Past participleactive & passive voice

What is it?

A 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.

How is it used?

It can be used to form a verb phrase as part of the present

perfect tense. For example:- I have learnt English.

It can be used to form the passive voice. For example:- Her

hair was well brushed.

It can also be used as an adjective. For example:- He had a

broken arm.

Active & Passive voice?

‘VOICE’ shows whether the

subject of a sentence is doing

the action, or having the

action done to it.

Active Voice

I cleaned the office while you were out.

Piers switched on the Christmas lights.

If the subject is the person performing the

action, we use the active voice.

Passive Voice

T

he office was cleaned while you were out.

T

he lights were switched on.

W

hen we are NOT bothered about who or what

carried out the action of the verb, we use the

passive voice.