Passive Voice

To Be + Participe Pass
It was broken when I got here
Modal To Be Participe Pass
He must be heard to be believed

Base
Verb

be

Present
Simple

am
is
are

Past
Simple

was
were

Past Participle
V3

Pres. Participle
V4
ing form

Future

has

am

will be

have

is
been

are

being

was

had

am

has
write
writes

wrote

have

written

have
stole
had

writing

was

was
were

going to write

am

is
are

is

will steal

am
stolen

am
are

were

has
steal
steals

are

going to be

will write

is

had

steal

is
are

were

write

am

stealing

is
are

going to steal

Subject

Verb

be

Object

V3

(by subject)

An Active Sentence
Subject

Verb

Object

Nico

wrote

a letter.

A Passive Sentence
Object

be

V3

A letter was written

(by Subject)

by Nico.

When we changed the

sentence:
Nico

wrote

a letter.

into:
A letter was written

by Nico.

We used was as one of the forms of verb b

WHY?

We used was as one of the forms of verb b

, and it is the simple past tense.

Thats because..
The main verb in the active sentence
was in the simple past tense.

Nico

wrote

A letter was

written

a letter.
by Nico.

BUT which form of verb to be

should I use?????????
Base
Past
Form
Present
Simple
(Bare
Simple
V2
infinitive)

be

am
is
are

P.P.
V3

has
have
was
were

had

Pres. P.
V4
ing-form

am
is
bee are
being
n was
wer
e

To use one of the forms of verb to

we have to meet two conditions:

be

The same
tense of the
main verb

What agrees
with the new
subject
( object)

be,

be

The same
tense of the
main verb

Tenses You Should know in 1re:

Present Simple

Present
Progressive

Present
Perfect

Present Perfect
Progressive

Simple Past

Past Progressive

Past Perfect

Future Simple

Can you recognize the tense in these

sentences?
They give us new books at the beginning of
every year.
They have been publishing these books for
ten years.
They are discussing the new rules at the
highest level.
The police caught the thieves last night.
The earthquake has destroyed hundreds of
houses.
Have they cleaned the room yet?
They will interview the potential candidate
next week.
They didn't see Mona this morning.

Can you recognize the tense in these

sentences?
They give us new books at the beginning of
every year.
They have been publishing these books for
ten years.
They are discussing the new rules at the
highest level.
The police caught the thieves last night.

Present Simple
Present Perfect
Progressive

Present
Progressive
Simple Past

The earthquake has destroyed hundreds of

houses.

Present Perfect

Have they cleaned the room yet?

Present Perfect

They will interview the potential candidate

next week.
They didn't see Mona this morning.

Future Simple
Simple Past
Negative

Can you recognize the tense in these

sentences?
While the mechanic was fixing my car at the
workshop
yesterday, someone broke the windscreen
The instructor had notified the students of the
new
procedures before he asked them to write their
rough drafts.

Can you recognize the tense in these

sentences?
While the mechanic was fixing my car at the
workshop
yesterday, someone broke the windscreen
The instructor had notified the students of the
new
procedures before he asked them to write their
rough drafts.

Past
progressive
Simple Past
Past Perfect
Simple Past

Now can you give the equivalent passive of each

tense?
give /gives

Present Simple

(am/is/are) given

have been publishing

Present Perfect
Progressive

(has/ have) been

being published

are discussing
caught

Present
Progressive
Simple Past

(am/is/are) being
discussed
(was/were) caught

has destroyed

Present Perfect

(has/have) been
destroyed

Have . cleaned
.?
will interview

Present Perfect

Have/Has . been
cleaned .?

Future Simple

will be interviewed

didn't see

Simple Past
Negative

(wasnt/werent) seen

Now can you give the equivalent passive of each

tense?
was fixing
broke

had notified
asked

Past
progressive
Simple Past
Past Perfect
Simple Past

(was/were) being
fixed
(was/were) broken
had been notified
(was/were) asked

The Simple Present

Active
They write / dont write the science column.
He writes / doesnt write the science columns.
Do they write the science column?
Does he write the science columns?

What do the Dental students write?

What does the Pharma student write?

Passive
The science column is/ isnt written by them.
The science columns are/ arent written by him.
Is the science column written by them?
Are the science columns written by him?

What is written by the Dental students?

What is written by the Pharma student?

24

The Present Progressive

Active

Passive

He is fixing the stove.

The stove is being fixed.

They arent using the main meeting room.

The main meeting room is not being used.

Is the worker painting his condominium?

Is his condominium being painted?

Are they finalizing their biology project?

Is their biology project being finalized?

Where is he taking the guests?

Where are the guests being taken?

What are they doing about the new complaints?

What is being done about the new complaints?

26

The Present Perfect

Active

Passive

He has broken / hasnt broken the window.

The window has/hasnt been broken (by him).

They have seen / have never seen a UFO in

this country before.
Has he (ever) broken the window?

A UFO [has /has never] been seen in this country

before.
Has the window (ever) been broken (by him)?

Have they (ever) seen a UFO in this

country before?
What has he broken?

What have they seen in this country before?

Has a UFO (ever) been seen in this country

before?
What has been broken?

What has been seen in this country before?

28

The Present Perfect

Progressive
Active

Passive
(Rarely used and considered awkward
with this tense)

They have been teaching anatomy

and other medical courses in this
college since 2007.

Anatomy and other medical courses

have been being taught in this college
since 2007.

Have those kids been torturing

that kitten?

Has that kitten been being tortured by

those kids?

What have they been teaching in this What has been being taught in this
college since 2007?
college since 2007?

The Simple Past

Active
Jane Austen wrote Sense and Sensibility in
1811.
No one knew his real name.
The police didnt find their hiding place.
Did they arrange her birthday party?

Where did they send him?

Passive
Sense and Sensibility was written by
Jane Austen in 1811.

His real name wasnt known.

Their hiding place wasnt found.
Was her birthday party arranged?

Where was he sent ?

31

The Past Progressive

Active

Passive

He was cleaning the attic when he found his

old jacket.

The attic was being cleaned when his old jacket

was found.

While they were counting the votes, his

campaign manager announced his withdrawal.

While the votes were being counted, his

withdrawal was announced by his campaign
manager.

Were they interviewing him when someone

broke into his apartment?

Where were they sending it?

Was he being interviewed when his apartment

was broken into?

Where was it being sent?

33

The Past Perfect

Active

Passive

They broke the window after they had hit it

with a stone.

The window was broken after it had been hit with

a stone.

Had they completed the housework before

they called their friends?

Why had they sent him to Malaysia earlier?

Had the housework been completed before their

friends were called?

Why had he been sent to Malaysia earlier?

35

The Future Simple and other Modal Auxiliary

Structures

Active

Passive

They will send some warning letters soon.

Ahmad is going to write the art column.

Some warning letters will be sent soon.

The art column is going to be written by Ahmad.

They must obey the rules.

Will they send the warning letters soon?
Is Ahmad going to write the art column?

The rules must be obeyed.

Will the warning letters be sent soon?
Is the art column going to be written by Ahmad?

Do they have to obey the rules?

Can you deliver this envelope tonight?
When will they send the warning letters?
What will the Dental students write?

Do the rules have to be obeyed?

Can this envelope be delivered tonight?
When will the warning letters be sent?
What will be written by the Dental students?

37

Ali

takes

The pills

are

the
pills.

taken by Ali.

People speak English in many countrie

English is spoken in many countries

Someone robbed the bank yesterd

The bank was robbed yesterday.

Our teacher will collect the projects tomorro

The projects will be collected tomorrow.

The tailor has made this suit for me.

This suit has been made for me.

Builders had made this house using m

This house had been made using mu

Jill paints the fence once a year.

The fence is painted once a year.

Sue bought a silk dress for her sisters wed

A silk dress was bought by Sue.

The police arrested them yesterday.

They were arrested yesterday.

John and Paul have taken a lot of picture

since they arrived on the island.

A lot of pictures have been taken

by John and Paul since they arrived
on the island.

We asked her to help with the housewo

She was asked to help with the housew

Scientific Process: Manufacturing

Cars

( They produce cars in this factory. )

1. Cars are produced in this factor

( Mechanics have already checked

the cars in the blue area. )

2. The cars have already been

checked in the blue area.

( Electricians will install air-conditioning

in the cars in the red area. )

Air-conditioning will be installed in the cars

in the red area.

Passive Questions: (Simple

Present)
Does
Do
Am
Is
Are

Subjec
t

verb Object ?

Object Verb 3 (by

Subject) ?

Passive Questions: (Simple Past)

Did

Was
Were

Subjec
t

verb Object ?

Object Verb 3 (by

Subject) ?

Passive Questions: (Present

Perfect)
Has
Have
Has
Have

Subjec
t

V3

object ?

object been V3 (by

subject) ?

Passive Questions: (Past

Perfect)
Had

Had

Subjec
t

Verb 3 Object ?

Object been V3 (by

Subject) ?

Passive Questions:

(Simple Future: will + stem

verb)

Will

Will

Subjec
t

verb Object ?

Objectbe Verb 3 (by

Subject) ?

Passive Questions:

(Simple Future: be going to + stem

verb)

Am
Is

Subjec going to verb Object ?

t

Are
Am
Is
Are

Object

going to be Verb 3 (by Subject) ?

Change the following into Passive.

1. Did they tell her the story?

2. What must we do about this?
3. What questions did they ask?
4. Has anyone changed the curtains yet?
5. Where did they park the car?
6. Will anyone tell him about the accident
7. Has anyone dusted that blackboard yet
8. Who is cleaning my room?
First try to do these transformations yourself.
The answers are on the following slides.

Did they tell her the story?

Was she told the story?

What must we do about

this?

What must be done about this?

What questions did they

ask?

What questions were asked?

Has anyone changed the

curtains yet?

Have the curtains been changed yet?

Where did they park the car?

Where was the car parked?

Will anyone tell him about the

accident?

Will he be told about the accident?

Has anyone dusted that blackboard

yet?

Has that blackboard been dusted yet?

Who is cleaning my room?

Who is my room being cleaned by?

OR
Whom is my room being cleaned by?

Someone wrote this letter.

( Change into a passive question asking about the

underlined. )

Step 1: Form an Active Question.

Who wrote this letter?

Step 2: Change the Active Question into a Passive
Question.

Who was this letter written by?

Researchers estimate that 8 million

people in the United States are
suffering from an
Eating Disorder.
It is estimated that 8 million people in
the United States are suffering from an
Eating Disorder.

Correct the following verbs. (ACTIVE or PASSIVE )

is broken/
was broken
The window pane (break)
_________________.
is cooking
Someone (cook) ___________________
a meal in the kitchen right
now.
were asked / will be asked
We (ask)___________________
was run overseveral questions by the police
tonight.
must be done
My cat (run over)
________________ by the milk van.
are written / were written/ have been
This homeworkwritten
(must do) ___________________
tonight.
Know/ knew
Poems ( write)
in every culture .
was ________________________________
being looted/ had already been looted
People all over thewere
world
(know) ___________________ her name.
served
1. The truck (loot)_____________________________________ when the police arrived.
have done

2. The guests (serve) ________________ some tea after they had a

seat.
3. The students (do) ____________ these exercises before.

A. Correct the verb in parentheses.

B. Then change the sentence into the
PASSIVE.

1. Those boys (rear) have

_____________
been rearing

these kittens for a long time.

Passive: These kittens have been being reared for a long time.

2.

might
eat / might have eaten
The dog (might, eat)
____________________
your meal.
Passive:

3.

ought to take

The patient (ought to, take) ________________ these pills every day.
Passive:

4.

English has to be practiced regularly.

slams

Whenever the wind blows, it (slam) ________________ the door.

Passive:

6.

These pills ought to be taken by the patient every day.

A freshman (have to, practice)

English regularly.
has_____________
to practice
Passive:

5.

Your meal might be eaten /might have been eaten by the dog.

The door is slammed whenever the wind blows.

has to test / had to test
Passive: (have
Youto,
have
to be tested/ had to be tested
yourEnglish
English grammar.
Someone
test)____________________
you onon
your
grammar.

Choose the correct answer

1. Hazel won the lottery.
A. The lottery had been won by Hazel.
B. The lottery was won by Hazel.
C. The lottery is won by Hazel.

Choose the correct answer

1. Hazel won the lottery.
A. The lottery had been won by Hazel.
B. The lottery was won by Hazel.
C. The lottery is won by Hazel.

2. The police interrogated Bryan.

A. Bryan is interrogated by the police.
B. Bryan was interrogated by the
police.
C. Bryan had been interrogated by the
police.

2. The police interrogated Bryan.

A. Bryan is interrogated by the police.
B. Bryan was interrogated by the
police.
C. Bryan had been interrogated by the
police.

3. Abu Malek has paid for the pizza.

A. The pizza was paid for by Abu Malek.

B. The pizza has been paid for by Abu
Malek.
C. The pizza is paid for by Abu Malek.

3. Abu Malek has paid for the pizza.

A. The pizza was paid for by Abu Malek.

B. The pizza has been paid for by Abu
Malek.
C. The pizza is paid for by Abu Malek.

4. Joy will meet you at the airport.

A. You will have met Joy at the airport.

B. You would be met by Joy at the
airport.
C. You will be met by Joy at the airport.

4. Joy will meet you at the airport.

A. You will have met Joy at the airport.

B. You would be met by Joy at the
airport.
C. You will be met by Joy at the airport.

5. People highly respect Bernas opinion.

A. Bernas opinion will be highly

respected.
B. Bernas opinion was highly respected.
C. Bernas opinion is highly respected.

5. People highly respect Bernas opinion.

A. Bernas opinion will be highly

respected.
B. Bernas opinion was highly respected.
C. Bernas opinion is highly respected.

6. Amanda upset me by what she said.

A. I am upset by what Amanda said.

B. I was upset by what Amanda said.
C. I would be upset by what Amanda
said.

6. Amanda upset me by what she said.

A. I am upset by what Amanda said.

B. I was upset by what Amanda said.
C. I would be upset by what Amanda
said.

7. Charms is going to inform Brian later.

A. Brian would be informed by Charms later.

B. Brian is going to be informed by Charms later.
C. Brian was going to be informed by Charms later.

7. Charms is going to inform Brian later.

A. Brian would be informed by Charms later.

B. Brian is going to be informed by Charms later.
C. Brian was going to be informed by Charms later.

8. The police arrested 10 rioters last night.

A. Ten rioters were going to be arrested last

night.
B. Ten rioters were arrested last night.
C. Ten rioters should have been arrested last
night.

8. The police arrested 10 rioters last night.

A. Ten rioters were going to be arrested last

night.
B. Ten rioters were arrested last night.
C. Ten rioters should have been arrested last
night.

9. The Dean may visit us next week.

A. We may be visited by the Dean next week.

B. We maybe visited by the Dean next week.
C. We must be visited by the Dean next week.

9. The Dean may visit us next week.

A. We may be visited by the Dean next week.

B. We maybe visited by the Dean next week.
C. We must be visited by the Dean next week.

10. Studying hard could have saved you.

A. You could have saved by studying hard.

B. You could have been saved by studying
hard.
C. You could be saved by studying hard.

10. Studying hard could have saved you.

A. You could have saved by studying hard.

B. You could have been saved by studying
hard.
C. You could be saved by studying hard.

As you have noticed, the Passive

Voice of any tense contains this
structure:
be +
V. 3
(Past Participle)
is broken
will be met
was interrogated .
is going to be informed
could have been saved
was being looted
had been seen

Do you know the past and Past

Participle forms of the irregular
verbs ?
You have to know the past and Past
Participle
forms of the IRREGULAR VERBS by heart.

A REFERENCE LIST
Mnemonic Rhyming Groups
Learning can be fun with Mnemonics!
When we were kids, rhyming songs and phrases were
some of the gimmicks used to make us remember
different things.
I hope sorting these Irregular Verbs into rhyming
groups can help you memorize them in a short period
of time. Actually some groups can be memorized
in ONLY 10 SECONDS!!!
Have a look at Group 3 !!!

Group 1
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

sing
sink
drink
shrink
swim
begin
run

sang
sank
drank
shrank
swam
began
ran

sung
sunk
drunk
shrunk
swum
begun
run

Group 2
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

feed

fed

fed

lead

led

led

breed

bred

bred

read

read*

read*

(Pronounced as red)

(Pronounced as red)

sell

sold

sold

tell

told

told

slide
hold

slid
held

slid
held

Group 3
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

hit

hit

hit

fit
spit
knit
quit
let
set
upset
shut
cut
put
cost
hurt
spread
broadcast

fit

fit

spit (spat)
knit /(knitted)
quit
let
set
upset
shut
cut
put
cost
hurt
spread
broadcast

spit (spat)
knit /(knitted)
quit
let
set
upset
shut
cut
put
cost
hurt
spread
broadcast

Group 4
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

buy

bought

bought

fight

fought

fought

seek

sought

sought

think

thought

thought

bring

brought

brought

teach

taught

taught

catch

caught

caught

Group 5
SIMPLE FORM
bend
send
lend
spend
build
sleep
keep
creep
weep
sweep
leap
feel
mean
dream
meet
leave
lose
burn

SIMPLE PAST
bent
sent
lent
spent
built
slept
kept
crept
wept
swept
leapt (leaped)
felt
meant
dreamt /(dreamed)
met
left
lost
burnt /(burned)

PAST PARTICIPLE
bent
sent
lent
spent
built
slept
kept
crept
wept
swept
leapt (leaped)
felt
meant
dreamt /(dreamed)
met
left
lost
burnt /(burned)

Group 6
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

hang
hang (to kill )
dig
shoot
stand
understand
stick
strike
sit
win
make

hung
hanged
dug
shot
stood
understood
stuck
struck
sat
won
made

hung
hanged
dug
shot
stood
understood
stuck
struck
sat
won
made

pay
lay
say

paid
laid
said
light

find
found

paid
laid
said
lit / (lighted)

found
founded

lit / (lighted)
found
founded

Group 7
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

throw
grow
blow
draw
withdraw
fly
know

threw
grew
blew
drew
withdrew
flew
knew

thrown
grown
blown
drawn
withdrawn
flown
known

Group 9
SIMPLE FORM

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

dive
do
go
hear
have
be ( am , is , are)
come
become
overcome
see
saw
lie
lie
lay

dived/dove
did
went
heard
had
was, were
came
became
overcame
saw
sawed
lied
lay
laid

dived
done
gone
heard
had
been
come
become
overcome
seen
sawn /(sawed)
lied
lain
laid