PASSIVE VOICE
EXs:
1.
He reads books every day.
Books are read every day.
2. Ahmad broke the window.
The window was broken (by Ahmad).
3. The students do their assignments.
the assignments are done by (the students).
PASSIVE VOICE
Active:
S+V+O
Passive: S + Be + P.P. + by + agent
(tense)
EX: My father planted this tree last year.
This tree was planted by my father last
year.
PASSIVE VOICE
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

Is used when the primary focus is on the object.
Some verbs are followed by particular prepositions in the
passive voice (see P.342).
The phrase (by+agent) used with new or important ideas i.e.
(the subject is important).
e.g. {Galileo first used the telescope in astronomy .}
{The telescope was first used in astronomy by Galileo}
“it” is sometimes used to avoid naming the agent or source of
the information.
e.g. {it was believed that everything revolved around the earth}
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TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES
IN PASSIVE VOICE
The Simple Present Tense
Active: S + V(s/es) + O

Passive: S + am/is/are + PP + by + O
EX: He reads books every day.
Books are read (by him) every day.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES
IN PASSIVE VOICE

The Simple Past Tense
Active: S + V2ed + O
Passive: S + was/were + P.P. + by + agent
EX: He gave Tom a book.
A book was given to Tom (by him).
Tom was given a book (by him).
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES
IN PASSIVE VOICE

The Present Continuous Tense
Active: S + am/is/are + V-ing + O
Passive: S + am/is/are + being +PP + by + O
EX: He is writing a novel at the moment.
A novel is being written (by him) at the
moment.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES
IN PASSIVE VOICE

The Present Perfect Tense
Active: S + Has/Have + V3ed + O
Passive: S + has/have + been +PP + by + O
EX: He has just finished a novel.
A novel has just been finished (by
him).
MODAL VERBS (MV) IN
PASSIVE VOICE
Modal Verbs can be used in either the present or
past forms.
Active: S + MV (not) + V(inf) + O
Passive: S + MV (not) + Be + PP + by + O
EX: We can’t solve this problem.
This problem can’t be solved.