GRAMMAR POINT: THE PASSIVE VOICE

PASSIVE SENTENCES

ACTIVE SENTENCES

The thing receiving the action is the

subject of the sentence and the thing /
person doing the action is mentioned (or
not!) at the end of the sentence.

The thing / person doing the action is the

subject (S) of the sentence and the thing
receiving the action is the object (O).
Ex:

John is washing the car.

(S)
(O)

Ex:

The car is being washed (by John).

(S)

PAST PARTICIPLE OF AN
PAST PARTICIPLE OF A
IRREGULAR VERB
REGULAR VERB
HOW TO FORM THE PASSIVE VOICE
rd

3 column
V + -ed
PASSIVE = BE + Past
Participle (PP)
Ex: break > past participle = broken

Ex: invent > past participle = invented

Some common tenses used in the passive voice:

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

We use the Passive Voice
when we do not know the agent (= the person/thing that does / is doing / did the
action).
Ex:
My bike was stolen last weekend. (I dont know who stole my bike.)
when the agent is not important.
Ex:
The dishes are being washed. (the focus here is on the dishes, not on the
person who is washing the dishes.)
Note:

When we want to add who or what did the action, we use by.
The dishes are being washed by John. (not Kate)

when the agent is obvious.

Ex:The thief was arrested yesterday. (Only the police can arrest thieves.)

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.
Impersonal Passive. Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception
(e. g. say, think, know).
Ex:They say that women are as intelligent as men.
It is said that women are as intelligent as men.
Note:

You can also say:

Women are said to be as intelligent as men.

TIME TO PRACTISE!
Exercise 1: Transform into PASSIVE sentences. (Pay attention to the tense.)
Present Simple

Tourists take many pictures of the Eiffel Tower.

_____________________________________________________

Present Simple

Does your mother help you?

_____________________________________________________

Present Continuous Someone is cleaning your room, Sir.

_____________________________________________________
Present Continuous The children are painting a fresco at their school.
_____________________________________________________

Past Simple

Burglars broke into her house.

_____________________________________________________

Past Simple

Did they send the letter?

_____________________________________________________

Past Continuous

He was telling a story when I arrived.

_____________________________________________________

Present Perfect

They have eaten all the cookies.

_____________________________________________________

Present Perfect

Has she typed the letter?

_____________________________________________________

Future with WILL

Kate will buy a new dress.

_____________________________________________________

Future with WILL

He will not repair her bike.

_____________________________________________________

Modal

You must fill in this form.

_____________________________________________________

Modal

He should leave the window open.

_____________________________________________________

Exercise 2: Transform into ACTIVE sentences. (Pay attention to the tense.).

1. Present Simple

This restaurant is owned by the Jacksons.

_____________________________________________________

2. Present ContinuousA new model is being tested.

_____________________________________________________
3. Past Simple

Oliver Twist was written by Charles Dickens.

_____________________________________________________

4. Past Continuous

The issue was being talked about when I entered the room.
_____________________________________________________

5. Present Perfect

A terrible mistake has been made by our boss.

_____________________________________________________

6. Future with WILL

He will be found guilty by the court.

_____________________________________________________

Exercise 3: Transform into two PASSIVE sentences.

1. They told me a lie.

__________________________________________
__________________________________________

2. I have made you a cup of tea.

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
3. Kate will give them some advice. __________________________________________
__________________________________________
Exercise 4: ACTIVE voice or PASSIVE voice?
1. Present Simple
(SPEAK)

Italian ___________________ in this restaurant.

My father ___________________ 3 foreign languages.

2. Present ContinuousWe ___________________ our grandchildren to the zoo today.

(TAKE)
Their son ___________________ right away to the hospital.
3. Past Simple
(CALL)

They ___________________ their grandparents last week.

The firemen ___________________ immediately.

4. Present Perfect
(DISCOVER)

They ___________________ a new virus.

A new planet ___________________ in the solar system.

5. Future with WILL

(KEEP)

Dont worry! Our secret ___________________.

We ___________________ all our photos in this album.

6. Modal
(PLANT)

These trees must ___________________ now.

If he wants a beautiful garden, he should ___________________
these flowers.

SOLUTIONS
Exercise 1: Transform into PASSIVE sentences.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

1. Present Simple
Many pictures of the Eiffel Tower are taken (by tourists).
Present Simple
Are you helped by your mother?
Present ContinuousYour room is being cleaned, Sir.
Present ContinuousA fresco is being painted at their school.
Past Simple
Her house was broken into.
Past Simple
Was the letter sent?
Past Continuous
A story was being told when I arrived.
Present Perfect
All the cookies have been eaten.
Present Perfect
Has the letter been typed?
Future with WILL A new dress will be bought.
Future with WILL Her bike will not be repaired.
Modal
This form must be filled in.
Modal
The window should be left open.
Exercise 2: Transform into ACTIVE sentences. (Pay attention to the tense.).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Present Simple
The Jacksons own this restaurant.
Present ContinuousThey / He are / is testing a new model.
Past Simple
Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist.
Past Continuous
They were talking about the issue when I entered the room.
Present Perfect
Our boss has made a terrible mistake.
Future with WILL The court will find him guilty.

Exercise 3: Transform into two PASSIVE sentences.

1. They told me a lie.

I was told a lie.

A lie was told to me.

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 ContinuousWe 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

Dont 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)