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Active and Passive Verb Forms

The document discusses the differences between active and passive verb forms and provides examples of how to form sentences in both the active and passive voice across various tenses. Active sentences have the subject performing the action while passive sentences have the subject receiving the action.

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kiran krishna
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37 views3 pages

Active and Passive Verb Forms

The document discusses the differences between active and passive verb forms and provides examples of how to form sentences in both the active and passive voice across various tenses. Active sentences have the subject performing the action while passive sentences have the subject receiving the action.

Uploaded by

kiran krishna
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Active and 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:

Active and Passive Overview

TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE


Simple Present Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by
Tom
Present Continuous Right now, Sarah is writing the letter. Right now, the letter is being written
by Sarah.
Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam

Past Continuous The salesman was helping the customer The customer was being helped by
when the thief came into the store. the salesman when the thief came
into the store.
Present Perfect Many tourists have visited that castle. That castle has been visited by many
tourists.
Present Perfect Recently, John has been doing the work. Recently, the work has been being
Continuous done by John
Past Perfect George had repaired many cars before Many cars had been repaired by
he received his mechanic's license. George before he received his
mechanic's license.
Past Perfect Chef Jones had been preparing the The restaurant's fantastic dinners had
Continuous restaurant's fantastic dinners for two been being prepared by Chef Jones
years before he moved to Paris. for two years before he moved to
Paris.
Simple Future Someone will finish the work by 5:00 The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
will PM.
Simple Future Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner A beautiful dinner is going to be made
be going to tonight. by Sally tonight.
Future Continuous At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be
will the dishes being washed by John
Future Continuous At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are
be going to washing the dishes. going to be being washed by John.
Future Perfect They will have completed the project The project will have been completed
will before the deadline. before the deadline.
Future Perfect They are going to have completed the The project is going to have been
be going to project before the deadline. completed before the deadline.
Future Perfect The famous artist will have been painting The mural will have been being
Continuous the mural for over six months by the painted by the famous artist for over
will time it is finished. six months by the time it is finished.
Future Perfect The famous artist is going to have been The mural is going to have been being
Continuous painting the mural for over six months painted by the famous artist for over
be going to by the time it is finished. six months by the time it is finished.
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 Past I knew John would finish the work by I knew the work would be finished by
Would 5:00 PM. 5:00 PM.
Future in the Past I thought Sally was going to make a I thought a beautiful dinner was going
Was Going to beautiful dinner tonight. to be made by Sally tonight

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