Active and Passive Voice Lesson 1

The Passive Voice

Form, Function & Frequency

Contents
The following questions will be answered:

What is the passive voice?

Why do we need it?

How is it formed?

When is it used?

The passive voice is used when the subject of a sentence receives

an action.

The cyclist rode the bike.
(ACTIVE)

(PASSIVE)
The bike was ridden by the cyclist.

What is the passive voice?

Why do we need it?

A man is teaching a boy to ride a bike.

The boy is being taught to ride a bike.

(ACTIVE)

The passive is used when the focus is on the
person or thing that receives an action.

(PASSIVE)

The boy

the boy.

The bicycle

the bicycle.

ridden

rode

by

How To Form
The Passive

SUBJECT

The subject moves to
the object position.

The object moves to
the subject position.

OBJECT

SUBJECT

OBJECT

PASSIVE

ACTIVE

was

The boy

the boy.

The bicycle

the bicycle.

ridden

rode

by

How To Form
The Passive

Split the verb into a BE
verb and past
participle.

Add BY to show who
performed the action.

SUBJECT

PASSIVE

OBJECT

SUBJECT

OBJECT

ACTIVE

(CONTINUED)

VERB

BE

VERB 3

was

PERFECT

SIMPLE

was / were

The Passive BE Verb

CONTINUOUS

was / were
being

had been

am / is / are

am / is / are
being

has / have been

will be

am / is / are
going to be

will have been

PAST

The BE verb changes depending on the subject and tense of the sentence.

PRESENT

FUTURE

INVENTIONS &
DISCOVERIES

When is it used?

PRODUCTION &
INDUSTRY

ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT

CRIME &
PUNISHMENT

EMERGENCIES &
DISASTERS

be discovered
be invented
be tested

be produced

be grown
be made

be directed
be written
be filmed

be caught
be stolen
be punished

be destroyed

be hurt

be broken

The passive voice is commonly used with the following verbs and topics:

Your turn!

The man is fixing the wheel.

ACTIVE

The wheel...

PASSIVE

Change the active sentence to the passive

voice.

Your turn!

The machine...

ACTIVE

The piece...

PASSIVE

Create a passive sentence and an active

sentence.

Your turn!

The fire fighter...

ACTIVE

The fire...

PASSIVE

The house...

PASSIVE

Create an active sentence and two passive

phrases.

Thank You!

Any questions?