The Passive in the present simple passive.

In the present passive, the present simple verb becomes a past participle.

normal	passive
Many people study this book.	The book is studied by many people.

further examples

The passive is used when the agent(the person or thing doing the action) is obvious, unknow, or unimportant. It is also useful when describing a process where the result of the action is important.

eg:

1. Criminals are arrested every day in the town.
   • The speaker doesn’t mention the agent because the verb obviously refers to police
2. Are the posters printed on quality paper ?
   • The agent is not mentioned because the process is more important.
   • be and the subject swap places to form question.

how to form

All passives use a from of be with past participle.The agent (the thing doing the action) can be introduced with by, but the sentence would still make sense without it.

Subejct + be(am/is/are) + past praticiple + by + rest of sentence.

The present continuous passive

The present continous passive is used to refer to ongoing actions.

normal	passive
Developers are building lots of new houses in the area.	Lots of new houses are being built in the area.

futher examples

• You can’t use the pool today because it is being cleaned.
• Dont’t worry, the food is being cooked as we speak.
• I have to walk to work while my car is being repaired.

how to form

Subject + be(am/is/are) + being + past participle + rest of sentence.

The passive in the past

English uses the passive voice in the past to stress the effect of an action that happened in the past, rather than the cause of that action.

normal	passive
The fire destroyed the buildings.	The building were destroyed by the fire.

futher examples

• The trees were cut down last year.
• The rail road was damaged during the storm.

how to form

Subject + was/were + past participle + rest of sentence.

The past continuous passive

The past continuous can also be used in the passive voice. It is used to refer to ongoing actions in the past.

normal	passive
Secret agents were watching him.	He was being wathed by secret agents.

futher examples

• The students were being taught how to write good essays.
• I went for lunch while my car was being fixed.
• We bought our house while it was being built.

how to form

Subject + was/were + being + past participle + by + rest of sentence.

The present perfect passive

The present perfect passive is used to talk about events in the past that still have an effect on the present moment.

normal	passive
Don't worry, I have fed the cats.	Don't worry, the cats have been fed.

futher exmaples

• This door has been painted beautifully.
• Do you know if all the lights have been turned off?
• Has your computer been fixed yet ?It broke months ago!

how to form

Subject + has/have + been + past participle

The past perfect passive

The past perfect passive is used to refer to events that happened before another event in the past.

normal	passive
Unfortunately, the organizer had canceled the party.	Unfortunately, the part had been canceled

further examples

• The class hadn’t been told that the lecture had been canceled.
• Anna was so happy that her cart had been found.

how to form

Subject + Had Been + past participle

The passive in the future

English uses the passive voice in the future to stress the effect of an action that will happen in the future, rather than cause of that action.

The future simple passive is usually formed with will rather than going to

normal	passive
Hopefully, the police will catch the thief very soon	Hopefully, the thief willn be caught very soon.

futher examples

• Don’t worry, the house will be finished very soon.
• An email will be sent to you all next week with more details.
• Sorry, but the power will be turned off between 2pm and 5pm.

how to form

Subject + will be + past participle + rest of sentence.

The future perfect passive

The future perfect passive is used talk about events that will be finished at some point int the future.

nromal	passive
The mechanic will have fixed the car by 5pm.	The car will have been fixed by 5pm.

futher examples

• We think every ticket will have been bought before the end of the day.
• Hurry up or all the goods seats will have been taken already.
• Will those letters have been sent out before lunchtime tomorrow ?

how to form

Subject + will have been + past participle.

The passive with modals

normal	future
You should tell her the exciting news.	She should be told the exciting news.

futher examples

• Should the package be delivered to your house or your office ?
• All new employees must be shown what to do if there has fire.

how to form

Subject + Modal verb + be + past participle + rest of sentence.

Modals in the perfect passive

Modals in perfect tense can become passive by replacing have with have been

normal	passive
The managers should have given Daniel more time.	Daniel should have been given more time.

further examples

• We should have been told that the concert was canceled!
• The robber would have been arrested if he hadn’t been so quick.

how to form

Subject + Modal Verb + Have Been + Past Participle + rest of sentence

Other Passive constructions

Reporting with passives

Some passive constructions are used to distance the writer or speaker from the facets.They are often used to academic writing or new reports.

• It has been reported that three sailors have disappeared.
• The race is known to be extremely dangerous.
• There are said to be at least 20 boats in the search party.

using get

Get can sometimes replace be in passive sentences. This form is more informal than the passive with be.

• Bikes get stolen in this town every day.
• My friend's bike got stolen yesterday.

how to form

Subject + GET/GOT + past pasticiple + rest of sentence