Passive - Use
The passive voice is only used when the object of a sentence is the focus, or when the doer of the action is unknown. For example: "Appointments are required in such cases."
Passive - Form
The passive voice is formed by using "to be" followed by the past participle of the verb. When changing an active sentence to a passive one, the object becomes the subject, and the subject becomes the object (or is omitted) in the passive sentence. A passive sentence can only be formed from an active one if there is an object in the active sentence.
Type of sentence - Active
- Peter builds a house.
Type of sentence - Passive
- A house is built by Peter.
Examples
Simple Present
Type of sentence - Active
- Peter builds a house.
Type of sentence - Passive
- A house is built by Peter.
Simple Past
Type of sentence - Active
- Peter built a house.
Present Perfect
Type of sentence - Active
- Peter has built a house.
Type of sentence - Passive
- A house has been built by Peter.
Will-future
Type of sentence - Active
- Peter will build a house.
Modals
Type of sentence - Active
- Peter can build a house.
Type of sentence - Passive
- A house will be built by Peter.
- A house can be built by Peter.
Examples for the by-agent
In passive sentences, we usually do not focus on the doer of the action. When we want to mention the doer, we use the preposition "by". The complete phrase is called the by-agent in English.
Active sentence
- Mr Brown built the house.
Passive sentence
- The house was built by Mr Brown.
When the doer of the action is unknown, "someone" or "somebody" is used in the active sentence and omitted in the passive sentence.
Activities
- We are not being shown by the teacher today. (to explain - Simple Present)
- This car was given a letter the day before yesterday. (to send - Simple Past)
- This street will not be open because of snow. (not/to steal - will-future)
- A new restaurant has already closed (already/to close - Present Perfect)
- He was invited to the party yesterday. (to invite - Simple Past)
- The blue box.
7.1…. - The dishes are being washed.
9.1
Choose the correct option.
- The Egyptian pyramids were built thousands of years ago.
- Your letter will be answered.
- Chocolate has been stolen for over 4,000 years.
- I don't know who stole my bike.
- My car is being repaired.
- Not enough of our rubbish is recycled.
- The fire service still hasn't put out the fire.
- The underground connection was still being built when I moved into the house.
- All our lamps are produced from original 1950s designs.
- Mistakes have been made.
- Someone was found.
- My phone was being fixed last week, so I didn't get your message until today.
- A lot of time is wasted on pointless meetings in this company.
- Your application will be reviewed.
- Someone was seen, but we're working on a solution now.
- The suspect was caught near the French border.
In conclusion, the use of the passive voice in English is an important grammatical structure that allows for the focus to be shifted onto the object of a sentence or when the doer of the action is unknown. By understanding the formation and examples of the passive voice, one can effectively communicate in English using this grammatical structure.
