice will be given to them (by Kate).
Exercise 4: ACTIVE voice or PASSIVE voice?
1. Present Simple Italian is spoken in this restaurant. (passive)
My father speaks 3 foreign languages. (active)
2. Present Continuous We are taking our grandchildren to the zoo today. (active)
Their son is being taken right away to the hospital. (passive)
3. Past Simple They called their grandparents last week. (active)
The firemen were called immediately. (passive)
4. Present Perfect They have discovered a new virus. (active)
A new planet has been discovered in the solar system. (passive)
5. Future with WILL Don’t worry! Our secret will be kept. (passive)
We will keep all our photos in this album. (active)
6. Modal These trees must be planted now. (passive)
If he wants a beautiful garden, he should plant these flowers. (active)