Active to Passive voicePresent Perfect & Past Perfect tenses

Mr Abel Kok

Active to Passive voiceGenerally speaking, it is best to use the active voice. Eg. “I wrote the book”. Instead of “The book was written by

me.” However, the passive voice is necessary for the following

reasons:The focus on the object rather than the subject:

Peter was reprimanded by the teacher.The subject (doer) is unknown: Eg. The bicycle has been stolen.

To create suspense or dramatic effect: The cat was eaten by the rat! (This is typically used in

Headlines)

Synthesis (ACTIVE to PASSIVE Voice)Marie forgets the book.

The book________________________________.

Marie forgot the book.

The book________________________________.

Marie has forgotten the book.

The book________________________________.

Marie had forgotten the book.

The book________________________________.

USE OF ‘PARTICIPLE’

+

The tense should not be change.

For ‘has’, ‘have’ &

‘had’ – USE ‘BEEN’

is forgotten by Marie.

was forgotten by Marie.

has been forgotten by Marie.

had been forgotten by Marie.

Synthesis (ACTIVE to PASSIVE Voice)Marie wipes the table.

The table________________________________.

Marie wiped the table.

The table________________________________.

Marie has wiped the table.

The table________________________________.

Marie had wiped the table.

The table________________________________.

USE OF ‘PARTICIPLE’

+

The tense should not be change.

For ‘has’, ‘have’ &

‘had’ – USE ‘BEEN’

is wiped by Marie.

was wiped by Marie.

has been wiped by Marie.

had been wiped by Marie.

Present and Past Perfect Tenses

Used when:To show the relationship between 2 past eventsStructure: had + participleThe time can be specified or left unspecified.Words like ‘before, after’ can be used to make the sequencing/ relationship of the 2 events clearer.Johnson topped the class in last year’s PSLE as he had studied hard for the past six years.

Which event happened first?

Week 5

Revision on Participles

(Present)WriteClimbReadCome

Cut

(Past)Wrote

ClimbedReadCame

Cut

(Participles)WrittenClimbed

ReadCome

Cut

(Participles)WrittenClimbed

ReadCome

Cut

Present and Past Perfect TensesUsed when:To show the relationship between a past event (unspecified time in the past) and continues to have an effect now.Often used with words like ‘never, ever, once, several times, already, so far, for, since’.Structure: has/have + participleThe computer cannot be switched on since he has damaged the keyboard.

Which event has effects on the current state of affairs.

Present and Past Perfect Tenses

Complete the sentences below with either the present or past perfect tenses. (Remember to use your participles)

Oh no! My sister _________ (tear) my book! What am I going to do?

If they _________ (know) this was going to happen, they might _______ (avoid) the disaster.

The monkey _______ (break) the fence after it _____ (steal) the bunch of bananas.

The monkey _______ (break) the fence before it _____ (steal) the bunch of bananas.

Let’s apply

Present and Past Perfect TensesRecap

Pesent Perfect Tenses emphasis the continuous effects of a past event on the current state of affairs.(Structure: has/have + participle)Words often used with be:Often used with words like ‘never, ever, once, several times, already, so far, for, since’.

Past Perfect Tenses make the sequence/ relationship between two past events clearer.(Structure: Had + participle)Words often used with be: before/ after