PASSIVE VOICE

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

The professor teaches the students. (active voice)

The students are taught by the professor. (passive voice)

We use the active form to say what the subject does. For example:

I speak English every day at work.I repaired the flat tire on the car.

We use the passive form when we don't know who did the action. For example:The shirts were made in Turkey.Or when what is done is more important than who does it. For example:Children’s day is celebrated on June 1st.

Active vs. Passive sentences

Active

SUBJECT VERB OBJECT OTHER INFORMATION

The school

organizes a competition

every year

Passive

SUBJECT VERB AGENT OTHER INFORMATION

A competition

is organized

by the school

every year

PASSIVE VOICE: FORM

We form the passive voice with the auxiliary verb Be (always in the same tense as the verb in the active voice) and the Past Participle of the main verb:

Films are made in Hollywood.The project was completed on time.

PRESENT SIMPLE PASSIVEam/is/are + past participle main verb

Her car is often parked round the corner.(passive voice positive)

Her car isn’t often parked round the corner. (passive voice negative)

Is her car often parked round the corner?(passive voice interrogative)

PAST SIMPLE PASSIVE was/were + past participle main verb

Someone stole my mobile yesterday.(active voice)

My mobile was stolen yesterday.(passive voice positive)

My mobile wasn’t stolen yesterday.(passive voice negative)

If we want to include the person who does the action we use “by” after the passive verb:

The milkman delivers the milk.

The milk is delivered by the milkman.

More in formation and exercises on the following links:

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/passive/menu.php

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/active_passive/sentences_simple_present.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/active_passive/sentences_simple_past.htm