Eva Syabila: Passive Voice

1. 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.

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.).

2. How to change active voice into passive voice

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)

3. Example of Passive Voice

Simple Present

· Active : Rita writes a letter

· Passive : A letter is written by Rita

Simple Past

· Active : He met them yesterday

· Passive : They were met by him yesterday

Present Perfect Tense

· Active : She has watered this plant for 5 minutes

· Passive : This plant has been watered by her for 5 minutes

Past Perfect Tense

· Active : He had met them before i came

· Passive : They had been met him before i came

Simple Future tense

· Active : The farmer are going to harvest the crops next week

· Passive : The crops are going to be harvested by the farmer next week

Eva Syabila