Passive Voice
There are two voices in English, the active and the passive. The active tells us what the subject does, for example: The secretary wrote a letter. The passive tell us what is done to the subject, for example: The letter was written by the secretary.
Definition of passive voice:
A passive construction occurs when you make the object of an action into the subject of a sentence. That is, whoever or whatever is performing the action is not grammatical subject of the sentence.
A passive construction occurs when you make the object of an action into the subject of a sentence. That is, whoever or whatever is performing the action is not grammatical subject of the sentence.
The generic structure:
• Active: S + V active + O
• Passive: O + to be + V3 + by + S
• Active: S + V active + O
• Passive: O + to be + V3 + by + S
Active to passive voice
1. Simple Present
Noun + is/am/are + V3
Active : She is write a letter.
Passive : A letter is written by her.2. Present continuous
Noun + is/am/are + being + V3
Active : I am buying a motorcycle.
Passive : A motorcycle is being bought by me.3. Simple Past
Noun + was/were + V3
Active : The police released the hostages.
Passive : The hostages were released by the police.4. Past Continuous
Noun + was/were + being +V3
Active : The officer was investigating the case.
Passive : The case was being investigated by the officer.5. Simple Future
Noun + shall/will + be +V3
Active : The judges will issue a verdict against the accused.
Passive : A verdict against the accused will be issued by the judges.6. Past Future
Noun + should/would + be +V3
Active : The investigator would hand in the file.
Passive : The file would be handed in by the investigator.7. Simple Present Perfect
Noun + has/have + been + V3
Active : A local resident has uncovered an ancient boat.
Passive : An ancient boat has been uncovered by a local resident.8. Past Perfect
Noun + had + been + V3
Active : We had found your watch.
Passive : Your watch had been found by us.9. Simple Future Perfect
Noun + shall/will + have + been + V3
Active : The witness shall have shown the evidence.
Passive : The evidence will have been shown by the witness.10. Past Future Perfect
Noun + should/would + have + been + V3
Active : The major should have been invited by the president.
Passive : The president should have been invited by the major.11. Modals
Noun + must/shall/will/have to/has to + be + V3
Active : Sugiarto must report his attendance to the police once a week.
Passive : His attendance must be reported by Sugiarto to the police once a week.
If you want to change an active sentence which has two objects into its passive forms, there are two ways:
• Make its indirect object into the subject of the passive sentence.
• Make its direct object into the subject of the passive sentence
• Make its indirect object into the subject of the passive sentence.
• Make its direct object into the subject of the passive sentence
Use of passive
Passive voice is use when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I don’t know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite then active voice, as the following example shows: A mistake was made.
In this case, the focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I don’t blame anyone.
When we rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
• The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
• The finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle).
• The subject of the active sentence becomes by Agent in the passive sentence (or is dropped).
• Only active sentence containing object which can be changed into passive form.
• The two forms should have the same tenses.
How about the negative and interrogative?
Take a look at the followings:
• People don’t use bikes anymore.
• Bikes are not used anymore.
• Did the students play the cards in the class yesterday?
• Were the cards played in the class yesterday?
Passive voice is use when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I don’t know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite then active voice, as the following example shows: A mistake was made.
In this case, the focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I don’t blame anyone.
When we rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
• The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
• The finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle).
• The subject of the active sentence becomes by Agent in the passive sentence (or is dropped).
• Only active sentence containing object which can be changed into passive form.
• The two forms should have the same tenses.
How about the negative and interrogative?
Take a look at the followings:
• People don’t use bikes anymore.
• Bikes are not used anymore.
• Did the students play the cards in the class yesterday?
• Were the cards played in the class yesterday?
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