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.

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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.

To make the passive To use make thethe verb passive, If(because you needis to mention is attached is present simple passive is in the present rd to BE in the same use tense the as 3the form or who is doing the action, simple). original sentence past here participle it is the of the use 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 Make the verb to BE negative in the usual way.

by everybody. by may not be 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 make in the passive, by them doesnt tell us present continuous tense use the so this 3rd form much 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 To make tense theis passive, by someone doesnt tell was (singular) or were use the (plural) 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) use or the 3rd form or 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 Notany of Notanyone Notanything no none of no one / nobody nothing

Make Hear Help See, etc. Make Hear Help See, etc.

bare infinitive

full infinitive

 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.