PASSIVE VOICE

Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however,
who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however,
who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example
shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You
have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is
dropped)
Examples of Passive
Tense
Simple Present

Subject
Active:
Passive:

Simple Past

Active:
Passive:

Present Perfect

Active:
Passive:

Future I

Active:
Passive:

Modals

Active:
Passive:

Rita

Verb

Object

writes

a letter.

is written

by Rita.

wrote

a letter.

A letter

was written

by Rita.

Rita

has written

a letter.

has been written

by Rita.

will write

a letter.

will be written

by Rita.

can write

a letter.

can be written

by Rita.

A letter
Rita

A letter
Rita
A letter
Rita
A letter

Examples of Passive
Tense

Subject

Present
Progressive

Active:

Past
Progressive

Active:

Past Perfect

Active:

Passive
:
Passive
:
Passive
:

Future II

Rita

Conditional I

a letter.

is being written

by Rita.

was writing

a letter.

was being written

by Rita.

had written

a letter.

A letter

had been written

by Rita.

Rita

will have written

a letter.

will have been written

by Rita.

would write

a letter.

would be written

by Rita.

would have written

a letter.

A letter
Rita
A letter
Rita

Conditional II

A letter

Active:
Passive
:

Rita
A letter

Active:
Passive
:

Object

is writing

Active:
Passive
:

Verb

Rita

A letter would have been written by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects
becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject
depends on what you want to put the focus on.
Subject
Active:

Rita

Verb

Object 1

Object 2

wrote

a letter

to me.

Passive:

A letter

was written

to me

by Rita.

Passive:

was written

a letter

by Rita.

.
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. Thats why it is
usually dropped.
Personal and Impersonal Passive
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the
passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal
passive.
Example: They build houses. Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as
there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an
intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction therefore this passive is
calledImpersonal Passive.
Example: he says it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German,
Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think,
know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. It is said that women live longer than
men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of
perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive
construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active
sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

1. Write passive sentences in Simple Present.

a) the documents / print
f) the letter / send
b) the window / open
g) the book / read / not
c) the shoes / buy
h) the songs / sing / not
d) the car / wash
i) the food / eat / not
e) the litter / throw away
j) the shop / close / not
k) 2. Write passive sentences in Simple Past.
a) the test / write
f) dinner / serve
b) the table / set
g) this computer / sell / not
c) the cat / feed
h) the car / stop / not
d) the lights / switch on
i) the tables / clean / not
e) the house / build
j) the children / pick up / not
k) 3. Write passive sentences in Present Perfect.
a) the postcard / send
f) the trees / plant
b) the pencils / count
g) the money / spend
c) the door / close
h) the room / book / not
d) the beds / make
i) the rent / pay / not
e) the mail / write
j) the people / inform / not
k) 4. Write passive sentences in Future I.
a) the exhibition / visit
e) the photo / take
b) the windows / clean
f) these songs / sing
c) the message / read
g) the sign / see / not
d) the thief / arrest
h) a dictionary / use / not

i) credit cards / accept / not

j) the ring / find / not
k) 5. Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. He opens the door. 25.
They have not read the
2. We set the table. book. 3. She pays a lot of money. 26.
You have not sent the
4. I draw a picture. parcel. 5. They wear blue shoes. 27.
We have not agreed to this
6. They don't help you. issue. 7. He doesn't open the book. 28.
They have not caught the
8. You do not write the letter. thieves. 9. Does your mum pick you up? 29.
Has she phoned him? 10.
Does the police officer catch
30.
Have they noticed us? the thief?
31.
Jane will buy a new
11.
She sang a song. computer. 12.
Somebody hit me. 32.
Her boyfriend will install it. 13.
We stopped the bus. 33.
Millions of people will visit
14.
A thief stole my car. the museum. 15.
They didn't let him go. 34.
Our boss will sign the
16.
She didn't win the prize. contract. 17.
They didn't make their beds.
35.
You will not do it. 36.
They will not show the new
18.
I did not tell them. film. 19.
Did you tell them? 37.
He won't see Sue. 20.
Did he send the letter? 38.
They will not ask him. 21.
Kerrie has paid the bill. 39.
Will the company employ a
22.
I have eaten a hamburger. 23.
We have cycled five miles. new worker? 24.
I have opened the present. 40.
Will the plumber repair the
shower?

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