Definition
Passive voice is a form of
Active : S + Verb/Modal+ O
Passive : S + Verb/Modal+ O
sentence where the subject of
the sentence takes action, not
takes action. Unlike active
voice which focuses on the
party doing the action (doer of
action), this form focuses more
on the party or object that
receives the result of an action
(receiver of action)
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The use of Passive Voice

A.Passive voice is used if we only want to B.Passive voice is used to avoid something
focus on the event not on who did it Pseudo subject (someone, somebody).

• Active : The man is kicking the ball now. • Active : Someone hit the mirror last night.
• Passive: The ball is being kicked now. / • Passive: The mirror was hit last night. /
The ball is being kicked by the man now The mirror was hit by someone last night.

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Passive Voice patterns and examples
Simple present tense
Active : Budi writes a letter.
(S +V1(s/es) + O)
Passive : A letter is written by Budi
(S + am/is/are + V3 + Agent)
Present perfect tense
Active : Someone has written the letter.
(S + has/have + V3 + o)
Passive: The letter has been written by someone.
(S + has/have + been + V3)
Present continuous
Active : Servant is cleaning the floor
(S + To be + Ving + O
Passive :The floor are being cleaned by the serval
(S + is/am/are + being +V3 + Agent )
Present perfect continuous
Active : We have been helping the poor people
(S + have/has + been + Ving + O
Passive : The poor people have been being helped
by us.
(S + ihave/has +been + being +V3 + Agent )
Passive Voice patterns and examples

Simple past Past continuous

Active : I ate fried rice yesterday Active : The boys were painting the wall.
(S + V2 + O) (S + was/were + Ving + O

Passive : Fried rice was eaten by me yesterday Passive : The wall were being painted by the
(S + was/were + V3) boys.
. (S + was/were+ being +V3 + Agent )

Past perfect Past perfect continuous

Active : We had watched Titanic movie. Active : The man had been cutting by the grass.
(S + had + V3 + o) (S + had+ been + Ving + O

Passive : Titanic movie had been watched by us. Passive : The grass had been being cut by the
(S + had + been + V3) man.
(S + had+been + being +V3 + Agent )
Passive Voice patterns and examples

Simple future Future continuous

Active : Maggie will wash the car Active: Andre will be collecting the paper.
(S + will+V1(s/es) + O ) (S + wiil + be + Ving + O
Passive : the car will be washed by Maggie. Passive: The paper will be being collected by
(S+ will+ be + V3 + Agent) Andre
(S + will + be + being +V3 + Agent )

Future perfect continuous

Active : Michael will have been presenting final roject.
(S + will + have + been +Ving + o)

Passive : Final project will have been being presented by Michael.

(S + will + have + been + being + V3)
Task of Passive Voice

• Passive voice “past perfect”

• Future perfect continuous
• Many people will be understood by their
boss.(simple future)
• My sister is being interviewed by her teacher
now.(present continuous)

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Task of Passive Voice
Change these sentences into passive form
Answer:

1. “My Mother fixed the car yesterday 1. The car was fixed by my mother yesterday

2. The computers are being used by the

2. The students are using the computers now students now.

3. Mandarin course has been taken by Joe

3. Joe has taken a Mandarin cours

4. A cup of tea will be made by her

4. She will make a cup of tea .

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