Passive sentence

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE

A sentence is written in active sentence when the subject of the sentence performs the action in the sentence.

A sentence is written in passive Sentence when the subject of the sentence has an action done to it by someone or something else.

Rules to Remember

When rewriting active sentences in passive sentence, note the following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

the subject of the active sentence becomes by Agent in the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Only active sentence containing object which can be changed into passive form

The two forms should have the same tenses

When to Use Passive Voice

• In general, the passive is less direct, less forceful, and less concise than the active voice. 
• Use the passive in the following situations:

Use passive when you do not know or do not want to reveal the performer of an action.

Use passive when you want to emphasize the receiver of an action.

Type of Passive

Awkward Passive   :  My bicycle was repainted by John.

Deliberate Passive :  My bicycle was repainted.  (The performer is not mentioned and the emphasis is on the bicycle.)

Active Sentence

In most English sentence with an action verb, the subject performs the action denoted by the verb.

These examples show that the subject is  doing the verb's action. 

Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active Sentence.

Passive Sentence

 One can change the normal word order of many active sentences (those with a direct object) so that the subject is no longer active, but is, instead, being acted upon by the verb - or passive. Note in these examples how the subject-verb relationship has changed. Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive sentence.

 

PASSIVE FORM

Simple Present

Once a week, Tom cleans the house.

Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Present Continuous

Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.

Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.

Simple Past

Sam repaired the car.

The car was repaired by Sam.

Past Continuous

The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store.

The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store.

Present Perfect

Many tourists have visited that castle.

That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Present Perfect Continuous

Recently, John has been doing the work.

Recently, the work has been being done by John.

Past Perfect

George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license.

Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license.

Past Perfect Continuous

Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris.

The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris.

Simple Future (will)

Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM.

The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

Simple Future (be going to)

Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight.

Future Continuous (will)

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John.

Future Continuous (be going to)

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John.

Future Perfect (will)

They will have completed the project before the deadline.

The project will have been completed before the deadline.

Future Perfect (be going to)

They are going to have completed the project before the deadline.

The project is going to have been completed before the deadline.

Future Perfect Continuous (will)

The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

Future Perfect Continuous (be going to)

The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

Future in the Past (Would)

I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM.

I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.

Future in the Past (Was Going to, Used to, Would Always)

I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally tonight.

Jerry used to pay the bills.

The bills used to be paid by Jerry.  

My mother would always make the pies.

The pies would always be made by my mother.