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The Passive Voice

THE PASSIVE VOICE
We use the passive voice when:
a- our focus is on the action not on the person who does the action.
b- it is not necessary to mention the doer of the action.
c- we don't know the person who does/did the action
Present simple
       
                      S          V         O
Active        Amin speaks English
Passive      English is spoken by Amin
            be (is/are)+ past participle

Exercise:  Put the sentences in the passive voice.

1- He opens the door
……………………………………………
2- We set the table
……………………………………………
3- They don't help you
……………………………………………
4- Does the police catch the thief ?
…………………………………………..
5- They wear blue shoes
……………………………………………
Present progressive

S          V             O
Leila is writing an e-mail
An e-mail is being written by Leila
be (is/are) + being + past participle

Exercise:  Put the sentences in the passive voice.
  • Sarais drinking a cup of tea
  • …………………………………
  • Ibrahim is milking the cows
  • …………………………………
  • Is she watering the flowers?
  • …………………………………
  • We are not playing football
  • …………………………………
  • My father is washing the car
  • ………………………………
                                   Past Simple
                        
                      S                V              O
Active        Columbus discovered America
Passive     America was discovered by Columbus
                  be (was/were) + past participle

Exercise:  Put the sentences in the passive voice.
1- She sang  songs
………………………………………….
2- We stopped the bus
…………………………………………
3- She didn't win the prize
…………………………………………
4- Did he send the letter?
………….…………………...................
5- A thief stole my car
……………….…………….................



Past progressive                   

S             V                     O
They were watching Television
Television was being watched by them
be (was/were) + being + past participle

Exercise:  Put the sentences in the passive voice.
  •  He was playing the guitar
  • ..................................................
  •  I was repairing their car
  • ........……………… …………..
  •  They were not eating dinner
  • …….………………………..
  •  Was she reading these lines?
  • ...........…………………………
  •  She was watching a film
  • ………………………………..


Passive with the Present perfect
                              
                   S        V             O                              S        V               O
Active         I have read the book                           I have read the books
Passive       The book has been read by me          The books have been read by me
                                        Be + have/has + been + past participle
Exercise: Put the following sentences in the passive voice.
1- I have eaten a hamburger              Hamburger…………………………………………….
2- They have not caught the thieves  The thieves…………………………………………….
3- Has she phoned him?                     Has he…………………………………………….
4- I have opened the present              The present…………………………………………….
5- Have they noticed us?                    Have we…………………………………………….


Passive voice with auxiliary verbs
                                     
Active      Samir      will/can/could/would/may/
                                 is going to/ should/ must        write a letter 

Passive    A letter   will/can/could/would/may/
                              is going to/ should/ must        be written by samir

                           Will/can/could/would … + be + past participle
Exercise: Put the following sentences in the passive voice.
  1. Adam saves     money………………………………………………………
  2. Anna opened the window………………………………………………
  3. We have done our homework……………………………………………
  4. I will ask a question……………………………………………………
  5. He can not draw the picture………………………………………………
  6. We are going to take a quiz tomorrow…………………………………




Answers
1-      Money is saved(b y (Adam)
2-      The window was opened (by Anna)
3-      Our homework has been done (by us)
4-      A question will be asked (by me)
5-      The picture cannot be drawn
6-      A quiz is going to be taken tomorrow

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