Passive sentences are mostly used when we are more interested in what happens than in who makes it happen

Active: Karl Benz built the first motor car. (Emphasis on Karl Benz = agent)
Passive: The first motor car was built by Karl Benz. (Emphasis on the car)

ACTIVE A + verb + B

TENSE

PASSIVE B + VERB to be + Past participle + (by A if needed)

John rides a bike Peter is reading a book Oscar Wilde wrote The picture of Dorian Gray. Mum was making a cake. Many people have visited the museum. Tom had told that joke before. The teacher will find new exercises for the test.

Present simple Present continuous Past simple

A bike is ridden by John. A book is being read by Peter. The picture of Dorian Gray was written by Oscar Wilde.

Past continuous A cake was being made by mum. Present perfect The museum has been visited by many people. Past perfect Future with WILL That joke had been told by Tom before. New exercises will be found for the test.

John collects money. Anna opened the window. They have painted the walls. The police officer will ask a question. The sheep ate a lot of grass. We didnt clean our rooms. William will not repair the car.

Remember to pay attention to the verb tense in the active sentence. Then you know the tense to use with the verb to be.

The Statue of Liberty (give) to the United States by France.

It (be) a present on the 100th anniversary of the United States. The Statue of Liberty (design) by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.

It (complete) in France in July 1884.

In 350 pieces, the statue then (ship) to New York, where it (arrive) on 17 June 1885.

 The

pieces (put) together and the opening ceremony (take) place on 28 October 1886. The Statue of Liberty (be) 46 m high (93 m including the base). The statue (represent) the goddess of liberty. She (hold) a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand. On the tablet you (see / can) the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776). Every year, the Statue of Liberty (visit) by many people from all over the world.

Rewrite the active sentences in passive voice and the passive sentences in active voice.

Active: Many people visit Washington. Passive:

Active: Passive: The White House was built by James Hoban.

Active: Passive: The White House and the Capitol are connected by Pennsylvania Avenue. Active: In the Capitol, workers are building a visitors center. Passive:

Active: They will probably finish it in 2006. Passive:

 Who

wrote that poem? Active: you want to know the name of the person who wrote the poem. You can also ask in passive, giving more importance to the object.
Who

was that poem written by? Passive: Here the emphasis in on the POEM. As the active question is in the past, we use the verb to be in the past to make the question.

 Who
How

painted that picture?

will they drive trains in the future? causes traffic jams? have they taken your car?

What

Where Why Who

did they cancel the train?

had cleaned the room?

 Who
How

was that picture painted by?

will trains be driven in the future? are traffic jams caused by? has your car been taken?

What

Where Why Who

was the train cancelled?

had your room been cleaned by?