THE PASSIVE VOICE
We use the Passive Voice when the object of the action becomes the subject
of the sentence. Therefore, the focus is on the action and not on the person
who performs the action.
For example: This building was built in the 17th century.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact of what has been built and when.
We do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the
following example shows:
For example: A mistake was made.
In this case, we focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but we do not blame
anyone (for example: You have made a mistake.).
PAST PARTICIPLE
The Past Participle indicates past or completed action or time. It is often called
the ed form as it is formed by adding -d or -ed, to the base form of regular
verbs, however it is also formed in various other ways for irregular verbs.
The past participle is used to form the following structures:

to form Perfect tenses – I have spoken.

to form the Passive Voice – The letter was written.

as an adjective form – I wasn’t exhausted at all.
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STRUCTURE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
The structure of the Passive Voice goes as follows:
Affirmative sentences:
subject + auxiliary to be + main verb in the Past Participle
Negative sentences:
subject + auxiliary to be + not + main verb in the Past Participle
Interrogative sentences:
auxiliary to be + subject + main verb in the Past Participle
For example:
Active Simple Past
Passive Simple Past
Cassidy wrote the letter.
The letter was written by Cassidy.
The fire didn’t destroy the city.
The city wasn’t destroyed by the fire.
Did Tony eat the cheese?
Was the cheese eaten by Tony?
When rewriting active sentences in the Passive Voice, note the following:

the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence

the verb structure is composed by an auxiliar verb be with reflects the
subject and verb agreement and the tense and, also, the past participle

the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive
sentence (or it is dropped)
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Examples of the Passive Simple
Tense
Voice
Subject
Verb
Object
Simple
Active:
Rita
writes
a letter.
Present
Passive:
A letter
is written
by Rita.
Simple
Active:
Rita
wrote
a letter.
Past
Passive:
A letter
was written
by Rita.
Example of Passive Continuous
Tense
Voice
Subject
Verb
Object
Present
Active:
Rita
is writing
a letter.
Continuous
Passive:
A letter
is being written
by Rita.
Past
Active:
Rita
was writing
a letter.
Continuous
Passive:
A letter
was being written
by Rita.
Passive Sentences with Two Objects
Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of
the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which
object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.
Tense
Voice
Subject
Verb
Object 1
Object 2
Past
Active:
Rita
wrote
a letter
to me.
Simple
Passive:
A letter
was written
to me
by Rita.
Passive:
I
was written
a letter
by Rita.
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SOME OTHER EXAMPLE SENTENCES IN THE PASSIVE VOICE
The last three cookies were eaten by James. (Past Simple)
The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes. (Present Simple)
The flat tire was changed by Sue. (Past Simple)
The entire stretch of highway was paved by the crew. (Past Simple)
The novel was read by Josephine in one day. (Past Simple)
The staff are required by the company to watch a safety video every year.
(Present Simple)
The treaty is being signed by the two kings. (Present Continuous)
All the reservations are being made by the party planner. (Present
Continuous)
The house was being remodeled by the homeowners to help it sell. (Past
Continuous)
The metal beams were being corroded by the saltwater. (Past Continuous)
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