Active voice vs passive Voice! In this lesson, you will learn how to form passive voice in English with some important rules and useful example sentences.
Table of Contents
Active Voice vs Passive Voice
Active Voice
The active voice illustrates a sentence where the subject performs the action that stated by the verb.
Form: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT.
- I do my home work.
- My mom cooks the dinner.
- Our teacher gives us a lot of homework.
- She receives a letter from her father.
Passive Voice
In contrast, passive voice is describe a sentence in which the subject receives an action.
Form: SUBJECT + VERB + “TO BE” + PAST PARTICIPLE.
- My homework is done (by me).
- The dinner is cooked (by my mom).
- We are given a lot of homework (by our teacher).
- A letter from her father is received (by her).
Note: “By+…” can be taken out in passive voice.
When to Use Passive Voice?
1. In formal texts
Examples:
- Active: They invite him to the party.
- Passive: He is invited to the party. (sounds more formal)
2. To show interest in the person or object that receive an action rather than the person or object that performs the action.
Examples:
- The party was held in a luxury hotel. (we’re interest in the party rather than who held it.)
- All tickets were sold out! (we’re interest in the ticket rather than who sold it.)
3. When we don’t know (or do not want to express) who performed the action.
Examples:
- My purse was stolen!
- A whole pot of jam was eaten!
Passive Voice For All Tenses
Passive voice for all tenses in English.
Note:
- V1: Base Form of Verb
- V2: Past Simple
- V3: Past Participle
Present Simple Tense
Learn passive voice for present simple tense in English.
Form:
- Active: S + V1 + O.
- Passive: S + is/am/are +V3.
Example:
- Active: He receives a letter.
- Passive: A letter is received by him.
Present Continuous Tense
Form:
- Active: S + am/are/is +V-ing + O.
- Passive: S + am/are/is +being + V3.
Example:
- Active: She is cooking the dinner.
- Passive: The dinner is being cooked by her.
Past Simple Tense
Form:
- Active: S + V2+O.
- Passive: S+was/were+V3.
Example:
- Active: I did my homework last night.
- Passive: Homework was done by me last night.
Past Continuous Tense
Form:
- Active: S + was/were + V-ing + O.
- Passive: S+was/were + being +V3.
Example:
- Active: He was playing the volleyball yesterday afternoon.
- Passive: The volleyball was being played by him yesterday afternoon.
Present Perfect Tense
Form:
- Active: S + have/has + V3 + O.
- Passive: S+have/has been +V3.
Example:
- Active: I have studied English for 10 years.
- Passive: English has been studied for 10 year.
Past Perfect Tense
Form:
- Active: S + had + V3 + O.
- Passive: S + had been +V3.
Example:
- Active: I had bought a new car.
- Passive: A new car had been bought by me.
Future Simple Tense
Form:
- Active: S + will + V1 + O.
- Passive: S + will be +V3.
Example:
- Active: I will make a cake on my Mom’s birthday.
- Passive: A cake will be made on my Mom’s birthday.
Future Tense with Going to
Form:
- Active: S + am/are/is going to + V1 + O.
- Passive: S + am/are/is going to be +V3.
Example:
- Active: She is going to do housework.
- Passive: Housework is going to be done by her.
Modals Verb
Form:
- Active: S + can/could/may/might… + V1 + O.
- Passive: S + can/could/may/might…be +V3.
Example:
- Active: She could lift this box.
- Passive: This box could be lifted by her.
Modal Perfect
Form:
- Active: S + should/could/may/might…have + V3+ O.
- Passive: S + should/could/may/might…have been + V3.
Example:
- Active: You should have finished the task on time.
- Passive: The task should have been finished on time.
vineet
Tuesday 6th of December 2022
i am not going to school is it passive?
Nithya
Friday 8th of July 2022
So confused with this.. difficult to get!
Jovanni
Friday 16th of July 2021
I AM SOOO CONFUSED
vineet
Tuesday 6th of December 2022
hehheheheeheh
Kiran Kumar
Monday 15th of March 2021
Ki
Hawdy
Friday 18th of September 2020
GREAT EXPLANATION