Passive Voice

Amanda Salsabilah Dythia

 General
• A sentence generally begins with the
performer of the action (subject), then the
verb, then the object or person that the action
is performed on. This is called an “Active”
sentence.
Example:
I drank two cups of coffee.
S V O
 What is Passive voice?
• If we begin the sentence with the object or
person that the action is performed on, we
formulate a “Passive” sentence.
Example:
Two cups of coffee were drunk.
(we can add 'by me' if we want).
 When should we use the passive voice?

1. When we want to change the focus of the

sentence:
- The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.
(We are more interested in the painting than the artist in this
sentence).

2. When who or what causes the action is

unknown or unimportant:
- My bike has been stolen (unknown agent)
- The road is being repaired (unimportant agent).
3. In factual or scientific writing:
-The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data
entered into the computer.

4. In formal writing instead of using someone/

people/ they (these can be used in speaking or
informal writing):
- The brochure will be finished next month.
 How to formulate the passive voice?
To formulate a passive sentence:
1. Put the objects or the verb at the beginning of
your sentence
2. Conjugate the verb to be in the same tenses as
the active sentence
3. Put the main verb in the Past Participle form

Example:
A: He give me the book
P: The book is given to me (by him).
 How to form passive voice in present tense:

Tense Active Passive

present simple I make a cake. A cake is made (by me).

present continuous I am making a cake. A cake is being made (by

me).

present perfect I have made a cake. A cake has been made

(by me).

present perfect I have been making a A cake has been

continuous cake. being made (by
me).
 How to form passive voice in Future tense:

Tense Active Passive

future simple I will make a cake. A cake will be made (by
me).

future perfect I will have made a A cake will have

cake. been made (by
me).
THANK YOU