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:
Examples of Passive
Tense |
Subject |
Verb |
Object |
|
Simple Present |
Active: |
Rita |
writes |
a letter. |
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 |
|
Present Progressive |
Active: |
Rita |
is writing |
a letter. |
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. |
Complete ( was were + past participle)