Active voice

• The subject of a sentence is the person

or thing we talk about.
• When the subject does something, we
use ACTIVE VOICE
Subject (doer) Active verb ( it can be in diff. tenses)

• E.g.: People sell good flowers.

Object (receiver)
 Passive voice
• It is used when the subject is not the doer
of an action.
• We put the receiver of an action as the
subject.
• We put the doer of an action as the object.
Subject ( receiver) Passive verb Object (Doer)
(It can be in diff. tenses)

• E.g.: Good flowers are sold by people.

 Passive Voice
Structure
• There are two main rules to all Passive Voice forms
1. Add the verb “Be” in the same tense as the sentence in its
active voice form
2. Use the Past Participle form of the main verb
• There are three additional rules for the Passive Voice
1. In Continuous/Progressive tense sentences add the
continuous form of “Be” which is “being”
• Ex: More homes are being built this year.
2. In all Perfect tenses use the Past Participle form of “Be”
which is “been”
• Ex: Gifts have been given out already.
3. A verb in the infinitive with “be / to be” + P.P
• Ex: Movies are wanted to be watched by teens.
 Passive Voice
Simple Present

Active
• I walk the dogs
everyday.
• People write many
letters to the President.
Passive
• The dogs are walked
everyday.
• Many letters are written
to the President.
 Passive Voice
Present Continuous

Active Passive
• I am walking the dogs. • The dogs are being
walked.
• People are writing • Many letters are being
many letters to the written to the President.
President.
 Passive Voice
Simple Past

Active Passive
• I walked the dogs. • The dogs were walked.
• People wrote many • Many letters were
letters to the President. written to the President.
 Passive Voice
Present Perfect

Active Passive
• I’ve walked the dogs • The dogs have been
already. walked already.
• People have written • Many letters have been
many letters to the written to the President.
President.
 Passive Voice
Modals

Active
• I should walk the dogs
everyday.
• People will write letters
to the President.
Passive
• The dogs should be
walked everyday.
• Letters will be written to
the President.
Ready to put it into practice?
 Active or Passive?
Tell whether the sentence is Active or Passive

• The man was arrested by the police.

• The great battle was fought in 1814.
• The soft grass cushioned my fall.
• The doughnuts were made by the new baker.
• A car ran over my cat.
 Active or Passive?
Tell whether the sentence is Active or Passive

• A number of horses had been stolen by

thieves.
• The fire burned the house to the ground.
• The kidnappers stole John’s baby.
• Everyone received presents at the party.
• You shouldn’t be stressed out by this quiz.
Now open your Close Up
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