Passive Voice

Past/Present

Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.
It is not important or not known, however, who or what
is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my
bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than

active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was
made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made
a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note

the following:
the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the
passive sentence .
the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle) .
the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the
passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive
TENSE

SUBJECT

VERB

OBJECT

SIMPLE PRESENT
(Passive)

A letter

is written

SIMPLE PRESENT
(Active)

Rita

writes

a letter.

SIMPLE PAST
(Passive)

A letter

was written

by Rita.

SIMPLE PAST
(Active)

Rita

wrote

a letter.

PRESENT
PERFECT
(Passive)

A letter

has been written

by Rita.

PRESENT
PERFECT
(Active)

Rita

has written

a letter.

FUTURE
(Passive)

A letter

will be written

by Rita.

FUTURE

Rita

will write

a letter.

by Rita.

Examples of Passive
TENSE

SUBJECT

VERB

PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE
(Active)

Rita

is writing

a letter.

PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE
(Passive)

A letter

is being written

by Rita.

PAST
PROGRESSIVE
(Active)

Rita

was writing

a letter

PAST
PROGRESSIVE
(Passive)

A letter

PAST PERFECT
(Active)

Rita

PAST PERFECT
(Passive)

A letter

was being
written
had written
had been
written

OBJECT

by Rita.

a letter.
by Rita.

EXERCISES

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

He opens the door. The door is opened by him.

We set the table. She pays a lot of money.
I draw a picture. They wear blue shoes. They don't help you. He doesn't open the book.
You do not write the letter.
Does your mum pick you up?
Does the police officer catch the thief? -

EXERCISES

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

He opens the door. The door is opened by him.
We set the table. - The table is set by us.
She pays a lot of money. - A lot of money is paid by
her.
I draw a picture. - A picture is drawn by me.
They wear blue shoes. - Blue shoes are worn by them.
They don't help you. - You are not helped by them.
He doesn't open the book. - The book is not opened
by him.
You do not write the letter. - The letter is not written by
you.
Does your mum pick you up? - Are you picked up by your mum?
Does the police officer catch the thief? - Is the thief caught by
the police officer?