THE PASSIVE

When we do not know who did it, or we do not

want to tell

WHY DO WE USE THE PASSIVE?

We use the passive because we do not know who

performed the action. Ex: Mr Jones has been killed.

We use the passive because we do not want to say

who performed the action. Ex: The pizza was eaten

last night.

We also use it when we think what happened is

more important than who performed the action. Ex:

The treasure was found.

THE AGENT COMPLEMENT (MR. BY )

When we want to

mention the performer

of the action, we use the

agent complement at the

end of the sentence,

always introduced by the

preposition “by” Ex: My

brother was killed by his

wife.

HOW IS THE PASSIVE?

The form of the passive is:

• The verb to be in the

corresponding tense +

• The past participle of the

content/action verb.

Ex: is/are (present simple

of “to be”) used (past

participle)

FORM OF THE PASSIVE-1

PRESENT SIMPLE: is/are + past participle.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS: is/are being + past participle.

SIMPLE PAST: was/were + past participle.

PAST CONTINUOUS: was/were being + past participle.

PRESENT PERFECT: has been + past participle.

PAST PERFECT: had been+ past participle.

FUTURE: will be + past participle.

CONDITIONAL: would be + past participle.

FORM OF THE PASSIVE-2

PERFECT CONDITIONAL: would have been + past

participle.

PRESENT INFINITIVE: to be + past participle.

PERFECT INFINITIVE: to have been + past

participle.

PRESENT PARTICIPLE/GERUND: being + past

participle.

PERFECT PARTICIPLE: having been + past

participle.

EXAMPLES

Exercises are used to learn.

My brother is being rescued at this moment.

Mary was found yesterday.

The doctors were being asked at the same time.

The goal has been achieved.

The mystery had been solved before you arrived.

The answer will be known in ten years approximately.

He told me the mystery would be solved at the end of the class.

EXERCISES

From active to passive:

• Aprender inglés fácil

• Saber inglés

• Better English

Other exercises:

• Geneva Upper High School

• Tolearnenglish.com

Fin