GRAMMAR TIME

PASSIVE VOICEBy Lilian Marchesoni

Somebody built this house in 1930. (active)object

subject

subject

This house was built in 1930. (passive)

COMPARE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE.

We use an active verb to say what the subject does.

My grandpa was a builder. He built this house in 1930.

It’s a big company. It employs two hundred

people.

We use a passive verb to say what happens to the subject.

This house is quite old. It was built in 1930.

Two hundred people are employed by the company.

Is this room cleaned every day?(does somebody clean it? – it’s not important who)

When we use the passive, who or what causes the action is often unknown or unimportant.

A lot of money was stolen in the robbery.(somebody stole it but we don’t know who)

THE PASSIVE WITH VARIOUS TENSES

PRESENT SIMPLE

Dangerous driving causes many accidents.

Many accidents are caused by dangerous driving.

Somebody cleans this room every day.

This room is cleaned every day.

Active: clean(s) / see(s) / cause(s) etc.Passive: am/is/are + cleaned / seen / caused etc.

PAST SIMPLE

Somebody left these books in the classroom yesterday.These books were left in the classroom

yesterday.

Somebody cleaned this room last week.

This room was cleaned last week.

Active: cleaned / saw / caused etc.Passive: was/were + cleaned / seen / caused etc.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Someone is using the computer now.The computer is being used

now.

Somebody is cleaning the room at the moment.

The room is being cleaned at the moment.

Active: am/is/are doing / playing / makingPassive: am/is/are + being + done / played / made

PRESENT PERFECT

My brother hasn’t washed the dishes.The dishes haven’t been

washed.

The room looks nice. Somebody has cleaned it.

The room looks nice. It has been cleaned.

Active: have/has done / made / seen etc.Passive: have/has + been + done / made / seen etc.

FUTURE (WILL)

This car is too old. Nobody will steal it!This car is too old. It won’t be

stolen!

Somebody will clean the room soon.

The room will be cleaned soon.

Active: will see / tell / clean etc.Passive: will + be + seen / told / cleaned etc.