Passive Voice Examples (Prof. Candela Pérez Albizú)

PASSIVE VOICE

Active voice: verb groups where the subject is the person or thing doing or responsible for the action (i.e.: the subject of the verb is usually the agent, the “doer”).

Passive voice: verb forms where the subject is the person or thing that is affected by the action (i.e.: the subject is the recipient of the action, not the agent).

BE      +      PAST PARTICIPLE

Simple Present Passive:       

is / are / am + past participle

Ex: These books are published in five languages.

Present Continuous Passive:

is / are / am + being + past participle

Ex: A new shopping centre is being built in our city.

Past Simple Passive:

was / were + past participle

Ex: The walls of the restaurant were decorated with pictures of famous people.

Past Continuous Passive:

was / were + being + past participle

Ex: Their bikes were being repaired.

Present Perfect Simple Passive:

have / has + been + past participle

Ex: The window has been mended.

Past Perfect Passive:

had + been  + past participle

Ex: The door had not been closed.

Future Simple Passive:

will + be + past participle

Ex: A new president will be chosen soon.

Going to Future Passive:

is / are / am + going to be + past participle

Ex: The building is going to be disinfected next weekend.

Future Perfect Passive:

will + have been + past participle

Ex: The problem will have been solved by tomorrow.