The passive voice

The passive voice

www.sites.google.com/site/neworks2030 

1)      Use of the passive voice: a)      We use the passive voice when we want to focus on the action rather than who is doing the action. e.g: Three apples are eaten by Ahmed b)      The passive voice is used when what or who causes the action is unknown or unimportant e.g: Three apples are eaten     2)      Active tenses and their passive equivalents: Tenses Active form Passive form Simple present Jane  writes a letter/ letters S A letter is written P  letters are written Present continuous Jane is writing a letter/ letters S A letter is being written P  letters are being written Simple past Jane wrote a letter / letters S A letter was written P Letters were written Past continuous Jane was writing a letter / letters S A letter was being written P Letters were being written Present  perfect simple Jane has written a letter/ letters S A letter has been written P Letters have been written Past perfect simple Jane had written a letter / letters S A letter had been written P Letters had been written future Jane will write a letter/ letters S A letter will be written P Letters will be written 3)      With modals (must, may, should, would, could, might…….) the passive is formed in this way: Modal+ be + the past participle of the verb e.g:  you must pay the bill       the bill must be paid you should respect your teacher    your teacher should be respected 4)      With verbs such as “say, think, believe, assume, show, consider, expect, require….” The passive is formed in two ways : e.g: people say that mobile phones are harmful to children’s health - It is said/ believed/ thought that mobile phones are harmful to children’s health. - Mobile phones are said/ believed/ thought to be harmful to children’s health. EXERCISES