Uses of the passive voice
1. Changing the focus on the receiver of the action.
- The teenager found the diamond in the cave = The diamond was found in the cave.
- The soldiers are fighting the enemy unit = The enemy unit is being fought.
- Every Wednesday Pablo prepares pasta = Every Wednesday pasta is prepared.
- Xena will defeat the blonde warrior at the beach = The blonde warrior will be defeated at the beach.
2. Those situations the agent who performs the action is unknown, obvious or unimportant.
- The window situated in my office has been broken for a while.
- I regret to inform you that your car has recently been stolen and we can’t find it.
- The starving kitten that we found last week was finally fed and survived.
- The space satellite that is going to being launch soon is being constructed as we speak.
3. Expressions or sentences that are impersonal in nature (in Spanish they usually begin with ‘se’).
- It is said that Santa Claus knows everything, when you are sleeping or when you are awake.
- It was known by everyone in town that her family got its riches through crime and deceit.
- It is believed that at the end of their lifespan elephants always migrate to the same spot to die in peace.
- It has been suggested that the solution to the problem was to be solved in an unconventional manner.
4. Writing technical, historical or scientific texts.
- The adamantium metal was bonded to the subject’s bones successfully in yesterday’s experiment.
- Warp travel was discovered by Zefram Cochrane in 2061, marking the beginning of humanity’s exploring of the cosmos.
- Salt is added to the meal only after the sauce in the pan has boiled for at least five minutes.
- The bolt is inserted into Figure A, then it needs to be screwed tight. Then, the motor can be started safely.
Structure of the passive voice
- Gabriel is forging a sword right now.
- She waters her cacti every week.
- A sword is being forged right now (by Gabriel)*.
- The cacti are watered every week (by her)*.
- My boyfriend gave me a book as a present.
- I was given a book as a present / A book was given to me as a present
Verbal tense |
Active voice |
Passive voice |
Present simple |
Tom starts a
game. |
A game is
started by Tom. |
Present
continuous |
Tom is starting
a game. |
A game is being
started by Tom. |
Present perfect
simple |
Tom has started
a game. |
A game has been
started by Tom. |
Present perfect
continuous* |
Tom has been
starting a game. |
A game has been
being started by Tom. |
Past simple |
Tom started a
game. |
A game was
started by Tom. |
Past continuous |
Tom was starting
a game. |
A game was being
started by Tom. |
Past perfect
simple |
Tom had started
a game. |
A game had been
started by Tom. |
Past perfect
continuous* |
Tom had been
starting a game. |
A game had been
being started by Tom. |
Future simple |
Tom will start a
game. |
A game will be
started by Tom. |
Future
continuous* |
Tom will be
starting a game. |
A game will be
being started by Tom. |
Future perfect
simple |
Tom will have
started a game. |
A game will have
been started by Tom. |
Future perfect
continuous* |
Tom will have
been starting a game. |
A game will have
been being started by Tom. |
* Perfect continuous tenses, as well as the future continuous, often are avoided due to using many auxiliary verbs, but they can be used if needed.
Note: The passive voice is not used in sentences that contain an intransitive verb or linking verbs like seem, sound or prove, as they lack an object, which is needed for the passive’s subject.
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