Teacher : yassineelgh

Passive Voice
I. The English Sentence : (The passive vs the active voice)
a. Active form:

EX: -The boy broke the window.

Subject Verb Object

The boy broke the window

The focus is on the subject ( the doer) who performs the action expressed in the
verb.

b. Passive Voice:

EX: - The window was broken (by the boy).

Object ( becomes subject) Verb Subject (becomes object or is

dropped)
The window Was broken By the boy

The focus is not on the subject, but on the action or the object which was acted upon.

II. Form of the Passive:

Subject + to be in the tense of the active verb + Past Participle

Note:
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
The form of the verb is the appropriate form of to be (the tense of the active voice main verb)
+ the past participle.
The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped.)

Examples of the passive voice:

Teacher : yassineelgh

Tense Subject Verb Object

Simple Present Active: Mary makes tea

Passive: Tea is made by Mary

Present Active: Mary is making tea
continuous
Passive: Tea is being made by Mary
Simple past Active: Mary made tea

Passive: Tea was made by Mary

Past continuous Active: Mary was making tea

Passive: Tea was being made by Mary

Present perfect Active: Mary has made tea

Passive: Tea has been made by Mary

Future simple Active: Mary will make tea

Passive: Tea will be made by Mary

With Modals Active: Mary should make tea

Passive: Tea should be made by Mary