Saturday, 17 September 2016

Passive Voice

1. Passive – Use

We only use the passive when we are interested in the object or when we do not know who caused the action.
Example: Appointments are required in such cases.

2. Passive – Form

to be + past participle
How to form a passive sentence when an active sentence is given:
  • object of the active sentence becomes subject in the passive sentence
  • subject of the active sentence becomes object in the passive sentence (or is left out)
We can only form a passive sentence from an active sentence when there is an object in the active sentence.
Type of sentenceSubjectVerbObject
Active sentence:Peterbuildsa house.
Passiv
Passive sentence:A houseis builtby Peter.

3. Examples

3.1. Simple Present

Type of sentenceSubjectVerbObject
Active sentence:Peterbuildsa house.
Passiv
Passive sentence:A houseis builtby Peter.

3.2. Simple Past

Type of sentenceSubjectVerbObject
Active sentence:Peterbuilta house.
Passiv
Passive sentence:A housewas builtby Peter.

3.3. Present Perfect

Type of sentenceSubjectVerbObject
Active sentence:Peterhas builta house.
Passiv
Passive sentence:A househas been builtby Peter.

3.4. will-future

Type of sentenceSubjectVerbObject
Active sentence:Peterwill builda house.
Passiv
Passive sentence:A housewill be builtby Peter.

3.5. Modals

Type of sentenceSubjectVerbObject
Active sentence:Petercan builda house.
Passiv
Passive sentence:A housecan be builtby Peter.

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