Active / Passive Overview

Active Passive

Simple Once a week, Tom cleans the Once a week, the house is
Present house. cleaned by Tom.

Present Right now, Sarah is writing the Right now, the letter is being
Continuous letter. written by Sarah.

Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.

Past The salesman was helping the The customer was being
Continuous customer when the thief came helped by the salesman when
into the store. the thief came into the store.

Present Many tourists have visited that That castle has been visited by
Perfect castle. many tourists.

Present Recently, John has been Recently, the work has been
Perfect doing the work. being done by John.
Continuous

Past Perfect George had repaired many Many cars had been repaired by
cars before he received his George before he received his
mechanic's license. mechanic's license.

Past Perfect Chef Jones had been The restaurant's fantastic

Continuous preparing the restaurant's dinners had been being
fantastic dinners for two years prepared by Chef Jones for two
before he moved to Paris. years before he moved to Paris.

Simple Someone will finish the work The work will be finished by
Future by 5:00 PM. 5:00 PM.
WILL

Simple Sally is going to make a A beautiful dinner is going to be

Future beautiful dinner tonight. made by Sally tonight.
BE GOING TO

Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John will At 8:00 PM tonight, the

Continuous be washingthe dishes. dishes will be being washed by
WILL John.
Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John is At 8:00 PM tonight, the
Continuous going to be washing the dishes are going to be being
BE GOING TO dishes. washed by John.

Future They will have completed the The project will have been
Perfect project before the deadline. completed before the deadline.
WILL

Future They are going to have The project is going to have

Perfect completed the project before been completedbefore the
BE GOING TO the deadline. deadline.

Future The famous artist will have The mural will have been being
Perfect been paintingthe mural for painted by the famous artist for
Continuous over six months by the time it is over six months by the time it is
WILL finished. finished.

Future The famous artist is going to The mural is going to have

Perfect have been painting the mural been being paintedby the
Continuous for over six months by the time famous artist for over six months
BE GOING TO it is finished. by the time it is finished.

Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by
Jerry.

Would My mother would always The pies would always be

Always make the pies. made by my mother.

Future in the I knew John would finish the I knew the work would be
Past work by 5:00 PM. finished by 5:00 PM.
WOULD

Future in the I thought Sally was going to I thought a beautiful dinner was
Past make a beautiful dinner tonight. going to be made by Sally
WAS GOING TO tonight.