Passive voice

Passive voice

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Present simple

Uses

Index

Past simple

Summary

USES

The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the action and the object of a sentence rather than subject. This means that the subject is either less important than the action itself or that we don't know who or what the subject is.

Formal, or polite, sentences often use the passive voice because it sounds more impersonal and neutral. Also, it is used in more formal or scientific writing.

Present simple - pOSITIVE FORM

Structure

Object + auxiliary verb “to be” (am/is/are) + the main verb (past participle) + “by” + agent

• The chores are shared.
• The car is washed every week.
• The project is completed.
• The desert is made by my mom.
• The information is shared.
• The room is messed up by the cats.
• The songs are sung.
• The report is prepared by the analyst.
• You are invited.
• The emails are sent to the clients.

Present simple - negative form

Structure

Object + auxiliary verb “to be” (am/is/are) + negative adverb (not) + main verb (past participle) + “by” + agent

• The project is not completed by the deadline.
• The exams are not graded.
• The room is not cleaned by the housekeeper.
• The problem is not solved.
• The food is not cooked by the chef.
• The report is not submitted to me.
• The message is not received by the recipient.
• The mistakes are not corrected.
• The house is not maintained by the owners.
• The documents are not filed by the assistant.

Present simple - interrogative form

Structure

1. Auxiliary verb “to be” (am/is/are) + object + main verb (past participle) + ?

• Is the truck driven by her?
• Is my package delivered?
• Are the invitations printed?
• Are the notebooks handed out?

2. Auxiliary verb “to be” (am/is/are) + object + negative adverb (not) + main verb (past participle) + ?

• Is the house not repainted?
• Is the committee not formed?
• Are the mistakes not corrected?

• Are the cookies not eaten by the class?

Past simple - POSITIVE FORM

Structure

Object + auxiliary verb “to be” (was/were) + main verb (past participle) + “by” + agent

• An amazing book was written (by me).
• Jim was helped a lot (by me).
• Two apples were bought by her.
• The food was baked by my mother.
• The book was read by the teacher.
• Pizza was prepared for everyone in the house (by me).
• A bike was bought recently (by Luka).

past simple - negative form

Structure

Object + auxiliary verb “to be” (was/were) + negative adverb (not) + main verb (past participle) + “by” + agent

• An amazing book was not written (by me).
• Jim was not helped a lot (by me).
• Two apples were not bought by her.
• The food was not baked by my mother.
• The book was not read by the teacher.
• Pizza was not prepared for everyone in the house (by me).
• A bike was not bought recently (by Luka).

Past simple - INTERROGATIVE FORM

Structure

1. Auxiliary verb “to be” (was/were) + object + main verb (past participle) + ?

• Was he stopped by them there?
• Was cold drink drunk by you?
• Were two torches lit by her?

• Was he fired by them at night?

2. Auxiliary verb “to be” (was/were) + object + negative adverb (not) + main verb (past participle) + ?

• Was he not stopped by them there?
• Was cold drink not drunk by you?
• Were two torches not lit by her?

• Was he not fired by them at night?

Summary - structure

Present simple

Past simple

• Positive: Object + am/is/are + past participle
• Negative: Object + am/is/are + not + past participle
• Positive question: Am/is/are + object + past participle + ?
• Negative question: Am/is/are + object + not + past participle + ?

Positive: Object + was/were + past participle Negative: Object + was/were + not + past participle Positive question: Was/were + object + past participle + ? Negative question: Was/were + object + not + past participle + ?

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