THE PASSIVE VOICE

Use it when you want to focus on the thing or person affected by the action of the verb, or when the agent who did the action is unknown/is not
important, it is obvious.

SIMPLE PRESENT PASSIVE

subject verb object

ACTIVE: Marta rides a camel. (Verb in simple present)

subject

PASSIVE: A camel is ridden by Marta. (we use is because the verb in the active voice is in present + the past participle of verb)

SIMPLE PAST PASSIVE

subject verb object

ACTIVE: Marta rode a camel last week. (Verb in simple past)

subject

PASSIVE: A camel was ridden by Marta last week. (we use was because the verb in the active voice is in past + the past participle of verb)

Use it with transitive verbs (verbs that are followed by an object). It is not possible to use verbs such as happen, sleep, come, and seem. (Check the
example below).

ACTIVE: An accident happened.

PASSIVE: (none because it is not possible).

 ACTIVE
Simple present Mary helps Tom.
Does Mary help Tom?
Mary doesnt help Tom.
Present progressive /continuous Mary is helping Tom.
Is Mary helping Tom?
Mary isnt helping Tom
Present perfect Mary has helped Tom.
Simple past Mary helped Tom.
Past progressive/continuous Mary was helping Tom.
Past perfect Mary had helped Tom.
Simple future Mary will help Tom.
Be going to Mary is going to help Tom.
Future perfect Mary will have helped Tom.
Change to passive
PASSIVE
Tom is helped by Mary/her.
Is Tom helped by Mary?
Tom isnt helped by Mary.
Tom is being helped by Mary/her.
Is Tom being helped by Mary?
Tom isnt being helped by Mary.
Tom has been helped by Mary/her.
Tom was helped by Mary/her.
Tom was being helped by Mary/her.
Tom had been helped by Mary/her.
Tom will be helped by Mary/her.
Tom is going to be helped by Mary/her.
Tom will have been helped by Mary/her.

1. Alex is preparing that report. That _____________________________________________________________

2. Do waiters serve customers? _________________________________________________________________

3. Shirley hasnt suggested a new idea. ________________________________________________________________

4. People have introduced a lot of changes in China. ___________________________________________________

5. The government has given a better standard of living to the average Chinese person.

The average Chinese person_______________________________________________________________________

6. The government invests a lot of money in each childs future.

A lot of money ________________________________________________________________________________

7. People are discussing changes in this policy.

Changes in this policy __________________________________________________________________________

Source: Schrampfer B. Understanding and Using English. Second Edition.

National Geographic Life 5