Download Passive Voice

Active Voice (主動式)
VS
Passive Voice (被動式)
Example 1
doer
receiver
a. Joe makes a cake. (Active Voice)
receiver
Be
doer
b. A cake is made by Joe (Passive Voice)
Changes made :
Past participle
1. In a, the subject is the doer of the action. (動作執行人為主位)
In b, the subject is the receiver of the action. (接受動作的人或
物為主位)
2. In b, the verb is changed into the passive form (Be + past
participle).
3. In b, ‘by’ is added before the doer of the action.
Example 2
simple present tense
a. Wayne cleans the clothes. (active voice)
Be
Past participle
b. The clothes are cleaned by Wayne. (passive voice)
Example 3
simple past tense
a. Andy ate the cake. (active voice)
Be
Past participle
b. The cake was eaten by Andy. (passive voice)
Example 4
future tense
a. Nicky will do the housework. (active voice)
Be
Past participle
b. The housework will be done by Nicky. (passive
voice)
present continuous tense
Example 5
a. Rocky is washing the dishes. (active voice)
Be
Past participle
b. The dishes are being washed by Rocky. (passive
voice)
Example 6
past continuous tense
a. Cherry was using the computer. (active voice)
Be
Past participle
b. The computer was being used by Cherry. (passive
voice)
Example 7
present perfect tense
a. Jackie has written two compositions. (active voice)
Be
Past participle
b. Two compositions have been written by Jackie.
(passive voice)
How to change the verb to be?
Tense
Verb to be
Simple present tense
is / am /are
Simple past tense
was / were
Future tense
will be
Present continuous tense is / am / are being
Past continuous tense
was / were being
Present perfect tense
has been
Modal verbs
Verb to be
can / should / must…etc can be / should be /
must be….etc
How to change negative sentences into passive voice:
simple past tense
Example 8
a. Cindy did not break the window. (active voice)
past participle
Be
b. The window was not broken by Cindy. (passive
voice)
Example 9
future tense
a. Amy will not buy the tickets. (active voice)
Be
past participle
b. The tickets will not be bought by Amy. (passive
voice)
We use the passive voice when:
1. we don’t know who / what the doer is.
Eg.: The rich man was killed.
2. the doer is obvious.
Eg.: The driver was fined for speeding.
3. the doer is not important.
Eg.: The rubbish is removed.
END