Passive Voice

We normally make passive verb forms of a verb by using tenses of the auxiliary be followed by the past participle (pp). Below is a list of all the passive forms for an ordinary English verb.

Tense	Structure	Example
simple present	is / am / are + pp	The butter is kept here.
simple past	was / were + pp	The butter was kept here.
past continuous	was / were + being + pp	The butter was being kept here.
present continuous	is / as / are + being + pp	The butter is being kept here.
present perfect	has / have + been + pp	The butter has been kept here.
past perfect	had + been + pp	The butter had been kept here.
future	will / shall + pp	The butter will be kept here
going to (future)	is / as / are + going + to be + pp	The butter is going to be kept here.

The active voice is normally used to show the action that the subject does:

eg	The first little pig	built	his house with straw.
	Subject	verb

The passive is used to show what happened to the subject:

eg	The house	was built	with straw.
	Subject	verb

Some problems for students

There are a few verbs which some students tend to get confused as to whether active or passive voice should be used. The following examples show verbs which would not normally be used in the passive in English:

û The accident was happened an hour ago.

û The fight was broken out because the waiter said something insulting to the customers.

û Three children are disappeared, which the police suspect to be a kidnapping.

Exercise: Active or Passive?

In this exercise you select which is the best form of the verb to use - active or passive voice with the appropriate tense..

Enter your name:

1. This is quite a big factory and over 500 people (1) here.

2. Is it true that water (2) most of the world's surface?

3. Yes, most of the world's surface (3) water.

4. The hotel doors (4) at 2am every night.

5. The money (5) over a week ago but it only (6) today.

6. Although the ship (7) after the accident, fortunately all the passengers (8) .

7. Both Mary's parents (9) in an accident when she was a child, and she (10) her grandparents.

8. She (11) in London but later (12) to Scotland.

9. My wallet (13) in Central.

10. I (14) until I went to buy my ferry ticket and found that it (15) .

11. After I (16) it to the police my credit card (17) .

12. Peter told us (18) his job, but actually he (19) .

13. After the accident many people (20) to hospital.

14. By the time the party was over all the wine (21) .

15. His ship (22) a torpedo, and many of the crew (23) .

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