Passive Voice Handout

PASSIVE VOICE

Active voice: verb groups where the subject is the person or thing doing or responsible for the action. (i.e.: the subject of the verb is usually the agent, the `doer´)

Passive Voice: verb forms where the subject is the person or thing that is affected by the action. (i.e.: the subject is the recipient of the action, not the agent)

BE + PAST PARTICIPLE

Simple Present Passive:

is / are / am + past participle

Ex: The show is listened to by 1 million people.

Present Continuous Passive:

is / are + being + past participle

Ex: A new shopping centre is being built in our city.

Past Simple Passive:

was / were + past participle

Ex: Several protesters were taken away by the police.

Past Continuous Passive:

was / were + being + past participle

Ex: Their bikes were being repaired.

Present Perfect Passive:

have/has + been + past participle

Ex: The window has been mended.

Past Perfect Passive:

had + been + past participle

Ex: The window had not been closed.

Future Simple Passive:

will + be + past participle

Ex: A new president will be chosen soon.

Going to Future Passive:

is/are/am + going to be + past participle

Ex: The University is going to be disinfected next weekend.

Future Perfect Passive:

will + have + been + past participle

Ex: The problem will have been solved by tomorrow.