PASSIVE VOICE

Active: S + V + O

Passive: S + Be + PP(V3ed) +

by + O (tense)EX: My father planted this tree last year.

This tree was planted by my father last year.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Simple Present Tense

Active: S + V(s/es) + O

Passive: S + am/is/are + PP + by + O

EX: He reads books every day.Books are read (by him) every day.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Present Continuous TenseActive: S + am/is/are + V-ing + O

Passive: S + am/is/are + being +PP + by + O

EX: He is writing a novel at the moment.

A novel is being written (by him) at the moment.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Present Perfect TenseActive: S + Has/Have + V3

ed + O

Passive: S + has/have + been +PP + by + O

EX: He has just finished a novel.A novel has just been

finished (by him).

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Simple Past TenseActive: S + V2

ed + O

Passive: S + was/were + PP + by + O

EX: He gave Tom a book.A book was given to Tom (by

him).Tom was given a book (by him).

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Past Continuous TenseActive: S + was/were + V-ing + O

Passive: S + was/were + being + PP + by + O

EX: He was writing a letter at 8.00 yesterday.A letter was being written (by him).

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Past Perfect TenseActive: S + had + V3

ed + O

Passive: S + had + been + PP + by + O

EX: He had finished his homework before 8.00 yesterday.

His homework had been finished (by him) before 8.00 yesterday.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Simple Future TenseActive: S + will/shall + V + O

Passive: S + will/shall + be + PP + by + O

EX: He will finish the homework.The homework will be finished.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Future Continuous TenseActive: S + will/shall + be + V-ing + O

Passive: S + will/shall + be + being + PP + by + O

EX: Tom will be cooking lunch at 10.00 tomorrow.

Lunch will be being cooked by Tom at 10.00 tomorrow.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE

VOICE The Future Perfect TenseActive: S + will/shall + have + V3

ed + O

Passive: S + will/shall + have + been + PP + by + O

EX: By the end of next week, he will have written 10 letters to her.

By the end of next week, 10 letters will have been written to her.

MODAL VERBS (MV) IN PASSIVE VOICE

Modal Verbs can be used in either the present or past forms.

Active: S + MV (not) + V + O

Passive: S + MV (not) + Be + PP + by + O

EX: We can’t solve this problem.

This problem can’t be solved.

PASSIVE VOICE WITH CAUSATIVE FORM

Active: S + Has/Have + O1 + V (BI)+ O2

S + Get + O1 + V (to-infinitive) + O2

Passive: S +Has/Have/Get + O2 + PP+(by O1)

EX: My father had Tom wash his car.My father had his car washed by Tom

OTHER INFINITIVE COMBINATIONS IN PASSIVE

VOICEVerbs of liking/loving/wanting/wishing +

Object + infinitive form, their passive with the passive infinitive.

Active: S + V + O1 + to-infinitive + O2

Passive: S + V + O + To Be + PPEX: He wants someone to take

photographs.

He wants photographs to be taken.

Such verbs as “have/let/make/hear/see/watch/feel/ observe” are used in the following passive structure:

Active: S + V + O + V (BI)Passive: S + To Be + PP + to-Infinitive

EX: The gravity makes things drop down.

Things are made to drop down by the gravity.

Note: The verb following “let” does not bear “to” in the passive sentence.

OTHER INFINITIVE COMBINATIONS IN PASSIVE

VOICEWith advise/beg/order/recommend/urge +

Indirect Object + Infinitive + Object, we have two ways of making the passive voice.

<1>Active: S + V + O1 + to-infinitive + O2

Passive: S + To Be + PP + to-infinitive + O2

EX: He urged the Council to reduce the tax.The Council was urged to reduce the

tax.

OTHER INFINITIVE COMBINATIONS IN PASSIVE

VOICEWith advise/beg/order/recommend/urge +

Indirect Object + infinitive + Object, we have two ways of making the passive voice.

<2>Active: S + V + O1 + to-infinitive + O2

Passive: S1 + V + that + S2 + should be + PP

EX: He urged the Council to reduce the tax.He urged that the tax should be

reduced.

OTHER INFINITIVE COMBINATIONS AFTER THE

PASSIVE VERB

After acknowledge/assume/believe/claim/

consider /estimate/feel/find/know/report/

say/think /understand …, we use the infinitive construction.

Simple Infinitive: if the time in the infinitive passive is the same as that of the main active verb.

<1>Active: S1 + V1 + that + S2 + V2 + (O)

Passive: It + To Be + PP + that + S2 + V2 + (O)

EX: People said that he was jealous of her.

It was said that he was jealous of her.

<2>Active: S1 + V1 + that + S2 + V2 + (O)

Passive: S+ To Be + PP + to + V+ (O)

EX: People said that he was jealous of her.

He was said to be jealous of her.

Perfect Infinitive: if the time in the infinitive passive is earlier than that of the main active verb.

<1>Active: S1 + V1 + that + S2 + V2 + (O)

Passive: It + To Be + PP + that + S2 + V2 + (O)

EX: People say that he was jealous of her.It is said that he was jealous of her.

<2>Active: S1 + V1 + that + S2 + V2 + (O)

Passive: S+ To Be + PP + to have + PP + (O)

EX: People say that he was jealous of her.

He is said to have been jealous of her.

OTHER GERUND COMBINATIONS IN PASSIVE

VOICEWith advise/insist/propose/recommend/suggest + Gerund + Object

Active: S + V + V-ing + O

Passive: S + V + that + S + should be + PP EX: He recommended using bullet-proof

glass. He recommended that bullet-proof glass should be used.

OTHER GERUND COMBINATIONS IN PASSIVE

VOICEActive: S + V + O + V-ing

Passive: S + V + Being + PP + by + O

EX: I remembered my father taking me to the zoo. I remember being taken to the zoo by my father.

Active: S + V + To-inf + O

Passive: S + V + To Be + PP + by + O EX: She started to learn English 5 years ago.

English started to be learnt 5 years ago. Active: S + V + V-ing + O

Passive: S + V + Being + PP + by + OEX: She started learning English 5 years ago.

English started being learnt 5 years ago.

D. Complex verbs that consist of verb + preposition are treated as one unit when changed to passive.

EXERCISESEXERCISES CHAPTER 1CHAPTER 1

They laughed at him. => He was laughed at (by them). Nobody has slept in this room. => This room has not been slept in (by

anybody).

E. Besides by, the prepositions at and with may also be used in passive sentences.

EXERCISESEXERCISES CHAPTER 1CHAPTER 1

AtAt be alarmed at be surprised at

WithWith be pleased withbe satisfied withbe covered withbe (pre)occupied with

At or WithAt or With be delighted at/withbe disgusted at/ with