There are two special forms for verbs called voice: active voice and passive voice.

1. Personal passive:
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
In the active voice, the object receives the action of the verb:
The doer of the action
(subject)
Cats

Active voice

The action
(verb)
eat

The receiver of the action

(object)
fish

In the passive voice, the object of the active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb.
The receiver of the action
Fish

Passive voice

The action
are eaten

The doer of the action

by cats

Use of the passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known who or what
is performing the action.
Examples: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a
mistake.).
When the verb in the active has two objects, it is possible to have two passives.
Example:
Active voice

Salma offered me a flower.

Passive voice 1

A flower was offered to me.

Passive voice 2

I was offered a flower.

Form of the passive:

SUBJECT + TO BE (in the appropriate tense) + PAST PARTICIPLE (regular verbs: vb+ed
irregular verbs: 3rd form)

TO GET
e.g. The grass is cut every day.

My shirts are being washed just now.

The tables were being laid when the guests arrived.

The tyres were pumped up.

Her dress got caught in the door.

2. Impersonal passive:
Verbs without an object normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become
the subject of the passive). To use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction.
In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, believe, know, etc).
Example:
Active voice

a. They say that women live longer than men.

b. They believe that our planet is in danger.
In impersonal passive, we can start the passive form with :
It is + the past form of the verb of perception + that-clause
It is said that
It is thought that
women live longer than men.
Passive voice 1
It is believed that
our planet is in danger.
It is known that
We can also start the passive form of these sentences with the subject of that clause + verb to be in
the present + the past form of the verb of perception + the verb of that clause in the infinitive
a. Women are thought to live longer than men.
Passive voice 2
b. Our planet is believed to be in danger.
The passive form with different tenses:
Active voice
Tenses

Form
Singular

Present
simple
Plural
Singular
Present
continuous
Plural

Singular
Simple past
Plural

Past
continuous

Singular
Plural

Present
perfect

Singular 3rd
person
Other forms

Past
perfect

All forms

Modals

All forms

Rule
Subject + verb (-s/-es/-ies)
Sana writes a letter.
He punches me in the face.
Subject + verb
They write letters.
Subject + is / am + verb-ing
She is watching a movie.
It is hurting me.
Subject + are + verb-ing
We are playing video games.
S + verb + d / ed / ied
(Irregular verbs have no rule)
He played football.
She ate couscous.
Subject + verb + d / ed / ied
(Irregular verbs have no rule)
They killed their hostages.
The thieves robbed two houses.
Subject + was + verb-ing
I was cooking Tajine.
Subject + were + verb-ing
They were hunting birds.
Subject + has + V3
He has eaten a cake
Subject + have + V3
We have watched documentaries.
Subject + had + V3
Sam had poisoned the cat.
Subject + modal + verb
She can speak English.
They will write the reports.

Passive voice
Fom
Singular

Plural
Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

Singular
Plural
Singular
3rd person
Plural
All forms
All forms

Rule
Subject + is / am + V3
A letter is written.
I am punched in the face.
Subject + are + V3
Letters are written.
Subject + is / am + being + V3
A movie is being watched.
I am being hurt.
Subject + are + being + V3
Video games are being played.
S + was + V3 (regular verbs + d / ed /
ied, but irregular verbs have no rules)
Football was played.
Couscous was eaten
S + were + V3 (regular verbs + d / ed/
ied, but irregular verbs have no rules)
Their hostages were killed.
Two houses were robbed.
Subject + was + being + V3
Tajine was being cooked.
Subject + were + being + verb-ing
Birds were being hunted.
Subject + has + been + V3
A cake has been eaten.
Subject + have + been + V3
Documentaries have been watched.
Subject + had + been + V3
The cat had been poisoned by Sam.
Subject + modal + be + V3
English can be spoken.
The reports will be written

If the object of the active is a pronoun, you have to change the object pronoun to a
subject pronoun in the passive: She kicked him
He was kicked.
Object pronouns

Subject pronouns

Me
You
Him
Her
It
Us
You
Them
Task 1 Rewrite the following sentences in the Passive Voice.

1 People use credit cards to make shopping easier.

___________________________________________________
2 Peter doesnt finish the school tasks.
___________________________________________________
3 I am carrying two heavy parcels.
___________________________________________________
4 Mary isnt singing a new song.
___________________________________________________
5 You wrote a long letter yesterday.
___________________________________________________
6 I didnt buy a magazine last weekend.
___________________________________________________
7 I have eaten many sweets.
___________________________________________________
8 He has sent a Christmas postcard.
___________________________________________________
9 Children werent reading comics.
___________________________________________________
10 She was reading the newspaper yesterday at 9pm.
_________________________________________
11 This famous director will produce ten short comedy films
in four years.
___________________________________________________

I
You
He
She
It
We
You
They
Task 2 Rewrite the following sentences in the Passive

Voice.
1) People know that drug addiction is dangerous.
It is ________________________________________
2) They believe that the lunch will be delicious.
The lunch is ____________________________________
3) They think that the children are at school.
The children _________________________________
4) People said that the robbery lasted half an hour.
It is ________________________________________
5) People acknowledge that he is talented.
He is _______________________________________
6) The newspapers reported that he won the jackpot.
He was _______________________________________
7) They think that your tea is too sweet.
It

is

_______________________________________

____________________________________________
8) Everybody says the old bridge will collapse.
The old ______________________________________

Answers:

Task 1:

Task 2

1 Credit cars are used to make shopping easier.

2 The school tasks arent finished by Peter.
3 Two heavy parcels are being carried by me.
4 A new song isnt being sung by Mary.
5 A long letter wasnt written by you yesterday.
6 A magazine wasnt bought by me last weekend.
7 Many sweets have been eaten by me.
8 - A Christmas postcard has been sent by him.
9 Comics werent being read by children.
10 The newspaper was being read by her yesterday at 9pm.
11 - Ten short comedy films will be produced by this famous
director in four years.

1) It is known that drug addiction is

dangerous.
2) The lunch is believed to be delicious.
3) The children are thought to be at school.
4) It is said that the robbery lasted half an
hour.
5) He is acknowledged to be talented.
6) He was reported to have won the jackpot.
7) It is thought that your tea is too sweet.
8) The old bridge is said to collapse.