Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known,
however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know,
however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following
example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone
(e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
 the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is
dropped)

Examples of Passive 

Tense Subject Verb Object

writes a letter.
Simple Present Active: Rita

Passive: A letter is written by Rita.

Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.

 Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.

Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.

Hilfsverben Active: Rita can write a letter.

Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.

Examples of Passive 

Tense Subject Verb Object

is writing a letter.
Present Progressive Active: Rita

Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.

Past Progressive Active: Rita was writing a letter.

Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.

Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.

Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.

Future II Active: Rita will have written a letter.

Passive: A letter will have been written by Rita.

Conditional I Active: Rita would write a letter.

Passive: A letter would be written by Rita.

Conditional II Active: Rita would have written a letter.

Passive: A letter would have been written by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects 

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the
two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to
transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.

  Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2

 wrote a letter to me.
Active: Rita

Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita.

Passive: I was written a letter by Rita.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s
why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the
subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb)
can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive
sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If
you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal
construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says – it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g.

German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of
perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live
longer than men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer
than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence;
the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using
an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object
of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.
Passive with subordinate clauses

Make the subordinate clauses passive.

1) I want someone to love me.

I want to be loved

2) It seems that someone cleaned the office on Tuesday.

It seems that the office was cleaned on Tuesday

3) Amy thinks that someone is reading to her son.

Amy thinks that her son is being read to

4) I don't like people seeing me in my pyjamas.

I don't like being seen in my pyjamas

5) My little niece loves people chasing her.

My little niece loves being chased

6) I understand that someone hit Greg.

I understand that Greg was hit

7) Is it the case that someone sent the report on time?

Is it the case that the report was sent on time?

8) We avoided people seeing us.

We avoided being seen

9) I think that someone built the house in 1814.

I think that the house was built in 1814

10) I understand that someone fired John.

I understand that John was fired

11) I like someone looking after me when I'm ill.

I like being looked after when I'm ill.

12) She hates people laughing at her.

She hates being laughed at;

13) It seems that someone lost the papers.

It seems that the papers were lost

14) He thinks that someone is teasing Lucy.

He thinks that Lucy is being teased

15) I hope someone will examine me soon.

I hope to be examined soon

16) John would like someone to promote him.

John would like to be promoted

17) The cat enjoys someone tickling him.

The cat enjoys being tickled

18) They claim that someone stole the money.

They claim that the money was stolen

19) We imagined that the storm damaged the car.

We imagined that the car was damaged by the storm

20) I believe that some is preparing food.

I believe that food is being prepared

PASSIVE

In this street letters are delivered by the postman at 8 every day. (deliver) right

This bag was found on the bus yesterday night. (find) right

I'm afraid the dress cannot be washed in hot water. (cannot wash) right

Has your motorbike been repaired yet? I'd like to borrow it. (repair)

The message will be sent tomorrow, I promise. (send) right

These offices are being cleaned now. Be careful, the floors are wet. (clean) right

This report would not be finished in time if you didn't help me. Thank you very much.
(not finish) right
Why Is the TV turned on? Everyone has gone to bed. (turn on) right

This building needs renovating. It hasn't been reconstructed since the 1960's. (not
reconstruct) right

Madam, you cannot take your bag into the gallery. All bags must be left in the
cloakroom. (must leave) right

The engine was just being tested when the manager saw it. And he was satisfied with
it. (test) right

I'm sorry, sir. The last umbrellas were sold in the morning. (sell) right

Where have you been so long? You would not be allowed to arrive so late if you
worked for me. (not allow) right

Please, be patient. The plan will be announced in two days. (announce) right

All the halls are being painted at the moment. It will take us two three days. (paint) right

What were we doing at 11 o'clock? - We were being interviewed by a reporter.

(interview) right

After the window pane had been replaced someone smashed the window again.
(replace)

1. The words are explained by the teacher today.

2. We were sent a letter the day before yesterday.
3. This car will not be stolen. It's too old.
4. This street has already been closed because of snow.
5. A new restaurant will be opened next week.
6. He was invited to the party yesterday.
7. The blue box cannot be seen.
8. I was given the book by my friend last Sunday.
9. The dishes have not been washed by my little brother.
10. I will not be asked by Robert.
The words

by the teacher today. (to explain - Simple Present)

We

a letter the day before yesterday. (to send - Simple Past)

This car

. It's too old. (not/to steal - will-future)

This street

because of snow. (already/to close - Present Perfect)

A new restaurant

next week. (to open - will-future)

He

to the party yesterday. (to invite - Simple Past)

The blue box

. (can/not/to see - Simple Present)

the book by my friend last Sunday. (to give - Simple Past)

The dishes

by my little brother. (not/to wash - Present Perfect)

by Robert. (not/to ask - will-future)