Passive VoicePassive Voice

We use passive voice when the objectWe use passive voice when the object

of the action is more important thanof the action is more important than

those who perform the action. those who perform the action.

From active to passive: 3 stepsFrom active to passive: 3 steps

Active sentence:Active sentence: He paints He paints the picture.the picture.

Step 1Step 1 The object of the active sentence The object of the active sentence

becomes the subject of the passive becomes the subject of the passive sentence.sentence.

The pictureThe picture…………

Step 2Step 2

We put verb ‘We put verb ‘to beto be’ into the tense of ’ into the tense of the active sentence:the active sentence:

Active: He paints the picture. Active: He paints the picture. Present Present SimpleSimple

‘‘to be’ in present simple: am/are/is to be’ in present simple: am/are/is

The picture The picture isis…………

Step 3Step 3

We put the verb of the active sentence We put the verb of the active sentence into the past participle:into the past participle:

Paint paintedPaint painted

The picture is The picture is paintedpainted..

Additional stepAdditional step If the agent (the performer of the action) is If the agent (the performer of the action) is

important, use "by" :important, use "by" :Tom paints the picture.Tom paints the picture. The picture is The picture is

painted painted by Tom.by Tom.

If the agent is: somebody, they, he, she… If the agent is: somebody, they, he, she… we do not use “by”.we do not use “by”.

He paints the picture. He paints the picture. The picture is The picture is painted.painted.

Double objectsDouble objects

give, send, bring, buy, tell, offer, show, give, send, bring, buy, tell, offer, show, pay, teach, etcpay, teach, etc

Active: Mary gives Tom a book.Active: Mary gives Tom a book.

Passive1: A book is given to Tom (by Mary).Passive1: A book is given to Tom (by Mary).

Passive2: Tom is given a book (by Mary).Passive2: Tom is given a book (by Mary).

TensesTenses

Present Simple:Present Simple:

She eats pizza.She eats pizza. The pizza The pizza isis eaten. eaten.

Present ContinuousPresent Continuous::

Se is eating pizza. Se is eating pizza. The pizza The pizza is is beingbeing eaten.eaten.

Present Perfect:Present Perfect:

She has eaten pizza.She has eaten pizza. The pizza The pizza has has beenbeen eateneaten..

Past Simple:Past Simple:

She ate pizza. She ate pizza. The pizza The pizza was was eaten.eaten.

Past Continuous:Past Continuous:She was eating pizza.She was eating pizza. The pizza The pizza was was

beingbeing eaten. eaten.

Past Perfect:Past Perfect:She had eaten pizza.She had eaten pizza. The pizza The pizza had had

beenbeen eaten. eaten.

Future Simple:Future Simple:She will eat pizza.She will eat pizza. The pizza The pizza will bewill be

eaten. eaten.

Going to Future: Going to Future:

She is going to eat pizza. She is going to eat pizza. The pizza The pizza is going is going to to bebe eaten. eaten.

Important!Important!

Pay attention to the number:Pay attention to the number:

They are eating an apple. They are eating an apple.

An apple An apple isis being eaten. being eaten.

He is eating apples. He is eating apples.

Apples Apples areare being eaten. being eaten.