Active / Passive Verb Forms

Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and
"passive forms." You must learn to recognize the difference to successfully speak English.
Active Form
In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subect of the sentence and the thing
receiving the action is the obect. !ost sentences are active.
[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]
E"amples#
Passive Form
In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subect of the sentence and the
thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the
passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be
emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not kno$ $ho is doing the action
or if you do not $ant to mention $ho is doing the action.
[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]
1. entences are passive !hen the s"b#ect does not perform the action.
$. The s"b#ect receives an action or is the res"lt of an action.
%. The passive voice is formed !ith a form of be and the past participle of the
main verb.
&. Passive sentences foc"s on the no"n that is the receiver or res"lt of an action
rather than the no"n that is performing the action 'the agent(.
). Passive sentences are "sed to ma*e sentence so"nd more impersonal e.g. +t
!as said that there is no e,c"se for not coming to class on -onday.
E"amples#
.A/A.T0/+T+.A
1. Se dice que una oracin est en VOZ ACTIVA cuando la significacin del verbo es
producida por la persona gramatical a quien aqul se refiere:
Pedro de Mendoza founded Buenos Aires.
(Pedro de Mendoza fund uenos !ires".
#. Se dice que una oracin est en VOZ PASIVA cuando la significacin del verbo es
recibida por la persona gramatical a quien aqul se refiere:
Buenos Aires was founded by Pedro de Mendoza.
(uenos !ires fue fundada por Pedro de Mendoza".
$. Se forma con el au%iliar del verbo to be & el participio pasado del verbo que se
con'uga.
(. )l complemento de la oracin activa pasa a su'eto de la pasiva. *omo en castellano+
el su'eto de la activa se puede conservar como su'eto agente.
,. *uando un verbo tiene dos complementos se pueden -acer dos estructuras de
pasiva:
a" A book was sent to Tom by Mr. Smith+ .n libro fue enviado a /om por Mr. Smit-.
b" Tom was sent a book by Mr. Smith (pasiva idiomtica". )sta estructura no es posible
en castellano.
-12031 20 V0/41 05 V16 PA+VA
TO BE SEEN = SER VISTO
PRESENTE
I am seen+ so& visto
you are seen+ eres visto
he is seen+ es visto
we are seen+ somos vistos
you are seen+ sois vistos
they are seen+ son vistos
PRETERITO PERFECTO
I have been seen+ -e sido visto
you have been seen+ -as sido visto
he has been seen+ -a sido visto
we have been seen+ -emos sido vistos
you have been seen+ -abis sido vistos
they have been seen+ -an sido vistos
PASADO
I was seen+ fui visto
you were seen+ fuiste visto
he was seen+ fue visto
we were seen+ fuimos vistos
you were seen+ fuisteis vistos
they were seen+ fueron vistos
FUTURO
I shall be seen+ ser visto
you will be seen+ sers visto
he will be seen+ ser visto
we shall be seen+ seremos vistos
you will be seen+ seris vistos
they will be seen+ sern vistos
PRETERITO PLUSCUAPERFECTO: I had been seen+ -ab0a sido visto
CONDICIONAL: I should be seen+ ser0a visto
FUTURO PERFECTO: I shall have been seen+ -abr sido visto
CONDICIONAL PERFECTO: I should have been seen+ -abr0a sido visto

V16 A.T+VA 7 PA+VA8 /093A P/A.T+.A 05 & PA1.
1. 1a voz pasiva se forma con e! "erbo to be #on$u%ado &'( e! part)#)p)o de!
"erbo pr)n#)pa!. )n ingls es muc-o ms frecuente que en espa2ol &+ normalmente+
aparece cuando no es importante quien realiza una accin sino el -ec-o en s0. Por eso+
no siempre que veamos una pasiva+ tenemos que traducirlo literalmente+ puesto que
en espa2ol suena ms forzado. S!o e( po()b!e e! u(o de !a "o* pa()"a #on "erbo(
tran()t)"o( (verbos que llevan complemento directo".
VOZ ACTIVA
/om +r)te( a letter
/om )( +r)t)n% a letter
/om +a( +r)t)n% a letter
/om +rote a letter
VOZ PASIVA
! letter )( +r)tten b& /om
! letter )( be)n% +r)tten b& /om
! letter +a( be)n% +r)tten b& /om
! letter +a( +r)tten b& /om
/om ,a( +r)tten a letter
/om ,ad +r)tten a letter
/om +)!! +r)te a letter
/om )( %o)n% to +r)te a letter
/om #an +r)te a letter
/om #ou!d +r)te a letter
/om &u(t +r)te a letter
/om &a- +r)te a letter
/om &)%,t +r)te a letter
! letter ,a( been +r)tten b& /om
! letter ,ad been +r)tten b& /om
! letter +)!! be +r)tten b& /om
! letter )( %o)n% to be +r)tten b& /om
! letter #an be +r)tten b& /om
! letter #ou!d be +r)tten b& /om
! letter &u(t be +r)tten b& /om
! letter &a- be +r)tten...
! letter &)%,t be +r)tten...
2. )l su'eto agente se e%presa con by. Sin embargo+ en la ma&or0a de las ocasiones
se prescinde del su'eto &a que no nos interesa saber quin e%actamente e'ecuta la
accin. Si una oracin activa tiene complemento directo e indirecto+ #ua!.u)era de
!o( do( #o&p!e&ento( puede ser su'eto paciente de la pasiva:
ACTIVE/ Someone gives me a dog
PASSIVE 0/ ! dog )( %)"en to me
PASSIVE 1/ 3 a& %)"en a dog (forma pasiva idiomtica"
1a forma pasiva de doing, seeing, etc es being done, being seen, etc.
ACTIVE/ 3 don4t li5e peop!e te!!)n% &e 6-at to do
PASSIVE/ 3 don4t li5e be)n% to!d 6-at to do
)n ocasiones en las que ocurre algo a veces imprevisto+ no planeado o fortuito para la
formacin de la voz pasiva se prefiere usar get & no be:
get -urt+ get anno&ed+ get divorced+ get married+ get invited+ get bored+ get lost
3. 1as construcciones impersonales (se dice+ se comenta+ etc." son mu& t0picas de la
pasiva & dif0ciles de traducir para los -ispanoparlantes. )ste tipo de construccin
pasiva 7utilizada cada vez con ma&or frecuencia en los medios7 se forma con la
estructura (u$eto 2 to be 2 part)#)p!e: 3t is reported (Se informa"8 3t is said (Se
dice"8 3t is 5no6n (Se sabe"8 3t is supposed (Se supone"8 3t is considered (Se
considera"8 3t is e%pected (Se espera". 9eamos algunos e'emplos:
ACTIVE/ E"er-bod- t,)n3( *at-& 6or5s ver& -ard.
PASSIVE 0/ *at-& )( t,ou%,t to 6or5 ver& -ard. (Se piensa que *at-&..."
PASSIVE 1/ It )( t,ou%,t t-at *at-& 6or5s ver& -ard. (Se piensa que *at-&..."
ACTIVE/ T,e- be!)e"e /om is 6earing a 6-ite pullover.
PASSIVE 0/ /om )( be!)e"ed to be 6earing a 6-ite pullover. (Se cree que..."
PASSIVE 1/ It )( be!)e"ed t-at /om is 6earing a 6-ite pullover. (Se cree que..."
4. :1 A2+.+15A30 20 SUPPOSE
a" Se usa en afirmativo para acciones que estaban planeadas+ que se supone que van
a realizar+ u obligaciones que uno deber0a cumplir.
:ou +ere (uppo(ed to be -ere at ;:<< am==
b" >tras veces+ el uso de suosed indica que estos planes o obligaciones finalmente
no se cumplieron:
/-e train +a( (uppo(ed to arrive at , o4cloc5. (but it arrived at ? o4cloc5"
:ou +ere (uppo(ed to go to t-e supermar5et. (but &ou didn4t go"
c" Por el contrario+ en negativo+ suosed significa la no conveniencia o pro-ibicin de
-acer algo:
:ou are not (uppo(ed to smo5e -ere. (&ou are not allo6ed to smo5e -ere"
:ou are not (uppo(ed to cop& our 6eb files. (&ou must not cop& our 6eb files"
Active / Passive 1vervie!
%ctive &assive
Simple
&resent
'nce a $eek, Tom cleans the
house.
'nce a $eek, the house is cleaned
by Tom.
&resent
(ontinuous
)ight no$, Sarah is !riting the
letter.
)ight no$, the letter is being
!ritten by Sarah.
Simple &ast Sam repaired the car. The car !as repaired by Sam.
&ast
(ontinuous
The salesman !as helping the
customer $hen the thief came
into the store.
The customer !as being helped
by the salesman $hen the thief
came into the store.
&resent
&erfect
!any tourists have visited that
castle.
That castle has been visited by
many tourists.
&resent
&erfect
(ontinuous
)ecently, *ohn has been doing
the $ork.
)ecently, the $ork has been being
done by *ohn.
&ast &erfect +eorge had repaired many cars
before he received his
mechanic,s license.
!any cars had been repaired by
+eorge before he received his
mechanic,s license.
&ast &erfect
(ontinuous
(hef *ones had been preparing
the restaurant,s fantastic dinners
for t$o years before he moved to
&aris.
The restaurant,s fantastic dinners
had been being prepared by (hef
*ones for t$o years before he
moved to &aris.
Simple -uture
WILL
Someone !ill finish the $ork by
.#// &!.
The $ork !ill be finished by .#//
&!.
Simple -uture
BE GOING TO
Sally is going to ma*e a
beautiful dinner tonight.
% beautiful dinner is going to be
made by Sally tonight.
-uture
(ontinuous
WILL
%t 0#// &! tonight, *ohn !ill be
!ashing the dishes.
%t 0#// &! tonight, the dishes !ill
be being !ashed by *ohn.
-uture
(ontinuous
BE GOING TO
%t 0#// &! tonight, *ohn is
going to be !ashing the dishes.
%t 0#// &! tonight, the dishes are
going to be being !ashed by
*ohn.
-uture &erfect
WILL
They !ill have completed the
proect before the deadline.
The proect !ill have been
completed before the deadline.
-uture &erfect
BE GOING TO
They are going to have
completed the proect before the
deadline.
The proect is going to have been
completed before the deadline.
-uture &erfect
(ontinuous
WILL
The famous artist !ill have been
painting the mural for over si"
months by the time it is finished.
The mural !ill have been being
painted by the famous artist for
over si" months by the time it is
finished.
-uture &erfect
(ontinuous
BE GOING TO
The famous artist is going to
have been painting the mural for
over si" months by the time it is
finished.
The mural is going to have been
being painted by the famous artist
for over si" months by the time it is
finished.
1sed to *erry "sed to pay the bills. The bills "sed to be paid by *erry.
2ould %l$ays !y mother !o"ld al!ays ma*e
the pies.
The pies !o"ld al!ays be made
by my mother.
-uture in the
&ast
WOULD
I kne$ *ohn !o"ld finish the
$ork by .#// &!.
I kne$ the $ork !o"ld be finished
by .#// &!.
-uture in the
&ast
WAS GOING TO
I thought Sally !as going to
ma*e a beautiful dinner tonight.
I thought a beautiful dinner !as
going to be made by Sally tonight.
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE TENSES CHART
+-P30 P/005T and +-P30 PAT
The active obect becomes the passive subect.
am3is3are 4 past participle
$as3$ere 4 past participle
Active8 imple Present
The movie fascinates me.
The movie bores *ack.
The movie surprises them.
Passive8 imple Present
I am fascinated by the movie.
*ack is bored by the movie.
They are surprised by the movie.
Active8 imple Past
The movie bored me.
The movie fascinated *ack.
The movie surprised them.
Passive8 imple Past
I $as bored by the movie.
*ack $as fascinated by the movie.
They $ere surprisedby the movie.
P/005T and PAT .15T+5:1: 'P/19/0+V0(
&assive form#
am3is3are 4 being 4 past participle
$as3$ere 4 being 4 past participle
Active8 Present .ontin"o"s
I am helping Shannon.
*une is helping Su and 5ing.
&assive# &resent (ontinuous
Shannon is being helped by me.
Su and 5ing are being helped by *une.
Active8 Past .ontin"o"s
I $as cleaning the bathroom.
Passive8 Past .ontin"o"s
The bathroom $as being cleaned by me.
They $ere cleaning the bedroom.
Susan $as cleaning the kitchen and
patio.
The bedroom $as being cleaned by
them.
The kitchen and patio $ere being
cleaned by Susan.
P/005T P0/F0.T; PAT P0/F0.T and F:T:/0 P0/F0.T
&assive form#
have3has been 4 past participle
had been 4 past participle
Active8 Present Perfect
I have mailed the gift.
*ack has mailed the gifts.
Passive8 Present Perfect
The gift has been mailed by me.
The gifts have been mailed by *ack.
Active8 Past Perfect
Steven Spielberg had directed the
movie.
&enny !arshall had directed those
movies.
Passive8 Past Perfect
The movie had been directed by Steven
Spielberg.
The movies had been directed by &enny
!arshall.
Active8 F"t"re Perfect
*ohn $ill have finished the proect ne"t
month.
They $ill have finished the proects
before then.
Passive8 F"t"re Perfect
The proect $ill have been finished by
ne"t month.
The proects $ill have been finished
before then.
F:T:/0 T050
&assive forms# $ill 4 be 4 past participle
is3are going to be 4 past participle
Active8 F"t"re !ith <+33
I $ill mail the gift.
*ack $ill mail the gifts.
Passive8 F"t"re !ith <+33
The gift $ill be mailed by me.
The gifts $ill be mailed by *ack.
Active8 F"t"re !ith 91+59 T1
I am going to make the cake.
Sue is going to make t$o cakes.
Passive8 F"t"re !ith 91+59 T1
The cake is going to be made by me.
T$o cakes are going to be made by Sue.
Conjugation for the Passive Voice
Here are some examples with most of the possible tenses:
infinitive to be washed
simple
present It is washed.
past It was washed.
future It will be washed.
conditional It would be washed.
continuous present It is being washed.
past It was being washed.
future It will be being washed.
conditional It would be being washed.
perfect simple
present It has been washed.
past It had been washed.
future It will have been washed.
conditional It would have been washed.
perfect continuous
present It has been being washed.
past It had been being washed.
future It will have been being washed.
conditional It would have been being washed.
Active or Passive Voice
1.
Everybody ___ by the terrible news yesterday.
shocked
was shocked
2.
r. !reen ___ at the "niversity since 1#$#.
has been teachin%
has been tau%ht
&.
'ot much ___ about the accident since that time.
has said
has been said
(.
) new book ___ by that company next year.
will publish
will be published
*.
He ___ the %irl+s name now.
remembers
is remembered
,.
-he secretary ___ to her new boss yesterday.
introduced
was introduced
..
/ur plan ___ by the members of the committee.
is bein% considered
is considered
$.
He ___ responsible for the accident.
was holdin%
was held
#.
) pri0e ___ to whoever solves this e1uation.
will be %ivin%
will be %iven
12.
3hen the mana%er arrived4 the problem ___ .
had already been solved.
had already solved.
Active or Passive Qui
1
I ate a piece of chocolate cake.
2
-he librarian read the book to the students.
&
-he money was stolen.
(
-hey are paid on 5ridays.
*
-he movie is bein% made in Hollywood.
,
I washed my car three weeks a%o.
.
His hair was cut by a professional.
$
I will introduce you to my boss this week.
#
It would have been fixed on the weekend.
12
-he national anthem is bein% sun% by 6ason this time.
Active or Passive Voice answers
1.
Everybody ___ by the terrible news yesterday.
shocked
was shocked
2.
r. !reen ___ at the "niversity since 1#$#.
has been teachin%
has been tau%ht
&.
'ot much ___ about the accident since that time.
has said
has been said
(.
) new book ___ by that company next year.
will publish
will be published
*.
He ___ the %irl+s name now.
remembers
is remembered
,.
-he secretary ___ to her new boss yesterday.
introduced
was introduced
..
/ur plan ___ by the members of the committee.
is bein% considered
is considered
$.
He ___ responsible for the accident.
was holdin%
was held
#.
) pri0e ___ to whoever solves this e1uation.
will be %ivin%
will be %iven
12.
3hen the mana%er arrived4 the problem ___ .
had already been solved.
had already solved.
Active or Passive Qui
1
I ate a piece of chocolate cake.
2
-he librarian read the book to the students.
&
-he money was stolen.
(
-hey are paid on 5ridays.
*
-he movie is bein% made in Hollywood.
,
I washed my car three weeks a%o.
.
His hair was cut by a professional.
$
I will introduce you to my boss this week.
#
It would have been fixed on the weekend.
12
-he national anthem is bein% sun% by 6ason this time.