Passive voice rules, examples

Passive



Passive voice

Sentences can be active or passive. Passive sentences: The object and the subject change positions in the sentence.

Somebody cleans the classroom every day.
The classroom is cleaned by someone every day.

object + to be + past participle (3rd form)

Active: Who is active?
Passive: What happens to persons and things?

Compare active and passive

Passive Active

The bike is sold.
A police officer is called.
Offices are cleaned.

I sell a bike.
I call a police officer.
Somebody cleans offices.

How to make a passive

  • 1. - Start with object first.
  • 2. - Then use the be form of the verb (depending on the tense).
  • 3. - Then add a past participle.

'by' agent

In a sentence with active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. This is expressed with the verb. In the most passive sentences the agent is not mentioned. If it is mentioned, it is usually done with the preposition by (by-agent).

How to use 'by' (by-Agent) - examples

Aktive
He writes a book.
Tim calls a taxi.
Classes use computers.

Passive
A book is written by him.
A taxi is called byTim.
Computers are used by classes.

Passive examples simple past

I was invited to a party.
You were invited to a party.
He/She was invited to a party.
We were invited to a party.
You were invited to a party.
They were invited to a party.

Passive  present perfect

How to build the passive - present perfect...

have/has + been + past participle (3rd form)

Examples: Passive present perfect

Cars have been imported to England.
You have been taught English.
The shop has been opened.

Passive past perfect

How to build the passive - past perfect...

had + been + past participle (3rd form)

Examples: Passive past perfect

The window had been cleaned.
The door had been closed.
Electric cars had been invented.

Passive voice for all tenses

Passive simple present
Passive simple past
Passive present perfect
Passive past perfect
Passive future 1
Passive future 2

The doors are closed.
The doors were closed.
The doors have been closed.
The doors had been closed.
The doors will be closed.
The doors will have been closed.

Passive voice present continuous

to be (am, is, are) + being + past participle

Example: Passive present continuous

A story is being written.


Passive / Passive Voice exercises

34 Test 1 Passive - all tenses
35 Test2 Passive - all tenses
English Passive Simple Present
01 Active - Passive rules
02 Passive voice
03 Active - Passive examples
04 Exercises Active und Passive
05 Active Passive im Simple present
06 Active und Passive
07 Active - Passive word order
08 Active - Passive word order
more ...

Passive Voice with explanations, examples and exercises. Change the following sentences into the passive voice and learn the passive voice in English with online exercises. Sentences can be active or passive. Free tutorial to English active and passive voice. So don't hesitate to learn the difference between active voice and passive voice in writing with the English Grammar index active voice and passive voice.