The passive voice

The Passive is not a tense. You will

find it easier to understand the passive
if you already know the basic English
verb tenses.

Mg. Jos Carlos Yoctun C.

 Present Simple Passive (1)
You can have passive verbs in all the different tenses. We will start with
the present simple. Here is an active verb in the present simple:

The nurse attaches the needle to the syringe.

Now lets change it to the passive voice:

The needle is attached by the nurse.

Toismake the passive

attached Touse
make
is present thethe
simple verb passive,
passiveIf(because
you needis
to mention
is in the present
to BE in the same use
simple). tense
the as3theform or
rd who is doing the action,
original sentence pasthereparticiple
it is the of theuse by to introduce it.
present simple tense
main verb.
 Present Simple Passive (2)
Take a look at some more sentences in the present simple passive.

These procedures are performed by everybody.

The verb to be is plural in

this sentence to agree with
procedures.
These procedures are not performed by everybody.

Make the verb to BE by may not be

negative in the usual way. necessary. If its not
important, leave it out.
 Present Continuous Passive
Lets look at how the passive works in other tenses. Here is a sentence in
the present continuous:
They are explaining the procedure to the patient.

Now lets change it to the passive voice:

The procedure is being explained to the patient (by them)

We dont often use to

To BE
makein the passive,
by them doesnt tell us
present continuous tense
use the 3rd formmuch
so this or (who are they?) so
may look unfamiliar!
past participle of the leave it out.
main verb.
 Past Simple Passive
Here is a sentence in the past simple:
Someone stole a million pounds from the bank.

Now lets change it to the passive voice:

A million pounds was stolen from the bank (by someone)

to BE in the past simple tense

To make theispassive,
by someone doesnt tell
was (singular) or were (plural)
use the 3rd form or
us much (who was it?) so
past participle of the leave it out.
main verb.
 Present Perfect Passive
Here is a sentence in the present perfect.
They have forgiven you.

Now lets change it to the passive voice:

You have been forgiven.

to BE in the present perfect

To make the passive,
tense is has been (singular) or the 3rd form or
use
have been (plural) past participle of the
main verb.
This presentation did not cover all
the tenses but maybe it gave you
an idea about how to form the
passive.
 Note
GET can be used instead of be in informal
speech to show that something happened
unexpectedly.

His jeans got caught on a spike as he was

climbing over the fence.
 By + agent is used when we want to
emphasise who does or what causes the
action.

The investigatiosn was ordered by the

Police Commissioner.
 With + instrument/material; of +
material describe what caused the action
or what the agent used to perform it.

This photograph was taken with an

expensive camera.

The basement was flooded with water.

This cardigan is made of wool.

 NOTE THE FOLLOWING
CHANGES
He gave her a rose.

She was given a rose. Or

A rose was given to her.

 Who wrote this play?

Who was this play written by?

By whom was this play written?

 They didnt change anything.

Nothing was changed.

Notany no
Notany of none of
Notanyone no one / nobody
Notanything nothing
Make
Hear
Help + bare infinitive
See, etc.

Make
Hear
Help + full infinitive
See, etc.
 John made me leave.

I was made to leave (by John)

 Let be allowed to

They didnt let me go to the party.

I was not allowed to go to the party.

 You have to let the dog out.

The dog has to be let out.

 Scientists believe that this virus is deadly.

It is believed that this virus is deadly.

This virus is believed to be deadly.

 Believe, consider, expect, find, hope,
know, report, say, think, understand, etc.
 A car nearly knocked Jane down this
morning.

Jane was nearly knocked down by a car

this morning.