The passive voice

1
The passive voice

• The Passive is not a tense. You will find it
  easier to understand the passive if you already
  know the basic English verb tenses.

2
Present Simple Passive (1)
You can have passive verbs in all the different
tenses. We will start with the present simple.
Here is an active verb in the present
simpleEverybody loves English weather.
Now lets change it to the passive voice
English weather
is
loved
by everybody.
To make the passive use the verb to BE in the
same tense as the original sentence here it is
the present simple tense
To make the passive, use the 3rd form or past
participle of the main verb.
If you need to mention who is doing the action,
use by to introduce it.
is loved is present simple passive (because
is is in the present simple).
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Present Simple Passive (2)
Take a look at some more sentences in the present
simple passive.
English teachers are loved by everybody.
You dont have to agree with that statement!
Youre thinking Some people dont love English
teachers! So lets make that passive!
The verb to be is plural in this sentence to
agree with teachers.
English teachers are not loved
by everybody.
Make the verb to BE negative in the usual way.
by may not be necessary. If its not
important, leave it out.
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Present Continuous Passive
Lets look at how the passive works in other
tenses. Here is a sentence in the present
continuous They are building a house next door.
Now lets change it to the passive voice
A house
is being
built
next door
(by them)
We dont often use to BE in the present
continuous tense so this may look unfamiliar!
To make the passive, use the 3rd form or past
participle of the main verb.
by them doesnt tell us much (who are they?) so
leave it out.
5
Past Simple Passive
Here is a sentence in the past simple Someone
stole a million pounds from the bank.
Now lets change it to the passive voice
A million pounds
was
stolen
from the bank
(by someone)
to BE in the past simple tense is was
(singular) or were (plural)
To make the passive, use the 3rd form or past
participle of the main verb.
by someone doesnt tell us much (who was it?)
so leave it out.
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Present Perfect Passive
Here is a sentence in the present perfect. They
have forgiven you.
Now lets change it to the passive voice
You
have been
forgiven.
to BE in the present perfect tense is has
been (singular) or have been (plural)
To make the passive, use the 3rd form or past
participle of the main verb.
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• This presentation did not cover all the tenses
  but maybe it gave you an idea about how to form
  the passive. Now try some activities on other
  websites.
• Back to links to other passive voice sites