Use of the passive voice:

1. Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.

2. Who or what is performing the action it is not important or unknown.

3. Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following

4. Passive voice is used when the agent is obvious.

Example: The burglar was arrested last night (he was obviously arrested by the police)

5. You are talking about a general truth:

Example:  Rules are made to be broken. [By whomever, whenever.]

6. You are writing in a scientific genre that traditionally relies on passive voice.

Example: The sodium hydroxide was dissolved in water.

Form of the passive voice:

Subject + the appropriate form of to be + Past Participle

NOTE: The appropriate form of to be = to be is put in the tense of the main verb of the active
sentence.

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.)
Active / Passive Verb Forms

Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and "passive forms." You must
learn to recognize the difference to successfully speak English.

Active Form

In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action
is the object. Most sentences are active.

[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]

Examples:

Passive Form

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action
is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing
receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do
not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.

[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]

Examples:
Tense Active Passive

Simple Present Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Present Right now, Sarah is writing the letter. Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.
Continuous

Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.

Past The salesman was helping the customer when the thief The customer was being helped by the salesman when the
Continuous came into the store. thief came into the store.

Present Many tourists have visited that castle. That castle has been visited by many tourists.
Perfect

Present Recently, John has been doing the work. Recently, the work has been being done by John.
Perfect
Continuous

George had repaired many cars before he received his Many cars had been repaired by George before he received
Past Perfect
mechanic's license. his mechanic's license.

Past Perfect Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared
Continuous fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris. by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris.

Simple Future Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM. The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
will

Simple Future Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight.
be going to

Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by
Continuous John.
will

Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being
Continuous dishes. washed by John.
be going to

Future Perfect They will have completed the project before the The project will have been completed before the deadline.
will deadline.

Future Perfect They are going to have completed the project before The project is going to have been completed before the
be going to the deadline. deadline.

Future Perfect The famous artist will have been painting the mural for The mural will have been being painted by the famous
Continuous over six months by the time it is finished. artist for over six months by the time it is finished.
will

Future Perfect The famous artist is going to have been painting the The mural is going to have been being painted by the
Continuous mural for over six months by the time it is finished. famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.
be going to

Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Would Always My mother would always make the pies. The pies would always be made by my mother.

Future in the I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.
Past
Would

Future in the I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally
Past tonight. tonight.
Was Going to