THE PASSIVE

THE PASSIVE
USE

The passive is used when we want to focus on the action rather

than on the person who did it.

ACTIVE SENTENCE
Social networking reunited old friends.

The subject carries out the action.

PASSIVE SENTENCE
Old friends were reunited by social networking.

The subject is affected by the action.

 THE PASSIVE
FORM

When we change an active sentence into a passive one:

1. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the

passive.
2. The subject of the active becomes the agent of the passive and is
preceded by the preposition by.
3. The auxiliary verb to be is used in the same tense as the main
verb of the active sentence and we add the past participle of the
main verb.

Social networking reunited old friends.

Old friends were reunited by social networking.

 THE PASSIVE
FORM OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS

ACTIVE (SUBJECT) PASSIVE (OBJECT)

I me
you you
he/ she him/ her
we us
you you
they them
 THE PASSIVE
FORM OF THE VERB TENSES

PRESENT SIMPLE
Active: Technology changes the world.
Passive: The world is changed by technology.

PAST SIMPLE
Active: Technology changed the world.
Passive: The world was changed by technology.

PRESENT PERFECT
Active: Technology has changed the world.
Passive: The world has been changed by technology.
 THE PASSIVE
FORM OF THE VERB TENSES

PAST PERFECT
Active: Technology had changed the world.
Passive: The world had been changed by technology.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Active: Technology is changing the world.
Passive: The world is being changed by technology.

PAST CONTINUOUS
Active: Technology was changing the world.
Passive: The world was being changed by technology.
 THE PASSIVE
FORM OF THE VERB TENSES

FUTURE SIMPLE
Active: Technology will change the world.
Passive: The world will be changed by technology.

WITH MODAL VERB CAN

Active: Technology can change the world.
Passive: The world can be changed by technology.

WITH MODAL VERB MUST

Active: Technology must change the world.
Passive: The world must be changed by technology.
 THE PASSIVE
DOUBLE OBJECT PASSIVE

My brother gave me aActive

notebook for my birthday.

When we have two different objects in the sentence, we can turn it

into two different passive sentences:

• One sentence starting with the direct object (a notebook)

Passive
A notebook was given to me for my birthday by my brother.

• The other starting with the indirect object (me)

I was given a notebookPassive

for my birthday by my brother.
Make the corresponding passive sentence.

1. Joan’s boss gave her a new smart phone yesterday.

Joan ________________________________________________.
was given a new smart phone by her boss yesterday

2. He calls his girlfriend every day.

is called by him every day
His girlfriend __________________________________________.

3. We have seen the new tablet’s advertisement.

The new tablet’s advertisement ____________________________.
has been seen by us

4. She had written an article about hackers.

An article about hackers _________________________________.
had been written by her
Rewrite in the passive.

1. New technologies are saving energy.

_____________________________________________________.
Energy is being saved by new technologies.

2. I will send an email showing our disfavour.

An email showing our disfavour will be sent by me
_____________________________________________________.

3. They must decline strangers’ friendship requests.

Strangers’ friendship requests must be declined by them
_____________________________________________________.

4. He broke his parents’ monitor a few days ago.

His parents’ monitor was broken by him a few days ago
_____________________________________________________.