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.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
- the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
- the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Examples of Passive
| Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Active: | Rita | writes | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | is written | by Rita. | |
| Simple Past | Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | was written | by Rita. | |
| Present Perfect | Active: | Rita | has written | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | has been written | by Rita. | |
| Future I | Active: | Rita | will write | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | will be written | by Rita. | |
| Modals | Active: | Rita | can write | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | can be written | by Rita. | |
Examples of Passive
| Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present Progressive | Active: | Rita | is writing | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | is being written | by Rita. | |
| Past Progressive | Active: | Rita | was writing | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | was being written | by Rita. | |
| Past Perfect | Active: | Rita | had written | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | had been written | by Rita. | |
| Future II | Active: | Rita | will have written | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | will have been written | by Rita. | |
| Conditional I | Active: | Rita | would write | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | would be written | by Rita. | |
| Conditional II | Active: | Rita | would have written | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | would have been written | by Rita. | |
Passive Sentences with Two Objects
Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.
| Subject | Verb | Object 1 | Object 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter | to me. |
| Passive: | A letter | was written | to me | by Rita. |
| Passive: | I | was written | a letter | by Rita. |
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.
Personal and Impersonal Passive
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.
Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.
Example: he says – it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.
Grammar notes: https://inglescarmelitaslb.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/the-passive-voice1.pdf
Exercises
Exercises on Passive (Form)
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Present
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Past
- Exercise on Passive with Present Perfect
- Exercise on Passive with Future I
Exercises on Passive (Active → Passive)
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Present
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Past
- Exercise on Passive with Present Perfect
- Exercise on Passive with Future I
- Exercise on Passive with Auxiliary Verbs
- Mixed Exercise on Passive with Passive
- Sentences with 2 Objects (Indirect Object, Personal Passive)
- Sentences with 2 Objects (Direct Object)
- Personal Passive (verbs of perception)
- Exercise on Passive with Present Progressive
- Exercise on Passive with Past Progressive
- Exercise on Passive with Past Perfect
- Exercise on Passive with Future II
- Exercise on Passive with Conditional I
- Exercise on Passive with Conditional II
Exercises on Passive (Active or Passive)
- Exercise on Simple Present
- Exercise on Simple Past
- Exercise on Present Perfect
- Exercise on Future I with will
- Exercise – The Statue of Liberty
- Exercise – Portal Dolmen
- Summary – The Fellowship of the Ring, part 2, part 3
Grammar in Texts
- Show Passive Voice in „The Canterville Ghost“
- Grammar Exercise on „Washington, DC“
- Show Passive Voice in „History of Snowboarding“
Tests on Passive
GET / HAVE SOMETHING DONE
Passive Voice
This construction is passive in meaning. It may describe situations where we want someone else to do something for us.
Examples
- I must get / have my hair cut.
- When are you going to get that window mended?
- We’re having the house painted.
If the verb refers to something negative or unwanted, it has the same meaning as a passive sentence:
- Jim had his car stolen last night. (= Jim’s car was stolen)
- They had their roof blown off in the storm. (= Their roof was blown off in the storm)
The construction can refer to the completion of an activity, especially if a time expression is used:
- We’ll get the work done as soon as possible.
- I’ll get those letters typed before lunchtime.
In all these sentences, we are more interested in the result of the activity than in the person or object that performs the activity.
‘X’ NEEDS DOING
In the same way, this construction has a passive meaning. The important thing in our minds is the person or thing that will experience the action, e.g.
- The ceiling needs painting (= the ceiling needs to be painted)
- My hair needs cutting (= my hair needs to be cut)
We use a causative verb when we want to talk about something that someone else did for us or for another person. It means that the subject caused the action to happen, but didn't do it themselves. Maybe they paid, or asked, or persuaded the other person to do it. For example, we can say:
Have + object + past participle (have something done)
We usually use 'have something done' when we are talking about paying someone to do something for us. It's often used for services. The form is 'subject + have + object + past participle'.
We can also use 'subject + get + object + past participle'. This has the same meaning as 'have', but is less formal.
- I cleaned my house. (This means I cleaned it myself).
- A cleaner cleaned my house.
- I had my house cleaned.
Have + object + past participle (have something done)
We usually use 'have something done' when we are talking about paying someone to do something for us. It's often used for services. The form is 'subject + have + object + past participle'.
- I had my car washed.
- John will have his house painted.
We can also use 'subject + get + object + past participle'. This has the same meaning as 'have', but is less formal.
- The students get their essays checked.
- I'll get my hair cut next week.
- He got his washing machine fixed.
