Passive Voice

Passive Voice

The passive voice is a structure that allows you to make a statement without knowing who performed the action of the sentence:

The house was destroyed. Or the person who performed the action is placed in a passive position in the sentence:

The house was destroyed by soldiers.

An active sentence is commonly structured subject _ verb _ direct
object. A passive sentence changes that structure to direct object used as the subject _ to be _ past participle _ by _ subject used as the object of the preposition. Let’s compare the two structures:

Active Sentences Passive Sentences

Kim finds the dog. The dog is found by Kim.
We buy his car. His car is bought by us.
The girls stole the purse. The purse was stolen by the girls.
They solved the problem. The problem was solved by them.
The verb to be in the passive sentences is conjugated in the same
tense as the verb in the active sentences. Look how the various
tenses appear in the passive:

Tense Passive Sentences

Present:The house is destroyed by the soldiers.

Past: The house was destroyed by the soldiers.

Present Perfect: The house has been destroyed by the soldiers.

Past Perfect: The house had been destroyed by the
soldiers.

Future: The house will be destroyed by the soldiers.

Future Perfect: The house will have been destroyed by the
soldiers.

Only in the present and past tenses is there a difference between the habitual form of the conjugation and the conjugation for an action in progress or incomplete:

the house is destroyed/the house is being destroyed
the house was destroyed/the house was being destroyed....

EXERCISES

Rewrite the passive sentences below as an action in progress. Keep the same tense.

1. Glenda is kissed by Stuart.
ANSWER: Glenda is being kissed by Stuart.
2. She was spoiled by her parents.
ANSWER: She was being spoiled by her parents.
3. My eyes are tested in the clinic
ANSWER: My eyes are being tested in the clinic
4. They were arrested for a crime
ANSWER: They were being arrested for a crime
5. Monique is awarded a medal
ANSWER: Monique is being awarded a medal.
6. The treasure was buried on an island
ANSWER: The treasure was being buried on an island.
7. The dog is punished again.
ANSWER: The dog is being punished again.
8. Was the old barn burned down?
ANSWER: Was the old barn being burned down?

Rewrite the passive sentences below in the present perfect tense.

1. We were punished by Father.
ANSWER: We have been punished by Father.
2. The men are taken prisoner.
ANSWER: The men have been taken prisoner.
3. She is thanked by the happy tourists.
ANSWER: She has been thanked by the happy tourists.
4. I was beaten by a robber.
ANSWER: I have been beaten by a robber.
5. The car was not washed again.
ANSWER: The car has not been washed again.
6. Tony is examined by the doctor.
ANSWER: Tony has been examined by the doctor.
7. They are surrounded by the enemy.ANSWER: They have been surrounded by the enemy.
8. Was your sister fired from her job?
ANSWER: Has your sister been fired from her job?
9. Was the baby carried to his bedroom?
ANSWER: Has the baby been carried to his bedroom?
10. She is congratulated by her boss.
ANSWER: She has been congratulated by her boss.

Rewrite the following active sentences as passive sentences. Keep the same tense.
1. A storm destroyed the cottage.
ANSWER: The cottage was destroyed by a storm.
2. Did Columbus discover the New World?
ANSWER: Was the New World discovered by Columbus?
3. They will buy our house.
ANSWER: Our house will be bought by them.
4. My grandmother has baked the cakes.
ANSWER: The cakes have been baked by my grandmother.
5. Phil is cutting the bread.
ANSWER: The bread is being cut by Phil.
6. Sergio was selling the newspapers.
ANSWER: The newspapers were being sold by Sergio.
7. Has Iris taken the money?
ANSWER: Has the money been taken by Iris?
8. She will kiss the baby.
ANSWER: The baby will be kissed by her.
9. Is Max building the fence?
ANSWER: Is the fence being built by Max?
10. Her brother forgot the map.
ANSWER:The map was forgotten by her brother.