In the active voice, the subject makes the action of the verb:

The student read the English book.

In the Passive voice, the subject of the sentence doesn’t make the action of the verb:

The English book is read by the student.

The passive voice is used when we don’t need to say who or what makes theaction.

It is more frequent in English than in Spanish.

It is more used in formal contexts than in informal contexts.

It is frequently used in public messages such as: «dogs are not allowed», «helpwanted».

Tense Active Passive

PRESENT SIMPLE Subject + verb[He reads the book]

Am/are/is + PP[The book is read]

PAST SIMPLE Subjetc + Verb[He read the book]

Was/were + PP[The book was read]

PRESENT PERFECT Subject + has/have + PP[He has read the book]

Has/have been + PP[The book has been read]

PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

Subject + had + PP[He had read the book]

Had been + PP[The book had been read]

FUTURE WITH WILL

Subject + will + verb[He will read the book]

Will + be + PP[The book will be read]

GOING TO FUTURE Subject + going to + verb[He is going to read the book]

Am/are/is + going to be + PP[The book is going to be read]

MODAL VERB Subject + modal + verb[He should read the book]

Modal + be + PP[The book should be read]

PP= Past participle

In the passive voice, the subject of the verb belongs to the objetc in the active voice:

The student reads the English book[Object]

The English book is read by the student[Subject]

«By» is used when we want/need to say who makes the action in the passivevoice

ACTIVE PASSIVE

My brother is going to paintthe house

The house is going to be painted (by my brother)

I will visit Seville next month Seville will be visited nextmonth (by me)

Someone stole my car My car was stolen (bysomeone)

My neighbour has cleant hiscar

The car has been cleant (bymy neighbour)

I should study Maths to pass Maths should be studied topass (by me)