Passive

The passive voice is used when we want to focus attention on the person or thing affected by the action. Example - My room is cleaned by me everyday. - "my room" here is the subject of the sentence.

1. How to form the Passive

Passive forms are made up of an appropriate form of the verb TO BE followed by the past participle (pp) form of the verb. To DO => to be DONE (do – did – done)


The Active voice is used when we want to focus attention on the person or thing affected by the action.

  • The queen invited me for tea.
  • I clean my room everyday.

If you want to focus on the person or thing affected by the action, you make the person or thing the subject of the sentence and use the Passive voice:

  • I was invited for tea by the queen.
  • My room is cleaned by me everyday.

Compare the Activective and Passive.

  • I clean my room everyday. - "my room" here the object of the sentence.
  • My room is cleaned by me everyday. - "my room" here is the subject of the sentence.

2. A complete list of all the verb forms that are usually used in the passive voice.

Verb form Construction Example
Present simple am/is/are + past participle
  • Bread is made from flour.
Present continuous am/are/is being + past participle
  • My house is being repainted.
Present perfect simple has/have been + past participle
  • He’s just been promoted head of department.
Past simple was/were + past participle
  • All her money was stolen from her handbag.
Past simple continuous was/were being + past participle
  • She was being given medication for her illness when she suddenly died.
Past perfect simple had been + past participle
  • The potatoes had been cooked for too long and so were very soft.
Future simple will be + past participle
  • The house will be demolished next week.
Future perfect simple will have been + past participle
  • There’s no point in hurrying to the party. All the drinks will have been drunk by now.
Infinitive (to) be + past participle
  • The animals must not be fed at the zoo.
 

Tests: