Passive

ACTIVE & PASSIVE VERBS

Most verbs in English are ACTIVE VERBS. These are the normal, basic forms of verbs that we use to talk about what the subject of a sentence (someone or something) does.

For example:

My father started this firm thirty years ago.

Speeding causes many accidents.

People everywhere enjoy chocolate.

Sometimes, we want to talk about what happens to the subject. In these cases, we use PASSIVE VERBS.

Compare these examples with the three above:

This firm was started by my father thirty years ago.

Many accidents are caused by speeding.

Chocolate is enjoyed by people everywhere.

So, the subject of an active verb is the object of a passive verb.

Fire destroyed this house. >>> This house was destroyed by fire.

We often use passive verbs when it isn't important who or what causes the action.

This church was built in 1387.  (Here, we don't care exactly who the builder was, we are more interested in the date.)

Has my car been repaired yet?  (Here, we care more about the result, and not about the name of the mechanic.)

We also sometimes use passive verbs when we don't know who or what causes the action.

My wallet was stolen last night.  (But we don't know who stole it.)

The ship was lost at sea.  (But we don't know why it happened.)

We use BY when we want to show who or what did or caused the action.

Thousands of people were injured by the bomb.  (The bomb caused the peoples' injuries.)

This play was written by Beckett.  (Beckett is the author of the play.)

PAST PARTICIPLES

To form the passive, use BE (is, was, have been, etc.) plus the PAST PARTICIPLE of the main verb (built, made, speak, etc.):

Present simple

am / are / is + PP

Yogurt is made from milk.

Present continuous

am / are / is being + PP

My dog is being trained.

Past simple

was / were + PP

I was asked to come.

Past continuous

was / were being + PP

He was being laughed at.

Present perfect

have / has been + PP

Have you been informed?

Past perfect

had been + PP

They knew it had been lost.

Future simple – WILL

will be + PP

You will be given a car.

– GOING TO

am / are / is going to be + PP

Who is going to be fired?

Future perfect

will have been + PP

It will have been finished by Thursday.

Note that some verbs do not have a passive form. Here are some common examples:

Want I want ice cream. NOT 'Ice cream is wanted by me.'

Like He likes jazz. NOT 'Jazz is liked by him.'

Die My flowers died. NOT 'My flowers are died'

Arrive Planes arrive all day. NOT 'Planes are arrived all day.'

Have We had a good party. NOT 'A good party was had by us.'