The document discusses the passive voice in English. It explains the formation of the passive voice in the present, past, future, and present perfect tenses. It provides examples of sentences in the active and passive voice. It discusses when the passive voice is commonly used, such as in formal writing. It also covers some important rules for using the passive voice, such as always including the "by" phrase if the agent is known, and how to handle verbs that take two objects.

1. The Passive Voice
PRESENT
PAST
FUTURE
PRESENT PERFECT

2. Example...
Mary designs a beautiful dress.
A beautiful dress is designed by Mary.

3. Pay attention...
Mary designs a beautiful dress.
A beautiful dress is designed by Mary.
Simple Present
VERB TO BE
in the
Simple Present
MAIN VERB
in the
Past Participle

5. FORMATION (PRESENT)FORMATION (PRESENT)
SubjectSubject ++ present form of the verb to bepresent form of the verb to be ++
Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)
CharlesCharles writeswrites a booka book..
A bookA book isis writtenwritten by Charles.by Charles.
CharlesCharles cleanscleans the windowsthe windows..
The windowsThe windows areare cleanedcleaned by Charles.by Charles.

6. Try to complete the sentence…
The girl buys a new pair of shoes.
A new pair of shoes
____ _______
by the girl.
is bought

7. ACTIVE PASSIVEACTIVE PASSIVE
I write a book.I write a book.
You write a book.You write a book.
He writes a book.He writes a book.
We write a book.We write a book.
You write a book.You write a book.
They write a book.They write a book.
A book is written by me.A book is written by me.
A book is written by you.A book is written by you.
A book is written by him.A book is written by him.
A book is written by us.A book is written by us.
A book is written by you.A book is written by you.
A book is written by them.A book is written by them.

8. FORMATION (PAST)FORMATION (PAST)
SubjectSubject ++ past form of the verb to bepast form of the verb to be ++
Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)
CharlesCharles wrotewrote a booka book..
A bookA book waswas writtenwritten by Charles.by Charles.
CharlesCharles cleanedcleaned the windowsthe windows..
The windowsThe windows werewere cleanedcleaned by Charlesby Charles

9. Coloured jeans
______ __________
by the boys.
Now let’s try in the
Simple Past...
Simple Past
The boys bought coloured jeans.
were bought
VERB TO BE
in the
Simple Past

10. ACTIVE PASSIVEACTIVE PASSIVE
I wrote a book.I wrote a book.
You wrote a book.You wrote a book.
He wrote a book.He wrote a book.
We wrote a book.We wrote a book.
You wrote a book.You wrote a book.
They wrote a book.They wrote a book.
A book was written by meA book was written by me
A book was written by youA book was written by you
A book was written by himA book was written by him
A book was written by us.A book was written by us.
A book was written by you.A book was written by you.
A book was written by them.A book was written by them.

11. The Passive VoiceThe Passive Voice
The Pronouns also change…
I...
You...
She...
He...
It...
We...
You...
They...
Passive Agent
... by me.
... by you.
... by her.
... by him.
... by it.
... by us.
... by you.
... by them.

12. The Passive VoiceThe Passive Voice
Simple Present & Simple Past

13. Simple Present or Simple Past?
They visited the fashion show.
The fashion show _____ __________ by
_________.
She reads fashion magazines every day.
Fashion magazines _____ __________ by
________ every day..
was visited
them
are read
her

14. FORMATION (FUTURE)FORMATION (FUTURE)
SubjectSubject ++ will future form of the verb to bewill future form of the verb to be ++
Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)
CharlesCharles will writewill write a booka book..
A bookA book will bewill be writtenwritten by Charles.by Charles.
CharlesCharles will cleanwill clean the windowsthe windows..
The windowsThe windows will bewill be cleanedcleaned by Charles.by Charles.

15. ACTIVE PASSIVEACTIVE PASSIVE
I will write a book.I will write a book.
You will write a book.You will write a book.
He will write a book.He will write a book.
We will write a book.We will write a book.
You will write a book.You will write a book.
They will write a book.They will write a book.
A book will be written by meA book will be written by me
A book will be written by youA book will be written by you
A book will be written by himA book will be written by him
A book will be written by us.A book will be written by us.
A book will be written by youA book will be written by you
A book will be written by themA book will be written by them

16. FORMATIONFORMATION
(PRESENT PERFECT)(PRESENT PERFECT)
SubjectSubject ++ present perfect form of the verb to bepresent perfect form of the verb to be
++ Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)Past Participle (3rd form of irregular verbs)
CharlesCharles has writtenhas written a booka book..
A bookA book has beenhas been writtenwritten by Charles.by Charles.
CharlesCharles has cleanedhas cleaned the windowsthe windows..
The windowsThe windows have beenhave been cleanedcleaned by Charles.by Charles.

17. ACTIVE PASSIVEACTIVE PASSIVE
I have written a book.I have written a book.
You have written aYou have written a
book.book.
He has written a book.He has written a book.
We have written a book.We have written a book.
You have written aYou have written a
book.book.
They have written aThey have written a
book.book.
A book has been writtenA book has been written
by me.by me.
A book has been writtenA book has been written
by you.by you.
A book has been writtenA book has been written
by him.by him.
A book has been writtenA book has been written
by us.by us.
A book has been writtenA book has been written
by you.by you.
A book has been writtenA book has been written
by them.by them.

18. TENSE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
PRESENT SIMPLE The teacher punishes me.
The teacher punishes the boy.
The teacher punishes the boys.
I am punished by the teacher.
The boy is punished by the
teacher.
The boys are punished by the
teacher.
PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
The teacher is punishing me.
The teacher is punishing the
boy.
The teacher is punishing the
boys.
I am being punished by the
teacher.
The boy is being punished by the
teacher.
The boys are being punished by
the teacher.
PAST SIMPLE The teacher punished me.
The teacher punished the boys.
I was punished by the teacher.
The boys were punished by the
teacher.
PAST
CONTINUOUS
The teacher was punishing me.
The teacher was punishing the
boys.
I was being punished by the
teacher.
The boys were being punished by
the teacher.

19. TENSE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
PRESENT
PERFECT
The teacher has punished me.
The teacher has punished the
boy.
I have been punished by the
teacher.
The boy has been punished by
the teacher.
PAST
PERFECT
The teacher had punished me.
The teacher had punished the
boys.
I had been punished by the
teacher.
The boys had been punished by
the teacher.
FUTURE
SIMPLE
The teacher will punish me.
The teacher will punish the boys.
I will be punished by the
teacher.
The boys will be punished by the
teacher.
GOING TO
FUTURE
The teacher is going to punish
me.
The teacher is going to punish the
boys.
I am going to be punished by the
teacher.
The boys are going to be
punished by the teacher.

20. TENSE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
CONDITIONAL The teacher would punish me.
The teacher would punish the
boys.
I would be punished by the teacher.
The boys would be punished by the
teacher,
MODALS The teacher can punish me.
The teacher could punish me.
The teacher may punish me.
The teacher might punish me.
The teacher must punish me.
The teacher had to punish me.
The teacher shall punish me.
The teacher should punish me.
The teacher ought to punish
me.
I can be punished by the teacher.
I could be punished by the teacher.
I may be punished by the teacher.
I might be punished by the teacher.
I must be punished by the teacher.
I had to be punished by the teacher.
I shall be punished by the teacher.
I should be punished by the
teacher.
I ought to be punished by the
teacher.

21. The Passive VoiceThe Passive Voice
Let’s practise on
your own!
Click on the
picture…

22. A sad story…A sad story…
Last week I found a great
apartment. The rent was
reasonable. That’s why…
 Page 22

23. I decided to throw a party the
other night.
 Page 23

24. The next day I was thrown out
of it!
 Page 24

25. Active or passive
 Page 25
I threw a party the other night. (active)
meaning: I did something.
I was thrown out of it. (passive)
meaning: Something was done to me.

26.  Page 26
The Present Simple Tense – AM, IS, ARE
The Present Continuous Tense – AM/IS/ARE
BEING
The Present Perfect Tense – HAVE BEEN, HAS
BEEN
The Past Simple Tense – WAS, WERE
The Past Continuous Tense – WAS/WERE BEING
The Past Perfect Tense – HAD BEEN
The Future Tense – WILL BE
With modals – CAN BE, WOULD BE, SHOULD BE,
MAY BE, MUST BE…
Let’s review the verb to beto be

27.  Page 27
What’s the difference?
Do these sentences have the same
meaning?

28. The passive is more common in written than
spoken English. It sounds formal and impersonal,
and for that reason is often used in:
 reports of crimes or legal procedures – He was
sentenced to two years in prison.
 newspaper reports – The match was postponed
due to a heavy fog.
 scientific writing – Three millilitres of water are
added to the mixture.
 announcements – Flight BA 302 to London is
delayed by two hours.
 notices – Customers are requested not to
smoke.
Use

29. Use
In everyday situations we use it when we do
not know or care who performs the action.
In other words, the passive is used when we
are more interested in what happens to a
thing or a person.
Nevertheless, it is not unusual to mention
the ‘actual doer’ in a passive sentence. In
that case we put them at the end of the
sentence after the preposition by:
“Great expectations” was written by Charles Dickens.
“Star wars” was directed by George Lucas.

30. Practice – the key
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct
passive form
Shampoo is tested (test) on animals
before it is sold (sell) in shops.
This house was built (build) in the XIX
century.
Two missing children have been found
(find) safe and well.
A new bridge will be constructed
(construct) next year.

31. Active - Passive (the key)
The police arrested the suspect late last
night.
The suspect was arrested late last night.
They found him after an intensive search.
He was found after an intensive search.
Two detectives questioned him and
charged him with murder.
He was questioned and charged with
murder by two detectives.
They will take him to court later today.
He will be taken to court later today.

32. When do we use it?
When the agent is unknown
Flats are sold
Anne was given a kiss
When the agent is not important
The house can be visited between 8 and 14.
When we want to give importance to the object of the active voice
America was discovered in 1942 by Columbus
The passive is used more in writing and formal speech, such as
public information (rules, signs, brochures …) and media reports.
Cycling is not permitted in this area.
Bookings can be made online.

33. TENSETENSE ACTIVEACTIVE PASSIVEPASSIVE
Present SimplePresent Simple II makemake a cakea cake A cakeA cake isis mademade
Present Contin.Present Contin. I’I’mm makingmaking a cakea cake A cakeA cake is beingis being made.made.
Past SimplePast Simple II mademade a cake.a cake. A cakeA cake waswas made.made.
Past ContinuousPast Continuous II was makingwas making a cake.a cake. A cakeA cake was beingwas being made.made.
Present PerfectPresent Perfect II have madehave made a cakea cake A cakeA cake has beenhas been made.made.
Past PerfectPast Perfect II had madehad made a cake.a cake. A cakeA cake had beenhad been made.made.
Future SimpleFuture Simple II willwill make a cake.make a cake. A cakeA cake will bewill be made.made.
Future be going toFuture be going to I’m going toI’m going to make a cake.make a cake. A cakeA cake is going to beis going to be made.made.
ModalModal II mustmust make a cake.make a cake. A cakeA cake must bemust be made.made.
Modal PerfectModal Perfect II should haveshould have made amade a
cake.cake.
A cakeA cake should have beenshould have been
made.made.

34. Never use (Never use (dodo,, doesdoes oror
diddid) with the passive) with the passive
voice.voice.
TheyThey didn’tdidn’t sell all thesell all the
tickets for the concert.tickets for the concert.
All the ticketsAll the tickets weren’tweren’t
sold.sold.

35. If there is a prepositionIf there is a preposition
with the verb, do notwith the verb, do not
forget it.forget it.
SueSue looks afterlooks after the children.the children.

The childrenThe children are looked afterare looked after byby
SueSue

36. When you also want toWhen you also want to
mention the person or peoplemention the person or people
that did the action usethat did the action use byby..
““The new art exhibitionThe new art exhibition waswas
openedopened byby the Queen.”the Queen.”
OTHER IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER

37. VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTSVERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS
bring, give, ask, pay, sell, offer, owe, show,
tell, send, lend, leave, promise, take, teach,
throw, write
They gaveThey gave SusanSusan a prizea prize..
SusanSusan was givenwas given a prize.a prize.
A prizeA prize was givenwas given toto Susan.Susan.
If the verb has two objects, we usually use theIf the verb has two objects, we usually use the person asas
the subject in the passive.the subject in the passive.
No one gaveNo one gave me any directions.any directions.
I wasn’t given any directions.wasn’t given any directions.

38. GET is used instead of BE with
passive meaning. Informal English.
 I got stuck in a traffic jam
 She is getting married
After NEED/WANT the -ing form can
be used with passive meaning
 This job needs doing
 That room wants cleaning

39. Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say, Report, Know,
Expect, Feel, Understand, Find
 Active: They say that he started the fire
 Active: They think that she doesn't live in London
 Active: We knew that the king is coming tomorrow
Passive with “introductory IT”
It is said that he started the fire
It is thought that she doesn't live in London
It was known that the King is coming tomorrow

40.  Page 40
Thank you
for your attention!