1. JESÚS GUERRERO VILLEGAS
How to do the passive

2. What do we use it for?
We use the passive voice to stress the object instead of the subject
of the action.
In an active sentence, the subject comes first, so it is more
important. For example:
'Peter took the ring.'
However , the passive sentence highlights the object (sometimes,
there's no need mention the agent). For example:
'The ring was taken (by Peter)'

3. How do we do it?
First, we must put the verb 'to be' in the same tense as the active verb.
For example:
Took ---------> was/were
Second, we must be careful with the number and person of the new
subject.
'Peter (3rd sing.) took'------->' The ring (3rd sing.) was'
Third we must put the main verb ( 'take' in the exmple) in the end of the
passive verb in its past participle form:
'Peter took the ring'-------> 'The ring was taken'

4. List of examples with different tenses:
Present
Simple: Brad Pitt plays many roles(active). Many roles are played by Brad Pitt (Passive).
Present continuos: Brad Pitt is playing many roles(active). Many roles are being played by Brad Pitt(passive).
Past Simple: Brad Pitt played many roles(active). Many roles were played by Brad Pitt (passive).
Past Continuos: Brad Pitt was playing many roles(active). Many roles were being played by Brad Pitt(passive).
Present Perfec: Brad Pitt has played many roles(active). Many roles have been played by Brad Pitt(passive).
Past Perfect: Brad Pitt had played many roles (active). Many roles had been played by Brad Pitt (passive).
Future Simple: Brad Pitt will play many roles(active). Many roles will be played by Brad Pitt(passive).
Be going to: Brad Pitt is going to play many roles (active). Many roles are going to be played by Brad Pitt(passive).
Modals: Brad Pitt should play many roles(active). Many roles should be played by Brad Pitt (passive).

5. Is that everything?
When we turn a sentence from active into passive, we also have to
change the position of other elements. The object becomes the
subject and the active subject becomes the agent introduced by the
preposition 'by'.
Peter took the ring
The ring was taken by Peter
Subject
Passive subject
v
Object
v
Agent

6. Examples:
1- Jonh has written the letter (active). The letter has been written by Jonh
(passive).
2- The doctor is examining the patient now (active). The patient now is
being examined by the doctor (passive).
3- Nobody heard a sound (active). A sound was heard by nobody
(passive).
4- Somebody is cooking fish (active). Fish is being cooked by somebody
(passive).
5- I gave Peter a book (active). Peter was given a book / A book was
given to Peter (passive).

7. Examples:
1- Jonh has written the letter (active). The letter has been written by Jonh
(passive).
2- The doctor is examining the patient now (active). The patient now is
being examined by the doctor (passive).
3- Nobody heard a sound (active). A sound was heard by nobody
(passive).
4- Somebody is cooking fish (active). Fish is being cooked by somebody
(passive).
5- I gave Peter a book (active). Peter was given a book / A book was
given to Peter (passive).