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The Passive Voice

Sentences can be active or passive. We usually use the active in written and spoken language. The difference is that in an active sentence the subject performs the action and in a passive sentence the subject receives the action. Study the following information to learn how to form a passive sentence, how to put an active into a passive sentence and how to form the tenses in the passive voice.

How to form the Passive

Form of to be + past participle (3rd form) of the verb

Tense Passive form
Present tense am / is / are invited
Past tense was / were invited
Future tense will be invited
Present perfect tense have / has been invited
Past perfect tense had been invited

 

How to form a passive sentence

SUBJECT - FORM OF TO BE + 3rd FORM - ADVERB, ...

The room is cleaned every day.

They are sold as pets.

A lot of guests are invited to a party.

 

Put an active sentence into a passive one:

Active : Subject - Verb - Object

Bats eat insects.

Passive: Subject - Verb - by - Agent

Insects are eaten by bats.

 

Active : Subject - Verb - Object

Tom saw the burglers.

Passive: Subject - Verb - by - Agent

The burglars were seen by Tom.

 

Subject of the active sentence → Agent of the passive sentence

Object of the active sentence → Subject of the passive sentence

 


EXERCISES

Passive Voice - Exercise 1 - mixed tenses, fill in exercise

Passive Voice - Exercise 2 - mixed tenses, fill in exercise

Passive Voice - Exercise 3 - fill in the present simple or past simple

Passive Voice - Exercise 4 - form passive sentences - all tenses

Passive Voice - Exercise 5 - form passive sentences - present and past tense

Passive Voice - Exercise 6 - form passive sentences - present and past tense

Passive Voice - multiple choice exercise - all tenses

Passive Voice - multiple choice exercise - present and past simple

Passive Voice - grammar test