Passive Voice

Passive VoicePassive VoiceA passive sentence is used when the focus is on the action rather than on the doer of it, or when the doer is unknown.In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action, whereas in an active sentence, the subject performs the action.A passive verb consists of the auxiliary Be + the Past Participle of a verb.Passive VoicePassive 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.Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice.Example: A mistake was made.Passive VoiceTo change an active sentence into a passive one, we have to maintain the same tense of the active verb, and add the auxiliary to Be plus the past participle of the active verb.Example:Active VerbPassive Verbopen be + openedtakebe + takenregisterbe + registeredPassive VoiceThe past participle of a regular verb is formed by adding the suffix ed to the verb stem, while that an irregular verb should be learned by heart.Following are examples of active versus passive sentences in the simple present, present progressive, simple past, past progressive tense, future forms, and modal verb.Passive VoiceSimple Present Tense. Example:[Active]We watch Skyfall movie.[Passive]Skyfall movie is watched (by us).

Present Progressive. Example:[Active]We are watching Skyfall movie.[Passive]Skyfall movie is being watched.Passive VoiceSimple Past Tense. Example:[Active]We watched Skyfall movie.[Passive] Skyfall movie was watched.

Past Progressive. Example:[Active]We were watching Skyfall movie.[Passive] Skyfall movie was being watched.Passive VoiceFuture forms:- Will, example:[Active]We will watch Skyfall movie.[Passive] Skyfall movie will be watched.

- Going to, example:[Active]We are going to watch Skyfall movie.[Passive] Skyfall movie is going to be watched.Passive VoiceModal Verbs. Examples:[Active]We can watch Skyfall movie.[Passive] Skyfall movie can be watched.

[Active]We must watch Skyfall movie.[Passive]Skyfall movie must be watched.ExercisesRewrite the sentences in passive voice.I can answer the question.The question can be answered by me.He opens the door.The door is opened by him.Jane will buy a new computer.A new computer will be bought by Jane.Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.A cup of tea is being drunk by Sheila.ExercisesWe were talking about Francis.Francis was being talked about by us.Anna opened the window.The window was opened by Anna.She would carry the box.The box would be carried by her.Her boyfriend will install it.It will be installed by her boyfriend.

ExercisesMy father is washing the car.The car is being washed by my father.10. Somebody hit me.I was hit by somebody.11.He was playing the guitar.The guitar was being played by him.12.We are going to visit the museum.The museum is going to be visited by us.Exercises13.We stopped the bus.The bus was stopped by us.14.She pays a lot of money.A lot of money is paid by her.15.You should open the window.The window should be opened by you.16.I will ask a question.A question will be asked by me.Exercises17.She didnt win the prize.The prize was not won by her.18.John doesnt open the book.The book is not opened by John.19.He could not read the sentence.The sentence could not be read by him.20.He wont see Susan.Susan will not be seen by him.Exercises21.He is not wearing a tie.A tie is not being worn by him.22.She was not feeding the cats.The cats were not being fed byher.23.Does the police officer catch the thief?Is the thief caught by the police officer?24.Are they talking about the meeting?Is the meeting being talked about by them?