Forming the passive voice

Steps to Form a Passive Sentence

To form a passive sentence from an active sentence:

1. Move the receiver of the action from the direct object position of the sentence to the subject position of the sentence.
   
   
2. Insert the verb BE in agreement in number with the new subject and in the appropriate tense.
   
   
3. Change the verb to its past participle form.
   
   
4. Optionally place the actor of the verb in the object position after the preposition by.
   
   

• ·         The boys ate the pie.
• ·         The pie was eaten (by the boys).

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Present	The boys eat the pie.	The pie is eaten by the boys
Present progressive	The boys are eating the pie	The pie is being eaten by the boys
Present perfect	The boys have eaten the pie	The pie has been eaten by the boys
Past	The boys ate the pie	The pie was eaten by the boys
Past progressive	The boys were eating the pie	The pie was being eaten by the boys
Past perfect	The boys had eaten the pie	The pie had been eaten by the boys
Future	The boys will eat the pie	The pie will be eaten by the boys
Future	The boys are going to eat the pie.	The pie is going to be eaten by the boys
Future perfect	The boys will have eaten the pie	The pie will have been eaten by the boys

The passive voice can also be used with modals

Past modals
Active	The boys could have eaten the pie
Passive	The pie could have been eaten by the boys

Present modals
Active	The boys can eat the pie
Passive	The pie can be eaten by the boys

PASSIVE VOICE WITH INFINITIVES

The infinitive passive voice is used after modal verbs and other most verbs normally followed by an infinitive.

EXAMPLES

• You have to be tested on your English grammar.
  
  
• John might be promoted next year.
  
  
• She wants to be invited to the party.
  
  
• I expect to be surprised on my birthday.
  
  
• You may be disappointed.

 

PASSIVE VOICE WITH GERUNDS

Gerunds are used after prepositions and verbs normally followed by a gerund.

EXAMPLES

• I remember being taught to drive.
  
  
• The children are excited about being taken to the zoo.
  
  
• The children are excited to be taken to the zoo.
  
  
• Most film stars hate being interviewed.
  
  
• Most film stars hate to be interviewed.
  
  
• Poodles like to be pampered.
  
  
• Poodles like being pampered.

 

For more exercises go to the next links:

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=55

http://www.eflnet.com/tutorials/passivevoice.php

http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/passive-voice/