Use of Passive: Example: My Bike Was Stolen

Use of Passive
Passive 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.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do
not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the
following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not
blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular
verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence
 the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Active Passive
Simple Present Mr Smith writes the The delivery notes are written (by Mr Smith).

delivery notes.
Present Progressive Mr Smith is The delivery notes are being written (by Mr Smith).

writing the delivery
notes.
Simple Past Mr Smith wrote the The delivery notes were written (by Mr Smith).

delivery notes.
Present Perfect Mr Smith has The delivery notes have been written (by Mr

written the delivery Smith).
notes.
Past Perfect Mr Smith had The delivery notes had been written (by Mr

written the delivery Smith).
notes.
Future Mr Smith will The delivery notes will be written (by Mr

write the delivery Smith).
notes.
Auxiliary (Modal) Mr Smith must The delivery notes must be written (by Mr

Verbs write the delivery Smith).
notes.
Examples of Passive forms
Tense Subject Verb Object
writes a letter.
Simple Present Active: Rita
Passive: A letter is written by Rita.
Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.
Passive: A letter was written by Rita.
Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.
Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.
Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.
Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.
Active: Rita can write a letter.
Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.
Examples of Passive
Tense Subject Verb Object

is writing a letter.
Present Progressive Active: Rita
Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.
Past Progressive Active: Rita was writing a letter.
Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.
Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.
Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.
Future Perfect Active: Rita will have written a letter.
Passive: A letter will have been written by Rita.
Conditional I Active: Rita would write a letter.
Passive: A letter would be written by Rita.
Conditional II Active: Rita would have written a letter.
Passive: A letter would have been written by Rita.
Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects
becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject
depends on what you want to put the focus on.
Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2
wrote a letter to me.

Active: Rita
Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita.
Passive: I was written a letter by Rita.
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually
dropped.
Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the
passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.
Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as
there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive
verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal
Passive.
Example: he says – it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In
English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live
longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer
than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of
perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction
with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active
sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.
EXERCISES
1/Julia rescued three cats.
.
2) The students handed in the reports.
.
3) Maria crashed into the blue car.
.
4) Alex learned the poem.
.
5) Steven has forgotten the book.
.
6) The mechanic has not repaired the DVD recorder.
.
7) They play handball.
.
8) Sue puts the rucksack on the floor.
.
9) The girls had lost the match.
.
10) The teacher is not going to open the window.
Exercise on Passive
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. I confirm the reservation.
→
2. We will deliver the goods immediately.
→
3. We arranged a meeting.
→
4. You can cancel the contract within five business days.
→
5. They execute all orders carefully.
→
6. You have made a mistake.
→
7. We are processing your order.
→
8. Jane had booked a flight.
→
9. He has not answered our letter.
→
10. She did not sign the contract.
→

Use of Passive: Example: My Bike Was Stolen

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Use of Passive

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

Simple Present Mr Smith writes the The delivery notes are written (by Mr Smith).

Present Progressive Mr Smith is The delivery notes are being written (by Mr Smith).

Simple Past Mr Smith wrote the The delivery notes were written (by Mr Smith).

Present Perfect Mr Smith has The delivery notes have been written (by Mr

Past Perfect Mr Smith had The delivery notes had been written (by Mr

Future Mr Smith will The delivery notes will be written (by Mr

Auxiliary (Modal) Mr Smith must The delivery notes must be written (by Mr

Examples of Passive forms

Tense Subject Verb Object

Passive: A letter is written by Rita.

Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.

Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.

Active: Rita can write a letter.

Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.

Tense Subject Verb Object

Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.

Past Progressive Active: Rita was writing a letter.

Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.

Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.

Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.

Future Perfect Active: Rita will have written a letter.

Passive: A letter will have been written by Rita.

Conditional I Active: Rita would write a letter.

Passive: A letter would be written by Rita.

Conditional II Active: Rita would have written a letter.

Passive: A letter would have been written by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2

wrote a letter to me.

Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita.

Passive: I was written a letter by Rita.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Example: he says – it is said

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

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