PASSIVE VOICE
THE PASSIVE VOICE
The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the action (the verb) and the object of a
sentence rather than subject. This means that the subject is either less important than the action
itself or that we don’t know who or what the subject is.
The passive voice is not a tense in English. Each tense has its own passive voice which is
created by using a form of the auxiliary verb to be + Past participle (3rd column)
All of the rules for passive negatives and questions are the same as for the active voice.
ACTIVE VOICE:
A mechanic repairs cars
SUBJEC VERB OBJECT
T
PASSIVE VOICE:
Cars are repaired (by a mechanic)
SUBJEC VERB AGENT
T
ACTIVE VOICE:
W. Shakespeake wrote Romeo & Juliet
SUBJEC VERB OBJECT
T
PASSIVE VOICE:
Romeo & Juliet was written by W. Shakespeare
SUBJEC VERB AGENT
T
PRESENT SIMPLE OF THE
PASSIVE VOICE
(VERB TO BE) AM / IS / ARE + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column)
Wine is made from grapes
The photos are taken in Sucre
The letters are delivered (by the postman)
Buildings are restored (by the builders)
My practice is done on time
Napa Valley is known for its excellent wines.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS OF THE
PASSIVE VOICE
(VERB TO BE) AM / IS / ARE + BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column)
(being = siendo)
The document is being sent right now
A brownie is being baked
Four projects are being done now
A lot of films are being shown at this moment
An important article isn’t being written
Some exercises aren’t being eliminated
PAST SIMPLE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
(VERB TO BE) WAS / WERE + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column)
Twenty civilians were killed in the bomb explosion
My laptop was stolen yesterday
New workers weren’t hired by the company last year
A taxi was taken very late
An injured man wasn’t helped last night
Was a car bought by your father?
PAST CONTINUOUS OF THE
PASSIVE VOICE
(VERB TO BE) WAS / WERE + BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column)
(being = siendo)
An interesting book was being read when I fell asleep
The dog was being washed when I got home
Their cars were being fixed while they were in the mall shopping.
The answers were being explained by the professor
A nice song was being sung by them
Where were you being helped by him?
PRESENT PERFECT OF THE
PASSIVE VOICE
(VERB TO BE) HAVE / HAS + BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column)
(been = sido, estado)
The rights to his book have been sold for $250,000
Fortunately, our dog has been found
Has the house been sold yet?
The windows haven’t been broken
Her house has been cleaned perfectly
Our practice hasn’t been finished yet
THE PASSIVE VOICE -
MODALS
MODAL + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column)
A passport can only be issued at the embassy
Criminals must be stopped before they commit crimes.
The documents will be signed by next week
Whales should be protected by an international ban on whaling
The house could be built on time
The tickets would be sold there if possible
