The passive voice The Passive is not a tense. You will find it easier to understand the passive if you already know the basic English verb tenses.

Present Simple Passive (1) English weather You can have passive verbs in all the different tenses. We will start with the present simple. Here is an active verb in the present simple: Everybody loves English weather. Now let’s change it to the passive voice: islovedby everybody. To make the passive use the verb ‘to BE’ in the same tense as the original sentence – here it is the present simple tense To make the passive, use the 3 rd form or past participle of the main verb. If you need to mention who is doing the action, use ‘by’ to introduce it. ‘is loved’ is present simple passive (because ‘is’ is in the present simple).

Present Simple Passive (2) Take a look at some more sentences in the present simple passive. English teachers are loved by everybody. The verb ‘to be’ is plural in this sentence to agree with ‘teachers’. You don’t have to agree with that statement! You’re thinking ‘Some people don’t love English teachers!’ So let’s make that passive! English teachers are not loved Make the verb ‘to BE’ negative in the usual way. by everybody. ‘by …’ may not be necessary. If it’s not important, leave it out.

Past Simple Passive A million pounds Here is a sentence in the past simple: Someone stole a million pounds from the bank. Now let’s change it to the passive voice: wasstolenfrom the bank ‘to BE’ in the past simple tense is ‘was’ (singular) or ‘were’ (plural) To make the passive, use the 3 rd form or past participle of the main verb. ‘by someone’ doesn’t tell us much (who was it?) so leave it out. (by someone)

Present Perfect Passive You Here is a sentence in the present perfect. They have forgiven you. Now let’s change it to the passive voice: have beenforgiven. ‘to BE’ in the present perfect tense is ‘has been’ (singular) or ‘have been’ (plural) To make the passive, use the 3 rd form or past participle of the main verb.

This presentation did not cover all the tenses but maybe it gave you an idea about how to form the passive. Now try some activities on other websites. Back to links to other passive voice sites