The Voice System

English for Graduate Studies

Class 8
The Voice System
• Active = Verb
• places the subject in the subject slot of a sentence, where we have
come to expect the subject to occur
• used much more frequently
e.g. The free trade agreement will open the borders three years from
now.

• Passive = Verb to be + VERBed2 (V3P)

• allows the object of a verb to be placed in the subject slot
• avoids responsibility
e.g. English is spoken in London.
 Time = present
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = is, am, are

English
People speak English in London.
1. Remove all the material in the adverbial slot because it is
not involved in the process:
2. Remove the active subject:
3. Move the object into the subject position:
4. Determine the tense (time and aspect) of the active verb:
5. Determine the form(s) of be that have the same tense as the
active verb.
Singular
Time = present
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = is, am, are

People speak
English is English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 (V3P) form and
place it after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
The twelve tenses in English
The twelve tenses in English
The twelve tenses in English – Passive
V to be + V3P

V to have + been +
Ving
V to have + V3 V to be + Ving

V to be + V to have + V to be + being V to have + been +

V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
is, am, have, has + is, am, are + have, has + been +
are + V3P been + V3P being + V3P being + V3P
was, were had + been + was, were + had + been + being
+ V3P V3P being + V3P + V3P
will be + will have + will + be + being will have + been +
V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
The twelve tenses in English – Passive
V to be + V3P

V to have + been +
Ving
V to have + V3 V to be + Ving

V to be + V to have + V to be + being V to have + been +

V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
is, am, have, has + is, am, are + have, has + been +
are + V3P been + V3P being + V3P being + V3P
was, were had + been + was, were + had + been + being
+ V3P V3P being + V3P + V3P
will be + will have + will + be + being will have + been +
V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
The twelve tenses in English – Passive
V to be + V3P

V to have + been +
Ving
V to have + V3 V to be + Ving

V to be + V to have + V to be + being V to have + been +

V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
is, am, have, has + is, am, are + have, has + been +
are + V3P been + V3P being + V3P being + V3P
was, were had + been + was, were + had + been + being
+ V3P V3P being + V3P + V3P
will be + will have + will + be + being will have + been +
V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
The twelve tenses in English – Passive
V to be + V3P

V to have + been +
Ving
V to have + V3 V to be + Ving

V to be + V to have + V to be + being V to have + been +

V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
is, am, have, has + is, am, are + have, has + been +
are + V3P been + V3P being + V3P being + V3P
was, were had + been + was, were + had + been + being
+ V3P V3P being + V3P + V3P
will be + will have + will + be + being will have + been +
V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
The twelve tenses in English – Passive
V to be + V3P

V to have + been +
Ving
V to have + V3 V to be + Ving

V to be + V to have + V to be + being V to have + been +

V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
is, am, have, has + is, am, are + have, has + been +
are + V3P been + V3P being + V3P being + V3P
was, were had + been + was, were + had + been + being
+ V3P V3P being + V3P + V3P
will be + will have + will + be + being will have + been +
V3P been + V3P + V3P being + V3P
Changing active to passive
People speak
English is English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
1. Remove all the material in the adverbial slot because it is
not involved in the process:
2. Remove the active subject:
3. Move the object into the subject position:
4. Determine the tense (time and aspect) of the active verb:
5. Determine the form(s) of be that have the same tense as the
active verb.
 Time = present
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = is, am, are

People speak
English is English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 (V3P) form and
place it after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
Changing active to passive
People speak
English is English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = is, am, are

People speak
English is English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = was, were

People speak
English is English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = was, were

People speak
English was English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = was, were

People speak
English was English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = will be

People speak
English was English
spoken ininLondon.
London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = simple
Changing active to passive be = will be

People speak
English will beEnglish
spokenin London.
in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = will be

People speak
English will beEnglish
spokenin London.
in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = is, am, are + being

People speak
English will beEnglish
spokenin London.
in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = is, am, are + being

People speak
English English
is being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = is, am, are + being

People speak
English English
is being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = was, were + being

People speak
English English
is being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = was, were + being

People speak
English English
was being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = was, were + being

People speak
English English
was being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = will be + being

People speak
English English
was being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = cont.
Changing active to passive be = will be + being

People speak
English will beEnglish
being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = will be + being

People speak
English will beEnglish
being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = have, has + been

People speak
English will beEnglish
being in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = have, has + been

People speak
English has English
been in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = have, has + been

People speak
English has English
been in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = had + been

People speak
English has English
been in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = had + been

People speak
English had English
been in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = had + been

People speak
English had English
been in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = will have + been

People speak
English had English
been in London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = perfect
Changing active to passive be = will have + been

People speak
English English
will have beeninspoken
London.in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = will have + been

People speak
English English
will have beeninspoken
London.in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = have, has + been + being

People speak
English English
will have beeninspoken
London.in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = have, has + been + being

People speak
English English
has been in London.
being spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = present
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = have, has + been + being

People speak
English English
has been in London.
being spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = have, has + been + being

People speak
English English
has been in London.
being spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = had + been + being

People speak
English English
has been in London.
being spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = past
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = had + been + being

People speak
English English
had been beingin London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = had + been + being

People speak
English English
had been beingin London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = will have + been + being

People speak
English English
had been beingin London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
 Time = future
Aspect = perfect cont.
Changing active to passive be = will have + been + being

People speak
English English
will have beeninbeing
London.
spoken in London.
6. Determine the number (singular, plural) of the passive
subject:
7. Choose the form of be that agrees with the passive subject
and place it after that subject:
8. Transform the active verb into VERBed2 form and place it
after be:
9. Re-attach the adverbial that was removed at the beginning:
Caution
• If the verb is intransitive, it cannot be passive.
e.g. 1. The hunter shot the deer.
= The deer was shot by the hunter.
2. The girl fell asleep.
= ???
3. Uncle Harry drove to Miami.
= ???
Special case of the passive voice
• get-passive
• Replaces the auxiliary be in a passive construction
• Informal
• Only occur with dynamic (never with stative) verbs and often implies
a greater emotional involvement on the part of the speaker
e.g. My brother was bumped from the flight to Dallas because it had
been overbooked.
My brother got bumped from the flight to Dallas because it had
been overbooked.
Which should I say / be said?
• The thief was caught by a 10-year-old boy.
A 10-year-old boy caught the thief.

• Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.

Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.

• It depends on what your topic is.

Questions in passive – without question
words
Questions in passive – with question
words