Passive II

The passive voice
The Passive is not a tense. You will

find it easier to understand the passive
if you already know the basic English
verb tenses.
Present Simple Passive (1)
You can have passive verbs in all the different tenses. We will start with
the present simple. Here is an active verb in the present simple:
Everybody loves English weather.
Now let’s change it to the passive voice:
English weather is loved by everybody.
To make the passive use the verb To make the passive, If you need to mention
‘to BE’ in the same tense as the use the 3rd form or who is doing the action,
original sentence – here it is thepast participle of the use ‘by’ to introduce it.
present simple tense main verb.
‘is loved’ is present simple passive (because ‘is’ is in the present

simple).
Present Simple Passive (2)
Take a look at some more sentences in the present simple passive.
English teachers are loved by everybody.
The verb ‘to be’ is plural in

this sentence to agree with
‘teachers’. k ing ‘S om e people
em ent! You’re thin
gree w it h that s t a t
t pa ss ive n egative!
ve to a s make tha
You don’t ha e r s!’ So le t’
’ t lo v e E ng lish teach
don
English teachers are not loved by everybody.
Make the verb ‘to BE’ ‘by …’ may not be

negative in the usual way. necessary. If it’s not
important, leave it out.
Present Continuous Passive
Let’s look at how the passive works in other tenses. Here is a sentence in
the present continuous:
They are building a house next door.
A house is being built next door (by them)
To make
We don’t often use ‘to BE’ in the the passive, ‘by them’ doesn’t tell us
present continuous tenseuse
so the
this 3 form or much (who are they?) so
rd
past participle of the

may look unfamiliar! leave it out.
main verb.
Past Simple Passive
Here is a sentence in the past simple:
Someone stole a million pounds from the bank.
A million pounds was stolen from the bank (by someone)
‘to BE’ in the past simple

To maketense
theispassive,
‘by someone’ doesn’t tell
‘was’ (singular) or ‘were’
use the
(plural)
3rd form or
us much (who was it?) so
past participle of the leave it out.
main verb.
Present Perfect Passive
Here is a sentence in the present perfect.
They have forgiven you.
You have been forgiven.
‘to BE’ in the present perfect

To make the passive,
tense is ‘has been’ (singular)use
or the 3rd form or
‘have been’ (plural) past participle of the
main verb.
Active and passive verbal tenses
SIMPLE FORMS
ACTIVE FORMS PASSIVE FORMS
Present Simple I drive I am driven
Past Simple I drove I was driven
Present Perfect I have driven I have been driven
Past Perfect I had driven I had been driven
Future with 'will' I will drive I will be driven
Future with 'be going to' I am going to drive I am going to be driven
Future Perfect I will have driven I will have been driven
Modal verbs I should drive I should be driven
PROGRESSIVE FORMS
ACTIVE FORMS PASSIVE FORMS
Present Continuous I am driving I am being driven
Past Continuous I was driving I was being driven
Future Continuous I will be driving I will be being driven
ATTENTION
Perfect continuous tenses do not take
passive forms:
 I had been doing the house chores all the
morning.
 Passive form -- X
INFINITIVE PASSIVE
 I would have liked them to choose my
project for the prize.
 I would have liked ( my project ) to be
chosen for the prize.
OTHER PASSIVE FORMS
With verbs like: know, believe, expect, say,
think, consider, suppose ... Two possible
passive constructions exist:
Eg. : Some people consider (that) politicians
are dishonest.
 It is considered (that) politicians are
dishonest people.
 Politicians are considered to be dishonest
people.
OTHER PASSIVE FORMS
ATTENTION: the second form is much more
likely to be used.
Let’s practise.
 Experts believe (that) a healthy lifestyle
reduces cardiovascular problems.
 It is believed (that) a healthy lifestyle
reduces.....
A healthy lifestyle is believed to reduce ....

Passive II

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The passive voice

The Passive is not a tense. You will

Everybody loves English weather.

Now let’s change it to the passive voice:

English weather is loved by everybody.

‘is loved’ is present simple passive (because ‘is’ is in the present

English teachers are loved by everybody.

The verb ‘to be’ is plural in

Make the verb ‘to BE’ ‘by …’ may not be

Now let’s change it to the passive voice:

A house is being built next door (by them)

past participle of the

Now let’s change it to the passive voice:

A million pounds was stolen from the bank (by someone)

‘to BE’ in the past simple

Now let’s change it to the passive voice:

You have been forgiven.

‘to BE’ in the present perfect

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