Passive Voice

PRESENT SIMPLE, PAST SIMPLE, PRESENT PERFECT, FUTURE WILL,

MODAL VERBS
USE
The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action
rather than the person or object that performs the action. Thing or person becomes the subject
of the sentence.
EXAMPLES:
◦ The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who built it.)
Form of Passive:

Subject + finite form of to be +

Past Participle (3rd column of
irregular verbs)
 Tense Subject Verb Object
Simple Present Active: Sanyi writes a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by Sanyi.

Simple Past Active: Sanyi wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Sanyi.

Present Perfect Active: Sanyi has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Sanyi.

Future I Active: Sanyi will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Sanyi.

Modal Verbs Active: Sanyi can write a letter.

Passive: A letter can be written by Sanyi.
We usually omit the agent:
When the action interests us more than the agent.
When we do not know the agent.
When it is easy to figure out who the agent is. The bank was robbed! (by someone who we
don't know)
English is spoken in Australia. (by people)
Exercise:
We set the table.
She pays a lot of money.
You do not write the letter.
We stopped the bus.
She didn't win the prize.
They have not read the book.
Has she phoned him?
Millions of people will visit the museum.
They will not ask him.
We might play cards.
Could Jenny lock the door?
The table is set by us.
A lot of money is paid by her.
The letter is not written by you.
The bus was stopped by us.
The prize was not won by her.
The book has not been read by them.
Has he been phoned by her?
The museum will be visited by millions of
people.
He will not be asked by them.
Cards might be played by us.
Could the door be locked by Jenny?