The Passive Voice

1. Form:
The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active
verb and adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes the “agent” of
the passive verb. The agent is very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by ( by ) and
placed at the end of the clause.

* Active: Selma wrote the letter.

(subject) (verb) (object)

* Passive: The letter was written (by Selma).

(subject) (verb) (agent)

2. Use: We use the passive voice:

 When the doer of the action is not known or is not important.
 When we are more interested in the action than in the person who does it.
 For psychological reasons, to disclaim responsibility for disagreeable announcements.

3. Examples:

Tenses The Active Form The Passive Form

Present Selma writes the letter The letter is written (by Selma)
Simple -Simple Present of “to be” +Past Participle -
Past Selma wrote the letter The letter was written (by Selma)
-Simple Past of “to be” +Past Participle -
Present Selma is writing the letter The letter is being written (by Selma)
Continuous -Simple Present of “to be”+ being +Past Participle -
Past Selma was writing the letter The letter was being written (by Selma)
-Simple Past of “to be”+ being +Past Participle -
Present Selma has written the letter The letter has been written (by Selma)
Perfect -Simple Present of “to have”+ been +Past Participle -
Past Selma had written the letter The letter had been written (by Selma)
-Simple Past of “to have”+ been +Past Participle -

Will will will

Can can can
Modal
(Auxiliaries)
May Selma may write the letter The letter may be written (by Selma)
Must must must
Have to has to has to

- The modal (auxiliary) + be + Past Participle -

Be going to Selma is/was going to write the letter The letter is/was going to be written (by Selma)
-Simple Present/Past of “to be”+ going to be +Past Participle-
We form the passive voice of present, past, and future tense sentences with the
appropriate form of to be and the past participle of the main verb
Active Passive
John does the cleaning. *- The cleaning is done (by John.
John did the cleaning. *- The cleaning was done (by John).
John will do the cleaning. *- The cleaning will be done (by John).

We form the passive voice of perfect tenses with have (has)/ had been and the past
participle of the main verb.
John has/ had done the cleaning. *- The cleaning has/ had been done (by John).

We form the passive voice of sentences using can, may, must, etc. with be and the past
participle of the main verb.
John can/ may/ must do the cleaning. *- The cleaning can/ may/ must be done (by John).

We form the passive voice of continuous tenses with being and the past participle of the
main verb.
John is/ was doing the cleaning. *- The cleaning is/ was being done (by John).

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Complete the following sentences beginning with the words given.

1. They make cars in Brazil. *- Cars …………………………………….…

2. The postman delivered letters. *- Letters………………………………….….
3. They are building a new bridge. *- A new bridge ………………….………….
4. Someone was watering flowers. *- Flowers ……………………………………
5. People have seen wolves. *- Wolves …………………………………....
6. Somebody had taken my keys. *- My keys ………………………….………..
7. You must do it right now. *- It …………………………………………..
8. We can’t forget this experience. *- This experience ………….………………..
9. People will always remember Diana. *- Diana ………………………………………
10. They would tell you what to do. *- You ………………………………..………
11. No one could answer that question. *- That question ………………......………….
12. People speak French in Canada. *- French ……………………………………..
13. Carlos is teaching me Spanish. *- I ……………………………………………
14. Suzan will look after the children. *- The children …………………….…………
15. The guests bought her a lot of gifts. *- She …………………………………………
16. Mr. Smith takes care of the garden. *- The garden …………………………………
17. Someone saw the criminal last night. *- The criminal ……………………….………
18. They didn’t give them enough time. *- They ……………………………….………
19. They’ll have informed you by June. *- The reports ………………………...………
20. We are going to prepare tea. *- Tea ………………………………...............