The Passive Voice
Sentences can be active or passive. We usually use the active in written and spoken language. The difference is that in an active sentence the subject performs the action and in a passive sentence the subject receives the action. Study the following information to learn how to form a passive sentence, how to put an active into a passive sentence and how to form the tenses in the passive voice.
How to form the Passive
Form of to be + past participle (3rd form) of the verb
| Tense | Passive form |
| Present tense | am / is / are invited |
| Past tense | was / were invited |
| Future tense | will be invited |
| Present perfect tense | have / has been invited |
| Past perfect tense | had been invited |
How to form a passive sentence
SUBJECT - FORM OF TO BE + 3rd FORM - ADVERB, ...
The room is cleaned every day.
They are sold as pets.
A lot of guests are invited to a party.
Put an active sentence into a passive one:
Active : Subject - Verb - Object
Bats eat insects.
Passive: Subject - Verb - by - Agent
Insects are eaten by bats.
Active : Subject - Verb - Object
Tom saw the burglers.
Passive: Subject - Verb - by - Agent
The burglars were seen by Tom.
Subject of the active sentence → Agent of the passive sentence
Object of the active sentence → Subject of the passive sentence
EXERCISES
Passive Voice - Exercise 1 - mixed tenses, fill in exercise
Passive Voice - Exercise 2 - mixed tenses, fill in exercise
Passive Voice - Exercise 3 - fill in the present simple or past simple
Passive Voice - Exercise 4 - form passive sentences - all tenses
Passive Voice - Exercise 5 - form passive sentences - present and past tense
Passive Voice - Exercise 6 - form passive sentences - present and past tense
Passive Voice - multiple choice exercise - all tenses
Passive Voice - multiple choice exercise - present and past simple