Passive Voice

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Passive Voice
Use: We use the passive voice when you want to talk about an action but you are not so interested in saying who or what does the action. The house has been redecorated. If you want to mention the person or thing that did the action (the agent), use by. Prison sentences are decided by judges.%

Passive Voice
Form: The passive of the verb is formed by the verb to be in whichever tense + the past participle.

To be + past participle!

Passive Voice
Present Simple:

Murderers are usually sentenced to life imprisonment.

TO BE +

PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Present Continuous:

The trial is being held at the moment.

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Present Perfect:

My car has been stolen.

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Past Simple:

Jim was arrested last month.

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Past Continuous:

The cinema was being rebuilt when it was set on fire.

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Past Perfect:

We saw that one of the windows had been broken. TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Future Simple:

The prisoner will be released next month.

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Future with going to:

The verdict is going to be given tomorrow.

BE GOING TO + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Infinitive with to:

People used to be imprisoned for stealing bread.

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Infinitive without to:

You can be fined for parking on a yellow line.

TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

Passive Voice
Gerund:

He paid a fine to avoid being sent to jail. TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE!

It is said that It is thought to

Use: This formal structure it used specially in news reports and on TV with the verbs know, tell, understand, report, expect, say and think.

Form:

It is said that It is thought to

You can use: !It is said / believed, etc. + that + clause it is said that the company may close. !He / the man (a subject of the clause) + is said, believed, etc. + to + infinitive The man is said to be in his forties.