English Grammar

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the passive

form

to be + past participle

To form the passive, take the following steps...
* Take the object of the active verb and make it the subject of the passive verb (In the examples below, the object of the active verb is "my clothes").
* Add the verb b to be in the same tense as the verb in the active sentence.
* Add the past participle of the active verb.
* If the subject of the active verb has to be expressed (see functions below), it is usually introduced with by.

Present simple
Active: My mother washes my clothes
Passive: My clothes are washed by my mother.

Present continuous
Active: My mother is washing my clothes
Passive: My clothes are being washed by my mother.

Present perfect
Active: My mother has washed my clothes
Passive: My clothes have been washed by my mother.

Past simple
Active: My mother washed my clothes
Passive: My clothes were washed by my mother.

Past continuous
Active: My mother was washing my clothes
Passive: My clothes were being washed by my mother.

Past perfect
Active: My mother had washed my clothes
Passive: My clothes had been washed by my mother.

Future "will"
Active: My mother will wash my clothes
Passive: My clothes will be washed by my mother.

Future "going to"
Active: My mother is going to wash my clothes
Passive: My clothes are going to be washed by my mother.

Future continuous
Active: My mother will be washing my clothes
Passive: My clothes will be being washed by my mother.

Future perfect
Active: My mother will have washed my clothes
Passive: My clothes will have been washed by my mother.

Modal verbs
Active: My mother might wash my clothes
Passive: My clothes might be washed by my mother.

Active: My mother can wash my clothes
Passive: My clothes can be washed by my mother.

Active: My mother must wash my clothes
Passive: My clothes must be washed by my mother.

functions & examples

We use the passive when who or what causes the action is not important or is not known, or when we want to focus on the action.
The rubbish is taken out every day.
(We don't know who takes the rubbish out, or maybe it's not important)

The Great Wall of China was built thousands of years ago.
(It's not important exactly who built it, we want to focus on the action of building)

The money has been stolen.
(We don't know who stole it, and we want to emphasise the action of stealing)

My windows are cleaned once a month.
(It's not important who cleans them. The action of cleaning is more important)

important points

* If there are two objects in the active sentence, two passive sentences are possible.
Active: They gave me 500 dollars to do the work.
Passive: I was given 50 dollars to do the work or 500 dollars was given to me to do the work.

* Get is often used instead of be in informal spoken English.
I got offered the promotion.
The table got damaged in the fire.
I got asked to present the award.

* The subject of the active verb (sometimes called the agent) is not usually expressed in passive sentences, because it is unknown or unimportant. However, if it is used, it is usually preceded with by.
The painting was done by Picasso.

* When we talk about a tool used by an agent, it can be preceded by with.
The painting was done with oils on canvas.

See also Causative 'have'

teaching the passive

"Students practice using passive by playing charades- one student acts out a series of steps in a simple procedure (e.g. making coffee), while the others must say what the student is doing using the passive voice (eg. "Sugar and milk are added")."
Jennifer

"I normally present two sentences - one is active and the another is passive. I let my student analyse the difference between the two sentences, and if they are able to distinguish, I present the lesson (form, meaning and purpose). After that, exercises and homework and possibly some materials (conversion of passive to active and vice versa, story telling etc.)"
Richelle

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