Passive Voice

Anna Bąba

Passive Voice

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action. e.g. My bike was stolen.In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. We do not know, however, who did it.

Use of Passive Voice

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows: e.g. A mistake was made.In this case, we focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but we do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Use of Passive Voice

We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle. Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle A book was read.

Form of Passive Voice

Passive Voice

Irish people eat a lot of potatoes. (Present Simple)A lot of potatoes are eaten by Irish people. (are - Present Simple)Mark is reading a book. (Present Continuous)A book is being read by Mark (is being - Present Continuous)I have done my homework. (Present Perfect)My homework has been done. (has been - Present Perfect)

Present Tenses

The cat drank the milk. (Past Simple)The milk was drunk by the cat. (was - Past Simple)I was packing my school bag. (Past Continuous)My school bag was being packed by me. (was being - Past Continuous)They had taken the man to hospital. (Past Perfect)The man had been taken to hospital. (had been - Past Perfect)

Past Tenses

We will write an essay. (Future Simple)An essay will be written by us. (will be - Future Simple)Ron is going to build a house. (going to)A house is going to be built by Ron. (is going to be - going to)The children must feed the cat. (modal)The cat must be fed by the children. (must be - modal)

Future / Modals

Exercises

Homework

Thanks!