The document explains the use of passive voice, emphasizing the focus on the action rather than the doer. It provides examples and outlines how to form passive voice sentences across different verb tenses, as well as how to construct yes/no and wh- questions in passive voice. Overall, it serves as a guide to understanding and employing the passive voice in English grammar.

1. Passive voice

2. Use of passive voice
Passive voice is used when the
focus is on the action. It is not
important or not known, however,
who or what is performing the action.

3. Examples of passive voice
• The passive voice is used frequently.
(= we are interested in the passive voice, not in who uses it.)
• The house was built in 1654.
(= we are interested in the house, not in who built it.)
• The road is being repaired.
(= we are interested in the road, not in the people who are
doing the repairs.)

4. Forming the passive voice sentence
Verb tense Subject + to be conjugated + past
participle
+ complement of the
sentences
Simple present The house is (not) cleaned every day.
Present continuous
The house
Is (not) being cleaned at the moment.
Simple past
The house
was (not) cleaned yesterday.
Past continuous
The house
was (not) being cleaned last week
Present perfect
The house
has (not) been cleaned since you left.
Past perfect
The house
had (not) been cleaned before they arrived.
Simple future
The house
will (not) be cleaned next week.
Immediate future
The house
is (not) going to be cleaned later.
Infinitive with modal
auxiliar
The house
must (not) be cleaned right away.

5. Forming passive voice Yes/No questions
Verb tense + to be
conjugated
Subject + past participle + complement of the
sentences
Question
mark
Simple present Is (not) the house cleaned every day ?
Present
continuous
Is (not) the house being cleaned at the moment
?
Simple past Was (not) the house cleaned yesterday
?
Past continuous Was (not) the house being cleaned last week
?
Present perfect Has (not) the house been cleaned since you left
?
Past perfect Had (not) the house been cleaned before they arrived
?
Simple future Will (not) the house be cleaned next week
?
Immediate future Is (not) the house going to be cleaned later
?
Infinitive with
modal auxiliar Must (not) the house be cleaned right away
?

6. Forming passive voice Wh- questions
Wh
+ to be
conjugated
Subject + past participle
+ complement of the
sentences
Question
mark
When is (not) the house cleaned --- ?
How is the house being cleaned
at the
moment
?
Why was (not) the house cleaned yesterday
?
What was (not) --- being cleaned last week
?
How often has (not) the house been cleaned since you left
?