Grammar Reinforcement Passive Voice

We use the passive voice to put emphasis on the receiver of the action; when we do not know or do not want to mention the doer of the action; to make formal or objective statements, as in headlines, instructions, signs, etc.; and to put emphasis on the doer of the action putting it at the end.

1. We put the receiver of the action at the beginning as the subject. The doer of the

action can be omitted, or we can mention it after the preposition by. e.g. I was scolded (by my teacher). 2. We use the passive form of a verb to make a passive sentence.
verb to be + past participle of a verb

Some verbs do not have passive forms. We do not make passive sentences with
intransitive verbs (happen, appear, die, arrive, etc.), which do not have

objects

An accident happened last week. An accident was happened last week. He has a car. The car is had by him. I am sitting on the chair. The chair is being sat on.

some transitive verbs (have, fit, etc.), which do not have objects

Some prepositional verbs (sit on, agree with, etc.), which do not have objects

Present simple Active : Passive :

am/is/are + done/cleaned etc. Somebody cleans this room every day. This room is cleaned every day.

Many accidents are caused by dangerous driving. Im not often invited to parties. How many people are injured in road accidents every day? Past simple Active : Passive : was/were + done/cleaned etc. Somebody cleaned this room yesterday. This room was cleaned yesterday.

During the night we were all woken up by a loud explosion. When was that castle built? The house wasnt damaged in the storm but a tree was blown down. Present continuous Active : Passive : am/is/are being + done/cleaned etc.

Somebody is cleaning the room at the moment. The room is being cleaned at the moment.

Look at those old houses! They are being knocked down. (shop assistant to customer) Are you being served, madam? Past continuous Active : Passive : was/were being + done/cleaned etc.

Somebody was cleaning the room when I arrived. The room was being cleaned when I arrived.

Suddenly I heard footsteps behind me. We were being followed.

Present perfect Active : Passive :

have/has

been + done/cleaned etc.

The room looks nice. Somebody has cleaned it. The room looms nice. It has been cleaned.

Have you heard the news? The president has been shot. Have you ever been bitten by a dog? Im not going to the party. I havent been invited. Past perfect Active : Passive : had been + done/cleaned etc. The room looked much better. Somebody had cleaned it. The room looked much better. It had been cleaned.

Jim didnt know about the change of plans. He hadnt been told.