Active and Passive Voice
Active voice
Most sentences are active. This means that the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence.
For example:
The German professor (subject) teaches (verb) students (object)
Rob (subject) cleans (verb) his Japanese car (object)
(The thing doing the action + verb + thing receiving the action)
Passive voice
We use passive voice when we do not know who did an action. (For example: The window was broken (but we do not know by whom)
We use passive voice when it is not important who does an action. (For example: Breakfast will be served at 7am.)
We use passive voice because it can sometimes be more polite. (For example: A mistake was made. Note that the focus is on the mistake and not the person who made it.)
For example:
The German students (subject) are taught (passive verb) by the professor (doing the action)
The Japanese car (subject) is cleaned (passive verb) by Rob (doing the action)
(Thing receiving the action + be + past participle + by + thing doing the action)
|
Tense |
Active |
Passive |
|
Simple present |
Once a week Tom cleans the house |
Once a week the house is cleaned by Tom |
|
Present continuous |
Sarah is writing a letter |
A letter is being written by Sarah |
|
Simple past
|
Sam repaired the German car |
The German car was repaired by Sam |
|
Past continuous |
The salesman was helping the customer |
The customer was being helped by the salesman |
|
Present perfect |
Many tourists have visited Brazilian that castle |
That Brazilian castle has been visited by many tourists |
|
Past perfect |
John had repaired his motorcycle |
The motorcycle had been repaired by John |
|
Present perfect continuous |
Recently, Henry has been doing the work |
Recently, the work has been done by Henry |
|
Past perfect continuous |
The Chinese chef had been preparing the meal for 10 hours |
For 10 hours the meal had been prepared by the Chinese chef |
|
Simple future (will) |
Someone will finish the work by 5pm. |
The work will be finished by someone by 5pm |
|
Simple future (be going to) |
Sally is going to make a wonderful Japanese meal tonight |
A wonderful Japanese meal is going to be made by Sally tonight |
|
Used to |
William used to pay the bills |
The bills used to be paid by William |
|
Would always |
My mother would always make soup on Saturday. |
Soup would always be made by my mother on Saturday. |
Complete the following incomplete sentences using active or passive voice:
- Rita writes a letter. (active voice)
A letter…
- Rita…
A letter was written by Rita. (passive voice)
- Rita has written a letter. (active voice)
A letter has…
- Rita will…
A letter will be written by Rita.
- Rita is writing a letter. (active voice)
A letter is…
- Rita would always buy fish at the weekend. (active voice)
Fish would…
- Rita…
The weekly living expenses used to be paid by Rita. (passive voice)
- Rita is going to write a letter. (active voice)
A letter…
ANSWERS
- Rita writes a letter. (active voice)
A letter IS WRITTEN BY RITA
- Rita WROTE A LESSON
A letter was written by Rita. (passive voice)
- Rita has written a letter. (active voice)
A letter has BEEN WRITTEN BY RITA
- Rita will WRITE A LETTER
A letter will be written by Rita.
- Rita is writing a letter. (active voice)
A letter is BEING WRITTEN BY RITA
- Rita would always buy fish at the weekend. (active voice)
Fish would ALWAYS BE BOUGHT BY RITA AT THE WEEKEND.
- Rita USED TO PAY THE WEEKLY LIVING EXPENSES
The weekly living expenses used to be paid by Rita. (passive voice)
- Rita is going to write a letter. (active voice)
A letter IS GOING TO BE WRITTEN BY RITA.
