T H E PA S S I V E V O I C E

PRESENT SIMPLE
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
PA S T S I M P L E
PRESENT PERFECT
FUTURE
 FORMATION (PRESENT SIMPLE)
Subject + present form of the verb to be + Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)
PRESENT SIMPLE

Charles writes a book.

A book is written by Charles.
PRESENT SIMPLE

Phil cleans the windows.

The windows are cleaned by Phil.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
I write a book. A book is written by me.
You write a book. A book is written by you.
He writes a book. A book is written by him.
She writes a book. A book is written by her.
We write a book. A book is written by us.
You write a book. A book is written by you.
They write a book. A book is written by them.
 PRACTICE:

1. This newspaper employs two hundred people.

Two hundred people are employed by this newspaper.

2. These girls buy trendy clothes.

Trendy clothes are bought by these girls.

3. John usually reads adventure books.

Adventure books are usually read by John.

4. They don’t accept credit cards here.

Credit cards aren’t accepted here.
 FORMATION (PRESENT CONTINUOUS)

Subject + present form of the verb to be + being + Past Participle (3rd form of
irregular verbs)
PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Charles is writing a book.

A book is being written by Charles.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Phil is cleaning the windows.

The windows are being cleaned by Phil.
 ACTIVE PASSIVE
I am writing a book. A book is being written by me.
You are writing a book. A book is being written by you.
He is writing a book. A book is being written by him.
She is writing a book. A book is being written by her.
We are writing a book. A book is being written by us.
You are writing a book. A book is being written by you.
They are writing a book. A book is being written by them.
PRACTICE:
1. Someone is processing your documents tomorrow.

Your documents are being processed tomorrow.

2. They are treating three people at the hospital.
Three people are being treated at the hospital.
3. My parents are cooking dinner now.
Dinner is being cooked by my parents now.
 FORMATION (PAST SIMPLE)

Subject + past form of the verb to be + Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)

PAST SIMPLE
Charles wrote a book.
A book was written by Charles.

Phil cleaned the windows. PAST SIMPLE

The windows were cleaned by Phil.
 ACTIVE PASSIVE
I wrote a book. A book was written by me.
You wrote a book. A book was written by you.
He wrote a book. A book was written by him.
She wrote a book. A book was written by her.
We wrote a book. A book was written by us.
You wrote a book. A book was written by you.
They wrote a book. A book was written by them.
PRACTICE:
1. Someone made this car in Germany.
This car was made in Germany.
2. They finished the project before the deadline.
The project was finished before the deadline.
3. Somebody left the key at the reception desk.
The key was left at the reception desk.

4. Someone stole my pen yesterday.

My pen was stolen yesterday.

5. Several architects designed this monastery.

This monastery was designed by several architects.
 FORMATION (PRESENT PERFECT)

Subject + present perfect form of the verb to be + Past Participle (3rd

form of irregular verbs)
PRESENT PERFECT

Charles has written a book.

A book has been written by Charles.
PRESENT PERFECT

Phil has cleaned the windows.

The windows have been cleaned by Phil.
 ACTIVE PASSIVE
I have written a book. A book has been written by me.
You have written a book. A book has been written by you.
He has written a book. A book has been written by him.
She has written a book. A book has been written by her.
We have written a book. A book has been written by us.
You have written a book. A book has been written by you.
They have written a book. A book has been written by them.
PRACTICE:

1. The police have arrested two thieves today.

Two thieves have been arrested by the police today.
2. They have postponed the president’s trip.

The president’s trip has been postponed.

3. My sister has completed a new project.

A new project has been completed by my sister.

4. Jane has never eaten an Indian meal.
An Indian meal has never been eaten by Jane.
 FORMATION (FUTURE)

Subject + will future form of the verb to be + Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)

FUTURE
Charles will write a book.
A book will be written by Charles.

FUTURE
Phil will clean the windows.
The windows will be cleaned by Phil.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
I will write a book. A book will be written by me.
You will write a book. A book will be written by you.
He will write a book. A book will be written by him.
She will write a book. A book will be written by her.
We will write a book. A book will be written by us.
You will write a book. A book will be written by you.
They will write a book. A book will be written by them.
 PRACTICE:
1.They will introduce new laws to stop domestic violence.
New laws will be introduced to stop domestic violence.
2. My father will buy all the Beatles records.
All the Beatles records will be bought by my father.
3. They will serve lunch at one o’clock.
Lunch will be served at one o’clock.
4. They will build a new bridge next year.
A new bridge will be built next year.