Passive in English

1. Passive – Use

We only use the passive when we are interested in the object or when we do not know who caused the action.

Example: Appointments are required in such cases.

2. Passive – Form

to be + past participle

How to form a passive sentence when an active sentence is given:

·         object of the active sentence becomes subject in the passive sentence

·         subject of the active sentence becomes object in the passive sentence (or is left out)

We can only form a passive sentence from an active sentence when there is an object in the active sentence.

Type of sentence	Subject	Verb	Object
Active sentence:	Peter	builds	a house.
Passive sentence:	A house	is built	by Peter.

3. Examples

3.1. Simple Present

Type of sentence	Subject	Verb	Object
Active sentence:	Peter	builds	a house.
Passive sentence:	A house	is built	by Peter.

3.2. Simple Past

Type of sentence	Subject	Verb	Object
Active sentence:	Peter	built	a house.
Passive sentence:	A house	was built	by Peter.

3.3. Present Perfect

Type of sentence	Subject	Verb	Object
Active sentence:	Peter	has built	a house.
Passive sentence:	A house	has been built	by Peter.

3.4. will-future

Type of sentence	Subject	Verb	Object
Active sentence:	Peter	will build	a house.
Passive sentence:	A house	will be built	by Peter.

3.5. Modals

Type of sentence	Subject	Verb	Object
Active sentence:	Peter	can build	a house.
Passive sentence:	A house	can be built	by Peter.