By Jose Mar ia Mar tín Casanova
 Passive voice is used when the focus in on the action is 
not important or no known, however, who or what is 
performing the action. 
 In the passive voice the subject of the active voice and 
the direct object of the active voice interchange their position 
in the sentence. 
Active Voice Passive Voice 
Paco sent a letter A letter was sent by Paco 
Subject + verb + object Object + verb + subject
 First let´s look at the different forms of be: 
TENSE VERB 
Present Simple am / is / are 
Past Simple was / were 
Present Continuos am / is / are being 
Past Continuous was / were being 
Present Perfect have / has been 
Past Perfect had been 
 Let´s look at the formula for the passive voice: 
Subject + be + past participle
TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE 
Present Simple give / gives am / is / are given 
Past Simple gave was / were given 
Present Continuous am / is / are giving am / is / are being given 
Past Continuous was / were giving was / were being given 
Present Perfect have / has given have / has been given 
Past Perfect had given had been given 
Future 
will give 
going to give 
will be given 
going to be given 
Modal Verbs 
must/can/may/might/ 
could/(or other) give 
can be given
Changes in the sentence 
3 2 1 4 
He painted a picture for his brother 
A picture was painted for his brother 
1.- The object in the active voice is transformed into a subject in the passive voice 
2.- The verb tense in the active voice is transformed into the same verb tense with 
the verb to be in the passive voice. And the past participle of the verb tense in the 
voice active. 
3.- The subject in the active shows little information so that it is not written. 
4.- Other complemets.
 The news surprises Tom 
Tom is surprised by the news 
 Mike reparied his car 
The car was reparied by Mike 
 Juan is building a dog kennel 
A dog kennel is being built by Juan 
 Lisa had not brought the book 
The book had not been brought by Lisa
 Mr. Rous will teach this class. 
This class will be taught by Mr. Rous 
 I must finish as soon as possible my homework 
My homework must be finished as soon as possible 
 He ate all of the cookies 
All of the cookies were eaten

Passive sentences

  • 1.
    By Jose Maria Mar tín Casanova
  • 2.
     Passive voiceis used when the focus in on the action is not important or no known, however, who or what is performing the action.  In the passive voice the subject of the active voice and the direct object of the active voice interchange their position in the sentence. Active Voice Passive Voice Paco sent a letter A letter was sent by Paco Subject + verb + object Object + verb + subject
  • 3.
     First let´slook at the different forms of be: TENSE VERB Present Simple am / is / are Past Simple was / were Present Continuos am / is / are being Past Continuous was / were being Present Perfect have / has been Past Perfect had been  Let´s look at the formula for the passive voice: Subject + be + past participle
  • 4.
    TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE Present Simple give / gives am / is / are given Past Simple gave was / were given Present Continuous am / is / are giving am / is / are being given Past Continuous was / were giving was / were being given Present Perfect have / has given have / has been given Past Perfect had given had been given Future will give going to give will be given going to be given Modal Verbs must/can/may/might/ could/(or other) give can be given
  • 5.
    Changes in thesentence 3 2 1 4 He painted a picture for his brother A picture was painted for his brother 1.- The object in the active voice is transformed into a subject in the passive voice 2.- The verb tense in the active voice is transformed into the same verb tense with the verb to be in the passive voice. And the past participle of the verb tense in the voice active. 3.- The subject in the active shows little information so that it is not written. 4.- Other complemets.
  • 6.
     The newssurprises Tom Tom is surprised by the news  Mike reparied his car The car was reparied by Mike  Juan is building a dog kennel A dog kennel is being built by Juan  Lisa had not brought the book The book had not been brought by Lisa
  • 7.
     Mr. Rouswill teach this class. This class will be taught by Mr. Rous  I must finish as soon as possible my homework My homework must be finished as soon as possible  He ate all of the cookies All of the cookies were eaten