Passive - Use

We only use the passive when we are interested in the object or when we do not know who caused
the action.

Example: Appointments are required in such cases.

We can only form a passive sentence from an active sentence when there is an object in the active
sentence.

Form

to be + past participle

How to form a passive sentence when an active sentence is given:

- object of the "active" sentence becomes subject in the "passive" sentence
- subject of the "active" sentence becomes "object" in the "passive" sentence" (or is left out)

Active: Peter builds a house.

Passive: A house is built by Peter.

Examples

Active Peter builds a house.

Simple Present
Passive: A house is built by Peter.

Active: Peter built a house.

Simple Past
Passive: A house was built by Peter.

Active: Peter has built a house.

Present Perfect
Passive: A house has been built by Peter.

Active: Peter will build a house. will-future

Passive: A house will be built by Peter.

Active: Peter can build a house.

Modals
Passive: A house can be built by Peter.

Here you will find some examples of how to form the passive depending on the tense.

tense active passive

Simple Present Peter builds a house. A house is built by Peter.

Simple Past Peter built a house. A house was built by Peter.

Present Perfect Peter has built a house. A house has been built by Peter.

Past Perfect Peter had built a house. A house had been built by Peter.

will-future Peter will build a house. A house will be built by Peter.

Peter is going to build a house A house is going to be built in summer by

going to-future
in summer. Peter.

We have listed active and passive forms in the following table.

We used the phrase I drive and have put this phrase into most common tenses.

Active (Simple Forms)

Simple Present I drive

Simple Past I drove
Present Perfect I have driven
Past Perfect I had driven
will-future I will drive
Future Perfect I will have driven
Conditional I I would drive
Conditional II I would have driven

Active (Progressive/Continuous Forms)

Simple Present I am driving

Simple Past I was driving
Present Perfect I have been driving
Past Perfect I had been driving
will-future I will be driving
Future Perfect I will have been driving
Conditional I I would be driving
Conditional II I would have been driving

Passive (Simple Forms)

Simple Present I am driven

Simple Past I was driven
Present Perfect I have been driven
Past Perfect I had been driven
will-future I will be driven
Future Perfect I will have been driven
Conditional I I would be driven
Conditional II I would have been driven

Passive (Progressive/Continuous Forms)

Present I am being driven

Past I was being driven
Present Perfect ¹ I have been being driven
Past Perfect ¹ I had been being driven
Future ¹ I will be being driven
Future Perfect ¹ I will have been being driven
Conditional I ¹ I would be being driven
Conditional II ¹ I would have been being driven

¹ Tenses which are rarely used in everyday conversation.

Verbs with prepositions in passive

When we put an active sentence, where a preposition follows after the verb (e.g. break into, look
after), into passive - the preposition remains immediately after the verb.

Active sentence Passive sentence

Someone broke into the pet shop. The pet shop was broken into.

Passive sentences - Exercise

1) Julia rescued three cats.
Three cats were rescued.

2) The students handed in the reports.

The reports were handed in.

3) Maria crashed into the blue car.

The blue car was crashed into.

4) Alex learned the poem.

The poem was learned.

5) Steven has forgotten the book.

The book has been forgotten.

6) The mechanic has not repaired the DVD recorder.

The DVD recorder has not been repaired.

7) They play handball.

Handball is played.

8) Sue puts the rucksack on the floor.

The rucksack is put on the floor.

9) The girls had lost the match.

The match had been lost.

10) The teacher is not going to open the window.

The window is not going to be opened.

Passive sentences in the Simple Past - Exercise

1) She bought four apples.
Four apples were bought.

2) We won the match.

The match was won.

3) The man stole the blue car.

The blue car was stolen.

4) The police arrested the thieves.

The thieves were arrested.

5) Jack swam the 200 metres.

The 200 metres were swum.

6) The dog bit the old lady.

The old lady was bitten.

7) Tom and Max ate five hamburgers.

Five hamburgers were eaten.

8) Oliver taught the children.

The children were taught.

9) Victoria rode the brown horse.

The brown horse was ridden.

10) Grandmother told good stories.

Good stories were told.

Passive - Sentences in the Simple Present - Exercise

1) Mr Jones watches the film.
The film is watched.

2) The people speak English.

English is spoken.

3) He reads comics.
Comics are read.

4) We play volleyball.
Volleyball is played.

5) They sing the song.

The song is sung.

6) I take photos.
Photos are taken.

7) She does the housework.

The housework is done.

8) The policemen help the children.

The children are helped.

9) He writes text messages.

Text messages are written.

10) Mother waters the flowers.

The flowers are watered.

Passive - various tenses - Exercise

1) The words are explained by the teacher today.

2) We were sent a letter the day before yesterday.

3) This car will not be stolen. It's too old.

4) This street has already been closed because of snow.

5) A new restaurant will be opened next week.

6) He was invited to the party yesterday.

7) The blue box cannot be seen.

8) I was given the book by my friend last Sunday.

9) The dishes have not been washed by my little brother.

10) I will not be asked by Rober