The document discusses active and passive voice in English grammar. It defines active voice as when the subject performs the action of the verb, while passive voice is when the object of the active sentence becomes the subject. It then provides examples of sentences in both the active and passive voice. It also discusses rules for using the passive voice and provides examples of forming the passive voice for different English tenses.
The document discusses active and passive voice in English grammar. It defines active voice as when the subject performs the action of the verb, while passive voice is when the object of the active sentence becomes the subject. It then provides examples of sentences in both the active and passive voice. It also discusses rules for using the passive voice and provides examples of forming the passive voice for different English tenses.
The document discusses active and passive voice in English grammar. It defines active voice as when the subject performs the action of the verb, while passive voice is when the object of the active sentence becomes the subject. It then provides examples of sentences in both the active and passive voice. It also discusses rules for using the passive voice and provides examples of forming the passive voice for different English tenses.
The document discusses active and passive voice in English grammar. It defines active voice as when the subject performs the action of the verb, while passive voice is when the object of the active sentence becomes the subject. It then provides examples of sentences in both the active and passive voice. It also discusses rules for using the passive voice and provides examples of forming the passive voice for different English tenses.
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What is Passive Voice?
Active voice definition:
Generally, we tend to use the active voice – one of the two voices of verbs (active and passive voice). When the verb of a sentence is in the active voice, the subject performs the action denoted by the verb. Active voice examples:
She would type the letters.
I visited my uncle last week. Passive definition: The passive voice is a grammatical voice of verb where what would be the object of a corresponding active sentence becomes the subject of a sentence in the passive voice. The passive voice is formed with the appropriate tense of the verb to be + past participle. Passive examples:
The letters would be typed by her.
My uncle was visited by me last week. More active vs passive voice example sentences:
The snake might have killed him. (Active) –> He might have been killed by the snake.(Passive) My father had Tom wash his car. (Active) –> My father had his car washed by Tom.(Passive)
Passive Voice Rules & Usage with Examples
The passive is used:
When the agent (= the person who does the action) is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context. Examples:
Jane was shot. (We don’t know who shot her.)
This house was built in 1815. (unimportant agent). To make more polite or formal statements. Examples:
The trees haven’t been watered. (more polite)
You haven’t watered the trees. (less polite) When the action is more important than the agent, as in processes, instructions, events, reports, headlines, news items, and advertisements. Example:
60 people were killed in shootings across Chicago between Friday and Monday morning. To put emphasis on the agent. Example:
The new bar will be opened by Sean.
Active and Passive Voice for All Tenses
Learn passive vs active voice for different tenses in English, please note that:
V1: Base Form of Verb
V2: Past Simple V3: Past Participle Present Simple Tense Active Voice:
S + V1
Passive voice:
S + am/ is/ are + V3
Example:
I make a cake. (Active)
A cake is made by me. (Passive) Present Continuous Tense Active voice:
S + am/is/are + V-ing
The passive:
S + am/ is/ are + being + V3
Example:
They are planting some trees. (Active)
Some trees are being planted. (Passive) Present Perfect Tense Active voice:
S + have/ has + V3
Passive voice: S + have/ has + been + V3
Example:
Someone has eaten my muffin. (Active)
My muffin has been eaten. (Passive) Present Perfect Continuous Active Voice:
S + have/ has + been + V-ing
The Passive:
S + have/ has + been + being + V3
Active and passive voice example:
Lisa has not been practicing English. (Active)
English has not been being practiced by Lisa. (Passive) Future with WILL Active voice:
S + will/ shall + V1
Passive voice:
S + will be + V3
Active and passive voice example:
My parents will take us to the park. (Active)
We will be taken to the park by our parents. (Passive) Future with BE GOING TO Active voice:
S + am/ is/ are + going to + V1
Passive voice:
S + am/ is/ are going to be + V3
Active and passive voice example:
I am going to read the book. (Active)
The book is going to be read by me. (Passive) Future Continuous with WILL Active Voice:
S + will/ shall + be + V-ing
The Passive:
S + will/ shall + be + being + V3
Active and passive voice example:
She will be taking care of her children at this time tomorrow. (Active) Her children will be being taken care of at this time tomorrow. (Passive) Future Continuous with BE GOING TO Active voice:
S + am/ is/ are + going to + be + V-ing.
Passive voice:
S + am/ is/ are + going to + be + being + V3.
Example:
Linda is going to be preparing dinner. (Active)
Dinner is going to be being prepared by Linda. (Passive) Future Perfect with WILL Active voice:
S + will + have + V3
Passive voice:
S + will have been + V3
Example:
I will have finished my report by the end of this month. (Active)
My report will have been finished by the end of this month.. (Passive) Future Perfect with BE GOING TO Active voice:
S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + V3
The Passive:
S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + V3
Example:
I am going to have finished my report by the end of this month. (Active)
My report is going to have been finished by the end of this month. (Passive) Future Perfect Continuous with WILL Active voice:
S + will + have + been + V-ing
The Passive:
S + will + have + been + being + V3
Example:
I will have been teaching English for 5 years by next week. (Active) English will have been being taught by me for 5 years by next week. (Passive) Future Perfect Continuous with BE GOING TO Active voice:
S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + V-ing.
The Passive:
S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + being + V3.
Example:
He is going to have been watching TV. (Active)
TV is going to have been being watched by him. (Passive) Past Simple Active voice:
S + V2
Passive voice:
S + was/ were + V3
Example: I visited my uncle last week. (Active) My uncle was visited by me last week. (Passive) Past Continuous Active voice:
S + was/ were + V-ing
Passive voice:
S + was/ were + being + V3
Example:
Sam was delivering the letters to the department. (Active)
The letters were being delivered to the department by Sam. (Passive) Past Perfect Active voice:
S + had + V3
The Passive:
S + had been + V3
Example:
He had read the book before Nick came. (Active)
The book had been read before Nick came. (Passive) Past Perfect Continuous Active voice:
S + had + been + V-ing
Passive voice:
S + had + been + being + V3
Example:
I had been typing the essay for 3 hours before you came yesterday. (Active) The essay had been being typed for 3 hours before you came yesterday. (Passive) Future in the Past (Would) Active voice: S + would + V1
The Passive:
S + would + be + V3
Example:
She would type the letters. (Active)
The letters would be typed by her. (Passive) Causative Form Active voice:
