Explore the world of passive voice tenses with comprehensive explanations, practical examples, and engaging exercises. Enhance your writing skills and perfect your understanding of passive voice usage. Dive into this valuable resource today!
The Passive Tense
The passive tense, commonly referred to as the passive voice, is a grammar structure that is used in English and many other languages to place emphasis on the recipient of an action rather than the action’s performer.
To form the passive tense in English, you typically need two key components: a form of the verb “to be” and the past participle form of the main verb. Here’s the basic structure:
Passive Voice:
[Subject] + [Form of “to be”] + [Past Participle] + [By + Agent (optional)]
Let’s break down each component:
Subject: This is the entity that receives the action in the passive sentence. It can be a person, thing, or concept. In passive constructions, the subject often comes at the beginning of the sentence, but it may not always be explicitly mentioned.
Form of “to be”: This can take various forms depending on the tense and mood of the sentence. Common forms include “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “will be,” and so on. This part of the structure indicates the tense and voice of the sentence.
Past Participle: This is the verb form used in passive constructions. Regular verbs typically form their past participles by adding “-ed” to the base form (e.g., “played,” “eaten”). Irregular verbs have unique past participle forms (e.g., “broken,” “written”).
By + Agent (optional): In some passive constructions, you can include the agent, which is the doer of the action. This part of the structure provides additional information about who or what performed the action. It’s optional and is often omitted if the agent is unknown or unimportant.
Now, let’s look at some examples of passive sentences:
Active Voice: “The girl (subject) sang (verb) a beautiful song (object).”
Passive Voice: “A beautiful song (subject) was sung (a form of ‘to be’ + past participle) by the girl (agent).”
1. Passive Tense Meaning
The passive tense, also known as the passive voice, is a grammatical construction where the subject receives the action rather than performing it.
For example:
Active Voice: “The king made the mistake.”
Passive Voice: “The mistake was made by the king..”
In these examples, the passive voice shifts the focus from the doer of the action (the king) to the receiver of the action (the mistake).
2. Passive Tense Definition
The passive tense, a grammatical construction, involves the passive voice, where the subject receives the action performed by someone or something else, emphasizing or de-emphasizing the action.
3. Passive Verbs
Passive verbs, also known as passive voice verbs, are used to describe actions where the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performing it. They are constructed with a form of “to be” and the past participle of the main verb. For example:
Active Voice: “She wrote the book.”
Passive Voice: “The book was written by her.”
Active Voice: “They repaired the car.”
Passive Voice: “The car was repaired by them.”
In these examples, the passive verbs “was written” and “was repaired” shift the focus from the doer (She, They) to the receiver of the action (the book, the car).
4. Passive Sentences
A passive sentence is a type of sentence in which the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performing it. In passive sentences, the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action, and the doer of the action (the agent) may be mentioned or omitted.
Here are some examples of passive sentences:
1. The cake was eaten by the children. (Subject: The cake receives the action and the agent “the children” is mentioned.)
2. The report will be submitted tomorrow. (Subject: The report receives the action, and the agent is not mentioned.)
3. The house was damaged in the storm. (Subject: The house receives the action and the agent “the storm” is mentioned.)
4. The concert was enjoyed by everyone. (Subject: The concert receives the action, and the agent is not mentioned.)
5. The project has been completed. (Subject: The project receives the action, and the agent is not mentioned.)
5. Passive Voice Rules
To make a passive voice the following general rules must be followed.
Rule 1: Identify the subject, verb, and object:
Subject: The one performing the action.
Verb: The action itself.
Object: The receiver of the action.
Rule 2: Move the object to the beginning of the sentence:
The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
Rule 3: Change the verb tense:
The main verb of the active sentence should be changed to the past participle form (usually by adding “by” before the agent).
Rule 4: Add an agent (optional):
If you want to mention who performed the action, you can include the agent (the doer) with “by” followed by the agent’s name or description.
Rule 5: Adjust the sentence structure as needed:
Rearrange the sentence to ensure clarity and readability.
Here’s an example to illustrate these rules:
Active Voice: The chef (subject) prepared (verb) a delicious meal (object).
Passive Voice: A delicious meal (object) was prepared (past participle of “prepare”) by the chef (optional agent).
6. Passive Voice Tenses Table
| Tense [Active voice] | ‘Be’ or ‘Have’ verb [Passive voice] |
| Present Indefinite | am/is/are |
| present continuous. | am/is/are + being |
| Present perfect. | has/have + been |
| Present perfect continuous. | has/have + been + being |
| Past indefinite. | was/were |
| Past continuous. | was/were + being |
| Past perfect. | had + been |
| Past perfect continuous. | had + been + being |
| Future indefinite. | shall be / will be |
| Future continuous. | shall be / will be + being |
| Future perfect. | shall have / will have + been |
| Future perfect continuous. | shall have / will have + been + being |
7. Passive Voice Tenses
The passive voice can be used in various tenses, allowing you to describe actions or events in different time frames while still emphasizing the receiver of the action rather than the doer. Here’s a brief overview of how passive voice tenses work:
Present Simple Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [is/are] + [past participle]
Example: “The report is written by the team.”
Past Simple Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [was/were] + [past participle]
Example: “The book was read by the students.”
Present Continuous Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [is/are] + [being] + [past participle]
Example: “The project is being discussed by the committee.”
Past Continuous Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [was/were] + [being] + [past participle]
Example: “The proposal was being reviewed by the experts.”
Present Perfect Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [has/have] + [been] + [past participle]
Example: “The document has been signed by the CEO.”
Past Perfect Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [had] + [been] + [past participle]
Example: “The repairs had been completed by the time I arrived.”
Future Simple Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [will be] + [past participle]
Example: “The announcement will be made tomorrow.”
Future Perfect Passive:
Form: [Subject] + [will have been] + [past participle]
Example: “By the end of the day, the task will have been finished.”
These are the basic passive voice tenses in English, but there can be more complex variations in specific situations.
Passive voice is used when you want to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action, and the choice of tense depends on when the action took place or will take place in relation to the present or other reference points in time.
8. Functions of Passive Voice Tenses
The passive voice tenses in English have various usages and functions in both written and spoken language. Here are some common usages and functions of passive voice tenses:
Emphasizing the Receiver of the Action:
Passive voice shifts the focus from the doer of the action to the entity receiving the action. This is useful when you want to highlight the importance of the recipient.
Example: “The award was won by her.” (Emphasizing “her” as the recipient of the award)
Concealing or Omitting the Doer:
Passive voice allows you to omit or downplay the identity of the doer of the action when it is unknown, unimportant, or irrelevant.
Example: “Mistakes were made.” (Omitting who made the mistakes)
Formal or Impersonal Tone:
Passive voice is often used in formal writing or academic papers to create a more objective or impersonal tone.
Example: “The experiment was conducted according to established protocols.”
Scientific and Technical Writing:
Passive voice is common in scientific and technical writing because it emphasizes the process or results rather than the researcher.
Example: “The data were analyzed using statistical software.”
Reports and News Articles:
Passive voice is frequently used in reports and news articles to maintain neutrality and objectivity.
Example: “The statement was issued by the government.”
Reducing Blame or Responsibility:
In situations where you want to soften blame or responsibility, passive voice can be employed.
Example: “The mistake was regrettable.” (Avoiding direct blame)
Describing Processes and Instructions:
Passive voice is useful for describing processes, procedures, or instructions because it emphasizes the action itself.
Example: “The dough is kneaded before it is left to rise.”
Narrative Variety:
In storytelling or creative writing, using passive voice occasionally can add variety to sentence structures.
Example: “The treasure was hidden in a secret chamber.”
Shifting Focus in Conversations:
In spoken language, passive voice can be used to change the focus of a conversation or highlight specific details.
Example: “The proposal, you see, was written by our top consultant.”
Avoiding Repetition:
Passive voice can help avoid repetitive use of a subject in consecutive sentences or paragraphs.
Example: “The data were collected meticulously. The data were then analyzed rigorously.”
Creating Suspense or Mystery:
Passive voice can be used to create suspense or mystery by delaying the revelation of the doer.
Example: “The letter had been left on the doorstep.”
While passive voice tenses have their uses, it’s important to use them judiciously. Overusing passive voice can make writing verbose and less engaging. Striking a balance between active and passive voice is essential for effective communication.
9. Passive Voice Tense Usages and Examples
Here are 20 examples and usages of passive voice sentences in various tenses:
Present Simple Passive
Usage: When the focus is on a general truth, routine, or process.
Examples:
1. The report is written by the manager every month. (General truth)
2. Emails are checked by the IT team daily. (Routine)
3. Bread is made from flour, water, and yeast. (Process)
Present Continuous Passive
Usage: When describing an action that is happening right now or around a specific time.
Examples:
1. The new project is being discussed in the meeting.
2. The house is being painted this week.
3. A song is being sung by the choir at the moment.
Present Perfect Passive
Usage: To indicate actions that started in the past and have relevance to the present.
Examples:
1. The documents have been misplaced.
2. The books have been read by the students.
3. The cake has been eaten by someone.
Present Perfect Continuous Passive
Usage: To describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or that has recently been completed in the present, even when the specific time is not mentioned:
Examples:
1. The project has been being developed for several months.
2. The new software has been being tested extensively, and it was finally released today.
3. The house has been being renovated, which is why it looks different now.
Past Simple Passive
Usage: When discussing completed actions or events in the past.
Examples:
1. The book was read by millions of people.
2. The letter was sent yesterday.
3. The cake was eaten by the kids.
Past Continuous Passive
Usage: To describe actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past.
Examples:
1. The movie was being watched when the power went out.
2. The report was being written all night.
3. The cake was being baked when the guests arrived.
Past Perfect Passive
Usage: To indicate an action that happened before another action in the past, but the doer or agent of the action is not mentioned or is not the focus:
Examples:
1. By the time we arrived at the party, all the food had been eaten.
2. The assignment had been submitted before the deadline.
3. The treasure had been discovered long before we arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous Passive
Usage: To describe the duration of an ongoing action before another action or event in the past without specifying the doer or agent of the action:
Examples:
1. By the time I arrived, the cake had been being baked for three hours.
2. The car had been being repaired since morning before it finally broke down.
3. The secret document had been being copied for weeks, but nobody knew who was doing it.
Future Simple Passive
Usage: When discussing actions that will happen in the future.
Examples:
1. The presentation will be given by our CEO next week.
2. The house will be cleaned before the guests arrive.
3. The winners will be announced at the end of the competition.
Future Continuous Passive
Usage: To describe an action that will be in progress at a specific point in the future without specifying the doer or agent:
Examples:
1. By this time next year, the new bridge will be being constructed.
2. During the summer, the fields will be being irrigated regularly.
3. By tomorrow morning, the documents will be being reviewed.
Future Perfect Passive
Usage: When discussing actions that will be completed in the future before a specific time.
Examples:
1. The work will have been finished by 5 PM.
2. All the tickets will have been sold by the time you arrive.
3. The cake will have been eaten by the end of the party.
These exercises should help you practice using passive voice in various tenses. Remember that while passive voice can be useful, it’s essential to use it judiciously and consider whether the passive or active voice is more appropriate for your writing or communication.
10. Passive Tense Workout Exercises
10 passive voice exercises along with answers have been provided here. If you need more exercises or have specific requests, please let me know, and I can provide additional exercises.
Exercise 1:
1. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice.
1. They painted the house.
Answer: The house was painted by them.
2. Sarah will bake a cake.
Answer: A cake will be baked by Sarah.
3. The teacher is explaining the lesson.
Answer: The lesson is being explained by the teacher.
Exercise 2:
2. Change the following passive voice sentences into active voice.
1. The letter was written by John.
Answer: John wrote the letter.
2. The concert will be attended by us.
Answer: We will attend the concert.
3. The car was repaired by the mechanic.
Answer: The mechanic repaired the car.
Exercise 3:
3. Identify whether the sentences are in the active or passive voice.
1. The cake was baked to perfection. (Passive)
2. Mary reads books every day. (Active)
3. The package was delivered this morning. (Passive)
Exercise 4:
4. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice.
1. The chef cooked a delicious meal.
Answer: A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.
2. They have built a new bridge.
Answer: A new bridge has been built by them.
3. The gardener is planting flowers.
Answer: Flowers are being planted by the gardener.
Exercise 5:
5. Change the following passive voice sentences into active voice.
1. The story was told by her.
Answer: She told the story.
2. The document will be printed by the secretary.
Answer: The secretary will print the document.
3. The report has been written by the team.
Answer: The team has written the report.
Exercise 6:
6. Identify whether the sentences are in the active or passive voice.
1. The house was painted last week. (Passive)
2. Dogs bark loudly. (Active)
3. The cake is being eaten by the children. (Passive)
Exercise 7:
7. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice.
1. The students will clean the classroom.
Answer: The classroom will be cleaned by the students.
2. She is designing a new website.
Answer: A new website is being designed by her.
3. The company has released a new product.
Answer: A new product has been released by the company.
Exercise 8:
8. Change the following passive voice sentences into active voice.
1. The novel was written by Mark Twain.
Answer: Mark Twain wrote the novel.
2. The song will be sung by the choir.
Answer: The choir will sing the song.
3. The cake had been baked by Grandma.
Answer: Grandma baked the cake.
Exercise 9:
9. Identify whether the sentences are in the active or passive voice.
1. The book was read by Sarah. (Passive)
2. Birds build nests. (Active)
3. The letter is being typed by Tom. (Passive)
Exercise 10:
10. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice.
1. The mechanic fixed the car.
Answer: The car was fixed by the mechanic.
2. They are painting the walls.
Answer: The walls are being painted by them.
3. The teacher has assigned homework.
Answer: Homework has been assigned by the teacher.
These exercises should help you practice identifying and using passive voice in different contexts. If you need more exercises or have specific questions, feel free to ask!
11. Passive Tense Unsolved Exercises
Exercise1:
1. Rewrite the following sentences in the present simple passive voice.
1. They teach Spanish at the language school.
2. People use smartphones everywhere.
3. The chef prepares the meals in the restaurant.
Exercise 2:
2. Convert the following sentences into the present continuous passive voice.
1. The workers are building the bridge.
2. The students are discussing the assignment.
3. The chef is preparing a special dish.
Exercise 3:
3. Change the following sentences into the past simple passive voice.
1. She wrote a beautiful song.
2. They fixed the broken window.
3. We visited the museum last week.
Exercise 4:
4. Rewrite the given sentences in the past continuous passive voice.
1. She was painting the room when the phone rang.
2. They were discussing the project during the meeting.
3. He was fixing the car yesterday.
Exercise 5:
5. Transform these sentences into the future simple passive voice.
1. They will launch a new product next month.
2. The chef will cook a special meal for the anniversary.
3. She will send the invitations tomorrow.
Exercise 6:
6. Change these sentences into the present perfect passive voice.
1. Someone has cleaned the office.
2. The team has completed the project.
3. She has finished the assignment.
Exercise 7:
7. Rewrite the following sentences in the future perfect passive voice.
1. They will have prepared everything by tomorrow.
2. She will have graduated by the time of the ceremony.
3. The team will have submitted the report by Friday.
These exercises should help you practice using passive voice in various tenses. Remember that while passive voice can be useful, it’s essential to use it judiciously and consider whether the passive or active voice is more appropriate for your writing or communication.
FAQs
Why use the passive tense?
The passive tense is used in various situations, such as when:
- The doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant.
- The focus is on the action or the receiver of the action.
- The speaker wants to be vague about who performed the action.
- The speaker wants to be formal or impartial in tone.
How do we use the passive tense?
The passive tense is used when the focus is on the action or the result of the action rather than the doer of the action. It is employed to emphasize the receiver of the action and is especially useful when the doer of the action is unknown or less important in the context. Passive voice is also used to create variety in sentence structure and add emphasis to different parts of a sentence.
What tenses can we use for the passive?
The passive voice can be formed using various tenses in English, including the present simple, past simple, future simple, present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses. The choice of tense in the passive voice depends on when the action occurred or will occur in relation to the rest of the sentence, allowing for flexibility in expressing different time frames in a passive construction.
