Passive Voice

How to construct the passive.

1.  Check to see if the active sentence contains an object.

John ate an apple.         (S V O)       Passive is possible.

John ate yesterday.       (S V)          Passive is not possible.

2.  Move the object to the front of the sentence.  Put the original subject in a "be" phrase .

An apple (V) by John.

3.  Put the verb in the form "be" +3 (of main verb)

An apple У be Ф eaten by John.

4.  Put the "be" in the same tense as the original active sentence.

An apple was/were eaten by John.  ( past tense)

5.  Make the first verb agree with the new subject.

An apple was eaten by John.

(Put other elements of the sentence in grammatical and logical order.)

Yesterday the large green apple was quickly eaten by John, who didnТt realize that it belonged to his sister.

When other (auxiliary) verbs and modals are used in combination with the passive, remember:

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple should have been being eaten by John

Combination of auxiliary verbs with the passive.

Present Tense

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple       is eaten by
John

Past Tense

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple       was eaten by John

Present ProgressiveTense

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple     is being eaten by John

Past Tense

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple     was being eaten by
John

Present Perfect Tense

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple   have   been eaten by John

Present Perfect Progressive

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple   have been being eaten by John

Past Perfect Progressive

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple   had been being eaten by John

Future/Modal

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple will     be eaten by John

Future/Modal

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple is going to     be eaten by John

Modal

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple must     be eaten by John

Past Modal

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple must have   been eaten by John

Combination

  Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)

be + 3
(Passive)

 
The apple must have been being eaten by John

 

Audio - Click to Play
Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Related Grammar Topics

Grammar Exercises

More Grammar Topics

Statistics

We have 48 guests online
 News: 435
 Visitors: 629633
Comments (5)Add Comment
The grammar
written by Muftah saad, October 08, 2009
the grammar need more explaning ,is not enough those examples because there are some comfused like the modal and the future and past modal is not clear and I can say that actually it is the first time that I see this type of grammar the combination time , if it is possible can define when we can use..
Senior Sociologist
written by Md. Masudul Hoque Haidary, November 11, 2009
Excellent Web Site for English learner .
GooD
written by Muhammad Akbar, January 05, 2010
This is good site to learn for those people those are able to learn by formula based. some or other hand if person has touter, can learn easily or If ask s.o will also be beneficial to understand.
Passive help
written by passive help, January 15, 2010
E.g. When used as subjects in present tense sentences, count nouns require the –s form of the verb in the singular and the base form of the verb in the plural.
Question: I would like to know why we used "USED" instead of "USE" and why "REQUIRE" INSTEAD of "REQUIRED"?
...
written by Hany , February 06, 2010
thnx for the lesson. now I'm sure that i can do well in the exam.. smilies/smiley.gif

Write comment
quote
bold
italicize
underline
strike
url
image
quote
quote
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley
Smiley

security code
Write the displayed characters


busy
 
< Prev   Next >