1. USE
We use the passive voice when we are interested in the OBJECT / PROCESS, not
the performer.
We place “by + performer” at
the end of a passive voice sentence if we want to include in the passive voice sentence the
subject of the active sentence.
Examples:
“Somebody stole my bike” → “My bike was stolen”.
“Tom stole my bike” → “My bike was stolen by Tom”.
“Somebody stole my bike” → “My bike was stolen”.
“Tom stole my bike” → “My bike was stolen by Tom”.
2. FORM:
TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE (-ED/3rd
COLUMN, IRREGULAR VERBS)
THE OBJECT of the active voice sentence becomes the SUBJECT in the passive voice sentence.
Examples:
Active
|
Mary
|
buys
|
a car.
|
SIMPLE PRESENT
|
Passive:
|
A car
|
is
bought
|
by Mary.
|
|
Active:
|
Mary
|
bought
|
a car.
|
SIMPLE PAST
|
Passive:
|
A car
|
was
bought
|
by Mary.
|
|
Active:
|
Mary
|
has
bought
|
a car.
|
PRESENT PERFECT
|
Passive:
|
A car
|
has
been bought
|
by Mary.
|
|
Active:
|
Mary
|
will
buy
|
a car.
|
WILL-FUTURE
|
Passive:
|
A car
|
will
be bought
|
by Mary.
|
|
Active:
|
Mary
|
can
buy
|
a car.
|
MODALS
|
Passive:
|
A car
|
can
be bought
|
by Mary.
|
|
3. PASSIVE VOICE SENTENCES WITH
TWO OBJECTS
The INDIRECT OBJECT of the active
voice sentence can become the SUBJECT in the passive
voice sentence.
I- If the active voice follows the
order “Subject + Verb + Direct Object + to Indirect Object” → Omit “to”:
“Helen offered a job to my brother Jim”
becomes
“My brother Jim was offered a job by Helen”
“Dan will give a present to Jane”
becomes
“Jane will be given a present by Dan”
II- If the indirect object of the active sentence is an
object pronoun → Transform
it into a subject pronoun:
“Mary offered a job to him” becomes “He was offered a job by Mary”
“Dan will give a present to her” becomes “She will be given a present by Dan”
