PASSIVE VOICE

Definition

Passive voice is a voice that indicates that the subject is the patient or recipient of the action denoted by verb.

What is Active Voice?

Definition : active voice is a voice that indicates a subject has the semantic function of actor.

Example :

• The following sentence construction is in active voice. The subject jones has semantic function of actor.
• James built the apartment.

• The above active construction contrasts with the following construction in passive voice, where jones has the semantic function of actor but house is the subject :
• The apartment was built by james.

What is Passive Voice?

Definition : Passive voice is a voice that indicates that the subject is the patint or recipient of the action denoted by the verb

Example :

Here is an example of a construction in passive voice :

• The women was nudged by a passer by.

The above example contrasts with the one below, which is in active voice :

• A passer by nudged the women.

Need to note that, verb used in a passive sentence English, is by using the formula :

…be + Verb-3 (Past Partiple) …

1) Simple Present Tense

Is/are + Verb-3 (past Participle)

Example :

· Hurricanes destroy a great deal of properties each year. (Active)

· A geat deal of properties is destroyed by hurricanes. (Passive)

2) Past Tense

Was/ were + Verb-3 (past participle)

Example :

· Sandra’s uncle promised her a prize. (active)

· Sandra was promised a prize by her uncle. (passive)

· A prize was promised to Sandra by her Uncle. (passive)

3) Present Continuous Tense

Is/are + being + verb-3 (Past Participle)

Example :

· Mr. James is Teaching the student. (active)

· The students are being taught by Mr. James. (passive)

4) Past Continuous Tense

Was/were + being + Verb-3 (Past Participle)

Example :

· My Uncle was painting the wall. (active)

· The wall was being painteds by my uncle. (passive)

5) Present Perfect Tense

Has/have + been + Verb-3 (Past Participle)

Example :

· The company hs orderd some new equipments. (active)

· Some equipments have been ordered by the company. (passive)

6) Past Perfect Tense

Had + been + Verb-3 (Past Participle)

Example :

· My Father had finished the work before I came. (active)

· The work had been finished by My Father. (passive)

7) Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Has/have + been + being + Verb-3 (Past Participle)

Example :

· She has been writing the letter for two hours. (active)

· The letters have been being written by her for two hours. (passive)

8) Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Had + been + being + Verb-3 (Past Participle)

Example :

· She had been doing the work for four hours when I came. (active)

· The work had been being done by her four hours when I came. (passive)

9) Tense with modals : will, shall, can, must, may etc

Will

Shall

Can

Must + be + Verb-3 (Past Participle)

May

Etc.

Example :

· He may lock the doors before leaving the house . (actice)

· The doors may be locked by him before leaving the house. (passive)

10) Tense Modals + Present Perfect Tense

Modals + (Present/Past) + have + been + Verb-3(Past Participle)

Example :

· They should have finished their work before the teacher came. (active)

· Their work should have been finished by them before the teacher came. (passive)

11) Tense with modals + Perfect Continuous Tense

Modals (Present/ Past) + have + been + being + Verb-3

Example :

· They should have been studying the lesson for one hour when the teacher came. (active)

· The lesson should have been being studied by them for one hour when the teacher came. (passive)