The document discusses active and passive verbs. With active verbs, the subject performs the action, while with passive verbs the subject receives the action. To form a passive verb, use the verb "to be" plus the past participle of the main verb. Some examples of changing active verbs to their passive form are provided for different tenses.
1. Active
The action and the agent are relevant.
The subject is always at the beginning.
John gave me a ring for my birthday.
agent action
My son has just repaired the car.
agent
action
2. Passive
Only the action is relevant.
The agent is at the end or elided.
A ring was given to me for my birthday.
agentaction
The car has just been repaired.
agent
action
by John
by my son
3. How an active verb becomes a passive verb.
The passive verb is formed by the verb “to be” and the past participle of the action verb.
We ate some chocolates yesterday.
simple past
Some chocolates were eaten by us yesterday.
simple past + past
participle
Active Passive
The bear is eating a fish.
present continuous
A fish is being eaten by a bear.
present
continuous
past
participle
4. Passive verbs
Active Passive
simple present buys is bought
present continuous is designing is being designed
simple past washed was washed
past continuous was reading was being read
simple future will make will be made
5. Active Passive
People drink coffee for breakfast. Coffee is drunk for breakfast.
He is designing a new dress. A new dress is being designed.
She washed her car yesterday. Her car was washed yesterday.
They were listening to the radio. The radio was being listened.
I will bake a cake on Sunday. A cake will be baked on Sunday.