2. Passive voice is used when the focus in on the action is
not important or no known, however, who or what is
performing the action.
In the passive voice the subject of the active voice and
the direct object of the active voice interchange their position
in the sentence.
Active Voice Passive Voice
Paco sent a letter A letter was sent by Paco
Subject + verb + object Object + verb + subject
3. First let´s look at the different forms of be:
TENSE VERB
Present Simple am / is / are
Past Simple was / were
Present Continuos am / is / are being
Past Continuous was / were being
Present Perfect have / has been
Past Perfect had been
Let´s look at the formula for the passive voice:
Subject + be + past participle
4. TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE
Present Simple give / gives am / is / are given
Past Simple gave was / were given
Present Continuous am / is / are giving am / is / are being given
Past Continuous was / were giving was / were being given
Present Perfect have / has given have / has been given
Past Perfect had given had been given
Future
will give
going to give
will be given
going to be given
Modal Verbs
must/can/may/might/
could/(or other) give
can be given
5. Changes in the sentence
3 2 1 4
He painted a picture for his brother
A picture was painted for his brother
1.- The object in the active voice is transformed into a subject in the passive voice
2.- The verb tense in the active voice is transformed into the same verb tense with
the verb to be in the passive voice. And the past participle of the verb tense in the
voice active.
3.- The subject in the active shows little information so that it is not written.
4.- Other complemets.
6. The news surprises Tom
Tom is surprised by the news
Mike reparied his car
The car was reparied by Mike
Juan is building a dog kennel
A dog kennel is being built by Juan
Lisa had not brought the book
The book had not been brought by Lisa
7. Mr. Rous will teach this class.
This class will be taught by Mr. Rous
I must finish as soon as possible my homework
My homework must be finished as soon as possible
He ate all of the cookies
All of the cookies were eaten
