CHAPTER 10

Passive Voice
Mr. Hani M. Al-Tahrawi
Eng-112
Pre-Dental (Batch 2)
Pre-Pharma (Batch 2)
March, 2012

Base
Verb

Present
Simple

Past
Simple

Past Participle
V3

has
be

am
is
are

was
were

have

write

been

had

wrote

have

steal

stole
had

will be

are

being

am

was

is

were

are

written

are

writing

am

was

is

were

are

is
are

was
were

going to write

will steal

am
stolen

going to be

will write

is

has
have

am

am

had

steal
steals

Future

is

has
write
writes

Pres. Participle
V4
ing form

am
stealing

is
are

going to steal

Subject

Verb

be

Object

V3

(by subject)

An Active Sentence
Subject

Verb

Object

Turki

wrote

a letter.

A Passive Sentence
Object

A letter

be

V3

(by Subject)

was

written

by Turki.

When we changed the sentence:

Turki

wrote

a letter.

written

by Turki.

into:
A letter

was

We used was as one of the forms of verb be .

WHY?

We used was as one of the forms of verb be

, and it is the simple past tense.

Thats because..
The main verb in the active sentence was
in the simple past tense.

wrote

Turki
A letter

was

written

a letter.

by Turki.

BUT which form of verb to be

should I use?????????
Base Form
(Bare
infinitive)

be

Present
Simple

am
is
are

Past
Simple
V2

was
were

P.P.
V3

has
have

had

Pres. P.
V4
ing-form

am

is
been

are
was
were

being

To use one of the forms of verb to

we have to meet two conditions:

be,

be

The same
tense of the
main verb

What agrees
with the new
subject
( object)

be

The same
tense of the
main verb

Tenses Taught in Semester 1:

Present Simple

Present Progressive

Present Perfect

Present Perfect Progressive

Simple Past

Past Progressive

Past Perfect

Future Simple

Can you recognize the tense in these sentences?

They give us new books at the beginning of every year.
They have been publishing these books for ten years.
They are discussing the new rules at the highest level.
The police caught the thieves last night.
The earthquake has destroyed hundreds of houses.
Have they cleaned the room yet?
They will interview the potential candidate next week.
They didn't see Mona this morning.

Can you recognize the tense in these sentences?

They give us new books at the beginning of every year.

Present Simple

They have been publishing these books for ten years.

Present Perfect
Progressive

They are discussing the new rules at the highest level.

Present Progressive

The police caught the thieves last night.

Simple Past

The earthquake has destroyed hundreds of houses.

Present Perfect

Have they cleaned the room yet?

Present Perfect

They will interview the potential candidate next week.

They didn't see Mona this morning.

Future Simple
Simple Past Negative

Can you recognize the tense in these sentences?

While the mechanic was fixing my car at the workshop

yesterday, someone broke the windscreen.

The instructor had notified the students of the new
procedures before he asked them to write their rough drafts.

Can you recognize the tense in these sentences?

While the mechanic was fixing my car at the workshop

yesterday, someone broke the windscreen.

Past progressive
Simple Past

The instructor had notified the students of the new

Past Perfect

procedures before he asked them to write their rough drafts.

Simple Past

Now can you give the equivalent passive of each tense?

give /gives

Present Simple

(am/is/are) given

have been publishing

Present Perfect Progressive

(has/ have) been being

published

are discussing

Present Progressive

(am/is/are) being discussed

caught

Simple Past

(was/were) caught

has destroyed

Present Perfect

Have . cleaned .?

Present Perfect

Have/Has . been cleaned .?

will interview

Future Simple

will be interviewed

didn't see

Simple Past Negative

(wasnt/werent) seen

(has/have) been destroyed

Now can you give the equivalent passive of each tense?

was fixing

Past progressive

(was/were) being fixed

broke

Simple Past

(was/were) broken

had notified

Past Perfect

had been notified

asked

Simple Past

(was/were) asked

The Simple Present

Active

Passive

They write / dont write the science column.

The science column is/ isnt written by them.

He writes / doesnt write the science columns.

The science columns are/ arent written by him.

Do they write the science column?

Does he write the science columns?

What do the Dental students write?

What does the Pharma student write?

Is the science column written by them?

Are the science columns written by him?

What is written by the Dental students?

What is written by the Pharma student?

The Present Progressive

Active

Passive

He is fixing the stove.

The stove is being fixed.

They arent using the main meeting room.

The main meeting room is not being used.

Is the worker painting his condominium?

Is his condominium being painted?

Are they finalizing their biology project?

Is their biology project being finalized?

Where is he taking the guests?

Where are the guests being taken?

What are they doing about the new complaints?

What is being done about the new complaints?

The Present Perfect

Active

Passive

He has broken / hasnt broken the window.

The window has/hasnt been broken (by him).

They have seen / have never seen a UFO in

this country before.

A UFO [has /has never] been seen in this

country before.

Has he (ever) broken the window?

Has the window (ever) been broken (by him)?

Have they (ever) seen a UFO in this

country before?

Has a UFO (ever) been seen in this country

before?

What has he broken?

What has been broken?

What have they seen in this country before?

What has been seen in this country before?

The Present Perfect Progressive

Active

Passive
(Rarely used and considered
awkward with this tense)

They have been teaching anatomy

and other medical courses in this
college since 2007.

Anatomy and other medical courses

have been being taught in this college
since 2007.

Have those kids been torturing

that kitten?

Has that kitten been being tortured

by those kids?

What have they been teaching in

this college since 2007?

What has been being taught in this

college since 2007?

The Simple Past

Active

Passive

Jane Austen wrote Sense and Sensibility in 1811.

Sense and Sensibility was written by

Jane Austen in 1811.

No one knew his real name.

His real name wasnt known.

The police didnt find their hiding place.

Their hiding place wasnt found.

Did they arrange her birthday party?

Was her birthday party arranged?

Where did they send him?

Where was he sent ?

The Past Progressive

Active

Passive

He was cleaning the attic when he found his

old jacket.

The attic was being cleaned when his old jacket

was found.

While they were counting the votes, his

campaign manager announced his
withdrawal.

While the votes were being counted, his

withdrawal was announced by his campaign
manager.

Were they interviewing him when someone

broke into his apartment?

Where were they sending it?

Was he being interviewed when his apartment

was broken into?

Where was it being sent?

The Past Perfect

Active
They broke the window after they had hit it
with a stone.

Passive
The window was broken after it had been hit
with a stone.

Had they completed the housework before

they called their friends?

Had the housework been completed before

their friends were called?

Why had they sent him to Malaysia earlier?

Why had he been sent to Malaysia earlier?

The Future Simple and other Modal Auxiliary Structures

Active

Passive

They will send some warning letters soon.

Some warning letters will be sent soon.

Ahmad is going to write the art column.

The art column is going to be written by Ahmad.

They must obey the rules.

The rules must be obeyed.

Will they send the warning letters soon?

Will the warning letters be sent soon?

Is Ahmad going to write the art column?

Is the art column going to be written by Ahmad?

Do they have to obey the rules?

Do the rules have to be obeyed?

Can you deliver this envelope tonight?

Can this envelope be delivered tonight?

When will they send the warning letters?

What will the Dental students write?

When will the warning letters be sent?

What will be written by the Dental students?

Ali

The pills

takes

are

the pills.

taken

by Ali.

People speak English in many countries.

English is spoken in many countries.

Someone robbed the bank yesterday.

The bank was robbed yesterday.

Our teacher will collect the projects tomorrow.

The projects will be collected tomorrow.

The tailor has made this suit for me.

This suit has been made for me.

Builders had made this house using mud.

This house had been made using mud .

Jill paints the fence once a year.

The fence is painted once a year.

Sue bought a silk dress for her sisters wedding.

A silk dress was bought by Sue.

The police arrested them yesterday.

They were arrested yesterday.

John and Paul have taken a lot of pictures

since they arrived on the island.

A lot of pictures have been taken

by John and Paul since they arrived
on the island.

We asked her to help with the housework.

She was asked to help with the housework.

Scientific Process: Manufacturing Cars

( They produce cars in this factory. )

1. Cars are produced in this factory.

( Mechanics have already checked

the cars in the blue area. )

2. The cars have already been

checked in the blue area.

( Electricians will install air-conditioning

in the cars in the red area. )

3. Air-conditioning will be installed in the cars

in the red area.

Passive Questions: (Simple Present)

Does
Do
Am

Is
Are

Subject

Object

verb

Object ?

Verb 3 (by Subject) ?

Passive Questions: (Simple Past)

Did

Was

Were

Subject

Object

verb

Object ?

Verb 3 (by Subject) ?

Passive Questions: (Present Perfect)

Has
Have
Has

Have

Subject

object been

V3

object ?

V3 (by subject) ?

Passive Questions: (Past Perfect)

Had

Had

Subject

Object

Verb 3

Object ?

been V3 (by Subject) ?

Passive Questions:

Will

Will

(Simple Future: will + stem verb)

Subject

verb

Object ?

Object be Verb 3 (by Subject) ?

Passive Questions:

Am
Is

(Simple Future: be going to + stem verb)

Subject going to verb Object ?

Are
Am

Is
Are

Object

going to be Verb 3

(by Subject) ?

Change the following into Passive.

1. Did they tell her the story?
2. What must we do about this?
3. What questions did they ask?
4. Has anyone changed the curtains yet?
5. Where did they park the car?
6. Will anyone tell him about the accident?
7. Has anyone dusted that blackboard yet?
8. Who is cleaning my room?
First try to do these transformations yourself.
The answers are on the following slides.

Did they tell her the story?

Was she told the story?

What must we do about this?

What must be done about this?

What questions did they ask?

What questions were asked?

Has anyone changed the

curtains yet?

Have the curtains been changed yet?

Where did they park the car?

Where was the car parked?

Will anyone tell him about the accident?

Will he be told about the accident?

Has anyone dusted that blackboard yet?

Has that blackboard been dusted yet?

Who is cleaning my room?

Who is my room being cleaned by?

OR

Whom is my room being cleaned by?

Someone wrote this letter.

( Change into a passive question asking about the underlined. )

Step 1: Form an Active Question.

Who wrote this letter?

Step 2: Change the Active Question into a Passive Question.

Who was this letter written by?

Researchers estimate that 8 million people

in the United States are suffering from an
Eating Disorder.
It is estimated that 8 million people in the
United States are suffering from an
Eating Disorder.

Correct the following verbs. (ACTIVE or PASSIVE )

1.

is broken/ was broken

The window pane (break) _________________.

2.

is cooking
Someone (cook) ___________________
a meal in the kitchen right now.

3.

were asked / will be asked several questions by the police tonight.

We (ask)___________________

4.

was run over

My cat (run over) ________________
by the milk van.

5.

must be done
This homework (must do) ___________________
tonight.

6.

are written / were written/ have been written in every culture .

Poems ( write) ________________________________

7.

Know/ knew
People all over the world (know) ___________________
her name.

8.

was being looted/ had already been looted when the police arrived.
The truck (loot)_____________________________________

9.

were served
The guests (serve) ________________
some tea after they had a seat.

10. The

have done
students (do) ____________
these exercises before.

A. Correct the verb in parentheses.

B. Then change the sentence into the PASSIVE.
have been rearing
1. Those boys (rear) _____________

these kittens for a long time.

Passive: These kittens have been being reared for a long time.
2.

might eat / might have eaten your meal.

The dog (might, eat) ____________________
Passive:

3.

ought to take
The patient (ought to, take) ________________
these pills every day.
Passive:

4.

These pills ought to be taken by the patient every day.

has to practice
A freshman (have to, practice) _____________
English regularly.
Passive:

5.

Your meal might be eaten /might have been eaten by the dog.

English has to be practiced regularly.

slams
Whenever the wind blows, it (slam) ________________
the door.
Passive:

The door is slammed whenever the wind blows.

has to test / had to test you on your English grammar.

6. Someone (have to, test)____________________
Passive:

You have to be tested/ had to be tested

on your English grammar.

Choose the correct answer

1. Hazel won the lottery.
A. The lottery had been won by Hazel.
B. The lottery was won by Hazel.
C. The lottery is won by Hazel.

Choose the correct answer

1. Hazel won the lottery.
A. The lottery had been won by Hazel.
B. The lottery was won by Hazel.
C. The lottery is won by Hazel.

2. The police interrogated Bryan.

A. Bryan is interrogated by the police.
B. Bryan was interrogated by the police.
C. Bryan had been interrogated by the police.

2. The police interrogated Bryan.

A. Bryan is interrogated by the police.
B. Bryan was interrogated by the police.
C. Bryan had been interrogated by the police.

3. Abu Malek has paid for the pizza.

A. The pizza was paid for by Abu Malek.

B. The pizza has been paid for by Abu Malek.
C. The pizza is paid for by Abu Malek.

3. Abu Malek has paid for the pizza.

A. The pizza was paid for by Abu Malek.

B. The pizza has been paid for by Abu Malek.
C. The pizza is paid for by Abu Malek.

4. Joy will meet you at the airport.

A. You will have met Joy at the airport.

B. You would be met by Joy at the airport.
C. You will be met by Joy at the airport.

4. Joy will meet you at the airport.

A. You will have met Joy at the airport.

B. You would be met by Joy at the airport.
C. You will be met by Joy at the airport.

5. People highly respect Nuhas opinion.

A. Nuhas opinion will be highly respected.
B. Nuhas opinion was highly respected.
C. Nuhas opinion is highly respected.

5. People highly respect Nuhas opinion.

A. Nuhas opinion will be highly respected.
B. Nuhas opinion was highly respected.
C. Nuhas opinion is highly respected.

6. Amanda upset me by what she said.

A. I am upset by what Amanda said.
B. I was upset by what Amanda said.
C. I would be upset by what Amanda said.

6. Amanda upset me by what she said.

A. I am upset by what Amanda said.
B. I was upset by what Amanda said.
C. I would be upset by what Amanda said.

7. Charms is going to inform Bryan later.

A. Bryan would be informed by Charms later.
B. Bryan is going to be informed by Charms later.
C. Bryan was going to be informed by Charms later.

7. Charms is going to inform Bryan later.

A. Bryan would be informed by Charms later.
B. Bryan is going to be informed by Charms later.
C. Bryan was going to be informed by Charms later.

8. The police arrested 10 rioters last night.

A. Ten rioters were going to be arrested last night.
B. Ten rioters were arrested last night.
C. Ten rioters should have been arrested last night.

8. The police arrested 10 rioters last night.

A. Ten rioters were going to be arrested last night.
B. Ten rioters were arrested last night.
C. Ten rioters should have been arrested last night.

9. The Dean may visit us next week.

A. We may be visited by the Dean next week.
B. We maybe visited by the Dean next week.
C. We must be visited by the Dean next week.

9. The Dean may visit us next week.

A. We may be visited by the Dean next week.
B. We maybe visited by the Dean next week.
C. We must be visited by the Dean next week.

10. Studying hard could have saved you.

A. You could have saved by studying hard.
B. You could have been saved by studying hard.
C. You could be saved by studying hard.

10. Studying hard could have saved you.

A. You could have saved by studying hard.
B. You could have been saved by studying hard.
C. You could be saved by studying hard.

As you have noticed, the Passive Voice

of any tense contains this structure:
be

V. 3
(Past Participle)

is broken
will be met
was interrogated .
is going to be informed
could have been saved
was being looted
had been seen

Do you know the past and Past

Participle forms of the irregular verbs ?

You have to know the past and Past Participle

forms of the IRREGULAR VERBS by heart.

A REFERENCE LIST

Mnemonic Rhyming Groups

Learning can be fun with Mnemonics!
When we were kids, rhyming songs and phrases were
some of the gimmicks used to make us remember
different things.
I hope sorting these Irregular Verbs into rhyming
groups can help you memorize them in a short period
of time. Actually some groups can be memorized
in ONLY 10 SECONDS!!!
Have a look at Group 3 !!!

Group 1
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

ring
sing
sink
drink
shrink
swim
begin
run

rang
sang
sank
drank
shrank
swam
began
ran

rung
sung
sunk
drunk
shrunk
swum
begun
run

Group 2
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

feed

fed

fed

lead

led

led

breed

bred

bred

read

read*

read*

(Pronounced as red)

(Pronounced as red)

sell

sold

sold

tell

told

told

slide
hold

slid
held

slid
held

Group 3
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

hit

hit

hit

fit
spit
knit

fit
spit (spat)
knit /(knitted)

fit
spit (spat)
knit /(knitted)

quit

quit

quit

let
set
upset
shut
cut
put
cost
hurt
burst
spread
broadcast

let
set
upset
shut
cut
put
cost
hurt
burst
spread
broadcast

let
set
upset
shut
cut
put
cost
hurt
burst
spread
broadcast

Group 4
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

buy

bought

bought

fight

fought

fought

seek

sought

sought

think

thought

thought

bring

brought

brought

teach

taught

taught

catch

caught

caught

Group 5
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

bend
send
lend
spend
build
sleep
keep
creep
weep
sweep
leap
feel
deal
mean
dream
meet
leave
lose
burn

bent
sent
lent
spent
built
slept
kept
crept
wept
swept
leapt (leaped)
felt
dealt
meant
dreamt /(dreamed)
met
left
lost
burnt /(burned)

bent
sent
lent
spent
built
slept
kept
crept
wept
swept
leapt (leaped)
felt
dealt
meant
dreamt /(dreamed)
met
left
lost
burnt /(burned)

Group 6
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

hang
hang (to kill )
dig
shoot
stand
understand
stick
strike
sit
win
make

hung
hanged
dug
shot
stood
understood
stuck
struck
sat
won
made

hung
hanged
dug
shot
stood
understood
stuck
struck
sat
won
made

pay
lay
say

paid
laid
said
light

find
found

paid
laid
said
lit / (lighted)

found
founded

lit / (lighted)
found
founded

Group 7
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

throw
grow
blow
draw
withdraw
fly
know

threw
grew
blew
drew
withdrew
flew
knew

thrown
grown
blown
drawn
withdrawn
flown
known

GROUP 8

write
ride
rise

wrote
rode
rose

written
ridden
risen

choose
freeze

chose
froze

chosen
frozen

speak

spoke

spoken

awake
wake
break

awoke
woke /waked
broke

awoken
woken /waked
broken

steal

stole

stolen

weave

wove

woven

give
forgive
forget
forbid

gave
forgave
forgot
forbade

given
forgiven
forgotten
forbidden

hide

hid

hidden

drive

drove

driven

shake
take
overtake
mistake

shook
took
overtook
mistook

shaken
taken
overtaken
mistaken

prove

proved

proven /proved

tear
swear
wear

tore
swore
wore

torn
sworn
worn

bite
beat

bit
beat

bitten
beaten

eat

ate

eaten

get

got

got/gotten

fall
shave

fell
shaved

fallen
shaven /shaved

show

showed

shown

Group 9
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

dive
do
go
hear
have
be ( am , is , are)
come
become
overcome
see
saw
mow
lie
lie
lay

dived/dove
did
went
heard
had
was, were
came
became
overcame
saw
sawed
mowed
lied
lay
laid

dived
done
gone
heard
had
been
come
become
overcome
seen
sawn /(sawed)
mown
lied
lain
laid

Thank You and Good Luck

Mr. Hani M. Al-Tahrawi
Eng-112
Pre-Dental Batch 2
Pre-Pharma Batch 2
March, 2012