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An idea can be expressed in two different ways. We can
do it by using a verb to indicate whether the subject
performs an action (active voice) or receives the action
(passive voice).

 
 : The  is in the active voice when the

  (cat) does the action.

: A cat  the fish. (Verb: ate / Object:
fish)
Here, the doer of the action is a cat and the verb ³´ is
in the  
 . The  
comes after the 


 : When action is done to the  , the

verb is in the 
 . The previous   (fish)
is now used as the  .

: The fish 
 by a cat. (Verb:
eaten / Subject: fish)
Here, action is done to the subject and the verb ³

´ is in the 
 . The subject comes
before the verb.

In changing a sentence, as above, from active voice to

one in the passive voice, we make the   of the
 
  sentence the   of the 
 
sentence. The verb used in a passive voice sentence is
formed by adding the 
  to ³

( , ,
!
!
!
"
!
"
!

!
 ‘)
Passive verbs have the same tenses (simple present
tense, present continuous tense, present perfect tense,
etc.) as active verbs.
Only verbs which take on an object can be changed to
the passive. When we choose passive sentences, we
use the preposition µ#º to show who or what does or
has done the action. We use µbyº only when we have to.

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We use the active voice whenever we can. We use only
the passive voice:
§ when we donºt know who performs the action;

: The bank 
( into last night.
§ when we know or it is important to know who performs
an action.

: This painting 
) by my
grandmother.
§ when the action itself is more important than the doer.

: Siblings  tragically () in a road
accident.
§ when we are interested only in what happens rather
than who or what did it;

: The giant snake 
() in that village.
§ when we choose not to name the one who performs
the action;

: The work  poorly ).
§ when it is not important to know who does, or did the
action;

: All these wares 
 ) from
Hong Kong.
§ when we donºt want to take responsibility for
something;

: The matter  currently ) with by
someone.
§ when we wish to emphasize the person or thing acted
on rather than the one who does it.

: John 
) with a bravery
award yesterday.

*
+
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Note the following:
§ As evidenced above, in converting a sentence in
active voice to a sentence in the passive voice, the
object of the active voice sentence becomes the
subject of the passive voice sentence.

: He ) the picture. / The picture 

) by him.
§ Sentences in the 
  do not make sense if
the ³doers´ are not mentioned.

: ³The match was won.´ (µdoersº left out) as
opposed to ³The match 
 by Liverpool´
§ A 
 is a verb that has an object that
comes after it and so can be changed into the passive
voice.

: ³Lee " a ball.´ can be changed to ³A
ball 
" by Lee´.
§ An 
 is a verb that does not have an
object following it and so cannot be changed into the
passive voice.

: Lee ( away. (--: Lee was
walked away.)
§ The passive voice is often used to evade responsibility
by people or organizations.

: The report 
 by somebody. (Who
is that µsomebodyº )

: All workers 
 .) to work
overtime. (Encouraged by whom )
§ Notices often use the passive voice.

: Customers 
)) to leave all their
belongings here.
§ An active sentence when changed to a passive
sentence conveys the same meaning. The only
difference is that the object in an active sentence is
 repositioned to become the subject in a passive
sentence, and the subject in the active sentence
becomes the object in the passive sentence.
§ We need to be sure of what we are saying. If we are
not sure of our facts, we can exercise caution by
saying: 

)
" he is the culprit. / &

) to
be the culprit.
§ It is possible to use µgetº instead of µto beº, especially
so in our everyday conversation.

: I .
") by the salesman. / They
think he will .
 in the race.

/
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A verb can have two objects ± a person and a thing.
Such a verb can have two possible passive voices.

1
 : The salesman shows  (
a new  
2

The salesman shows a new
  to  (.

: Nick 
" a new computer.

: A new computer 
" to Nick.


1
 : We lent , some #. / We lent some
# to ,.

: Bob 
 some money.

: Some money 
 to Bob.

3



4
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)
5 



)

"


 
#
 .:
modal + to be/to have been + past participle:

1

it will be
will I will write
written
it may be
may I may write
written
may I may have it may have
have written been written

We form the passive voice with the verb µto beº and the
past particle.
The 
5  are:
 



1
The letter 
 by her. ( : She
 the letter.)





1
The letter 
. written by her. ( :
She 
. the letter.)


5 


1
The letter "

 by her. ( :
She "
 the letter.)
 



1
The letter 
 by her. ( : She

the letter.)





1
The letter 
.
 by her.
( : She 
. the letter.)


5 


1
The letter ")

 by her.
( : She ")
 the letter.)
 
5


1
The letter 

 by her. ( :
She 
 the letter.)
+
5 


1
The letter 
"

 by her.
( : She 
"
 the letter.)
5
6

1
The letter has


.
( : She has 
 the letter.)
)
6

1
The letter #

.
( : She #
 the letter.)

: The 
5 
, "


5 
, "
5
, and the
5
5 
 tenses are not normally
used in the 
 .