Passive voice

"Ella is doing her revision." Is this sentence active or passive?

• active

• passive

"Lucas is being told to keep quiet." Is this sentence active or passive?

• active

• passive

Answer explanation

"is being told" is the verb to be + p.p. in present continuous tense.

"Kenny is being laughed at by his friend."

Who is laughing?

• Kenny

• Kenny's friend

Answer explanation

Kenny is being laughed at by his friend.

"being laughed at" is describing Kenny.

"by his friend" shows that his friend is the doer.

"being laughed at"是形容Kenny的狀態。

"by his friend"讓我們知道他的朋友才是施者。

"The heavy polluters were fined by the government."

(polluters: 污染者, fine: 罰款)

Who had to pay?

• the government

• the heavy polluters

Answer explanation

The heavy polluters were fined by the government.

"were fined" is describing the heavy polluters.

"by the government" shows that the government is the doer.

"were fined"是形容heavy polluters的狀態。

"by the government"讓我們知道政府才是施者。

active: Frank used both sides of the paper.

passive:

• Both sides of the paper have been used by Frank.

• Both sides of the paper was used by Frank.

• Both sides of the paper were used by Frank.

• Both sides of the paper was being used by Frank.

Answer explanation

active: Frank used both sides of the paper.

"used" is simple past tense.

To change it into passive, it should be "was/were + p.p.".

We choose "were" because "sides" is plural（眾數）。

"was" is for singular nouns (沒有s那些）。

active: I will kiss my mum before she goes to work.

passive:

• My mum will kissed by me before she goes to work.

• My mum will be kissed by me before she goes to work.

• My mum is kissed by me before she goes to work.

• My mum was kissed by me before she goes to work.

Answer explanation

I will kiss my mum before she goes to work.

"will kiss" is simple future tense.

To change it into passive, it should be "will + be + p.p.".

=will be kissed

active: Daniel has bought a reusable bag.

passive:

• A reusable bag have been bought by Daniel.

• A reusable bag was being bought by Daniel.

• A reusable bag was bought by Daniel.

• A reusable bag has been bought by Daniel.

Answer explanation

Daniel has bought a reusable bag.

"has bought" is present perfect tense.

To change it into passive, it should be "has/have + been + p.p.".

We choose "has" because "a reusable bag" is singular（單數, 沒有s）。

"have" is for plural nouns (眾數)。

active: Johnny is reusing the bottle.

passive:

• The bottle being reused by Johnny.

• The bottle was reusing by Johnny.

• The bottle is being reused by Johnny.

• The bottle is reusing by Johnny.

Answer explanation

Johnny is reusing the bottle.

"is reusing" is present continuous tense.

To change it into passive, it should be "is/am/are +being + p.p.".

We choose "is" because "the bottle" is singular（單數, 沒有s）。

"are" is for plural nouns (眾數)。

"am" is for 'I".

active: Athena has chosen some candies.

passive: Some candies _________ by Athena.

Answer explanation

active: Athena has chosen a candy.

"has chosen" is present perfect tense.

If we change it to passive, it should be "has/have + been + p.p."

We choose "have" because "some candies" is plural (眾數)

"has chosen"是present perfect tense.

改成passive的時是"has/have + been + p.p."

選用"have"是因爲"some candies"是眾數

單數才會用 "has".

active: The dog's owner has scolded the dog.

passive: The dog _________ by its owner.

Answer explanation

active: The dog's owner has scolded the dog.

"has scolded" is present perfect tense.

If we change it to passive, it should be "has/have + been + p.p."

We choose "has" because "the dog" is "it", for he/she/it, we say "has".

"Have" is for I/you/we/they.

"has scolded"是present perfect tense.

改成passive的時是"has/have + been + p.p."

選用"has"是因爲"the dog"是"it", he/she/it用"has".

I/you/we/they才會用 "have".