Active voice

Passive voice

voice

Sentence Structures

Passive of imperative sentences

Examples

Forms of passive verbs

General Rule According To Tense

Review

Activity

Voice is the quality of a verb which indicates

whether the subject acts or is being acted upon.

Active voice

Passive voice

The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject

of the verb is performing the action or causing the

happening denoted by the verb.

The boy hit the ball.

Active voice adds clarity and places responsibility

where it belongs

Active voice can make our writing more vivid

The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of

the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action

denoted by the verb.

The ball was hit. (Or, "The ball was hit by the boy")

If the action is more important then the agent.

If the agent is not known.

To connect ideas in different clauses or sentences more

clearly.

Subject ( Doer ) + Verb + Object

subject + modal verb + auxiliary verb (be) + main verb (past participle)

subject + auxiliary verb (be) + main verb (past participle)

Cat eat fish.

Fish is eaten by cat.

Fish must be eaten by cat.

The active object becomes the passive

subject.

MODALS

Active Voice Passive Voice

• Should take

• Can take

• Could take

• May take

• Might take

• Must take

• Ought to take

• Should be taken

• Can be taken

• Could be taken

• May be taken

• Might be taken

• Must be taken

• Ought to be taken

let + subject +be (not) +past participle

Active : Shut the door.

Passive : Let the door be shut.

Active : Kindly help him.

Passive : You are requested to help him.

I. linking verb am

is

are

was

were

be

being

been

The passive voice requires a "double verb"

II. The main verb in the form of past participle

NOUNS

Active Voice Passive Voice

• I

• We

• You

• He

• She

• It

• They

• Sham

• By me

• By us

• By you

• By him

• By her

• By it

• By them

• By sham

Often passive voice sentences will contain a preposition

"by" .

Tense Active Voice Passive Voice

Simple

Present

• Take

• Takes

• Is taken

• Are taken

Present

Continuous

• Am taking

• Is taking

• Are taking

• Is being taken

• Are being taken

Present

Perfect

• Has taken

• Have taken

• Has been taken

• Have been

taken

Tense Active Voice Passive Voice

Simple

Past• Took

• Was taken

• Were taken

Past

Continuous

• Was taking

• Were taking

• Was being taken

• Were being

taken

Past

Perfect• Had taken • Had been taken

Tense Active Voice Passive Voice

Simple

Future (will/shall)

• Will take

• Shall take

• Will be taken

• Shall be taken

Simple

Future (going to be)

• Am going to take a

cake

• She is going to take

two cakes

• They are going to

take a cake

• Cake is going to be taken

by me

• Two cakes are going to

be taken by her

• Cake is going to be taken

by them

Future

Perfect

• Will have

taken

• Will have been

taken

Change the sentences below to the passive

voice.

My uncle looks after me. I am looked after by my uncle.

Someone must have

stolen the necklace.

The necklace must have

been stolen by you.

Inform the police. Let the police be informed.

The boys are running a race. A race is being run by the

boys.

is the quality of a verb which indicates whether the subject acts

or is being acted upon.

the voice used to indicate that the grammatical

subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the

happening denoted by the verb.

The voice used to indicate that the

grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the

source) of the action denoted by the verb.

Subject ( Doer ) + Verb + Object

subject + auxiliary verb (be) + main verb (past participle)

let + subject +be (not) +past participle

Simple Present

Present Continuous

Present Perfect

Simple past

Past Continuous

Past Perfect

Simple Future

Future perfect

http://www.towson.edu/ows/index.htm (Towson university)

http://forum.jamali4u.com/index.php ( a forum)

http://staff.jccc.net/pmcqueen/tips/voice.htm

Essential English Grammar (book)

.