A thief stole my bag.

What’s the difference between..?

My bag was stolen.

A thief stole my bag.

My bag was stolen.

Most English sentences are active (they start with the doer of the action) not passive (they start with the receiver of the action).

Passive voice

•Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.•When it is not so important

who did the action•When the one who did the

action is unknown.

Example: My bike was stolen.

• In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

To change from active to passive voice follow these rules:

1- The object becomes subject.

2- Use verb to be in the tense of the active verb.

3- Use the past participle.

4- The subject becomes object and use (by) before it.

Subject Object

Active The servant cleans the room

Passive The room is cleaned by the servant.

AgentSubject

.

STRUCTURE

Subject + v. to be (in the tense of the active verb) + Past Participle

Example: A letter was written.

VERB TO BE

-

Verb to be in different tenses

Verb to be in the passive

Present simple (am-is- are) am-is-are +past participle

Past simple (was- were) Was- were +past participle

Present perfect (has been- have been)

Has been – have been + past participle

Past perfect (had been) had been + past participle

Will + beCan + be

Will + be + past participleCan + be + past participle

Examples

• Simple present: A letter is written by Rita.

• Simple past: A letter was written by Rita.

• Present perfect: A letter has been written by Rita.

• Past perfect: A letter had been written by Rita.

• Future (or modal verbs) : A letter will be written by Rita.

Example of Present Simple:

Active: Tom cleans the house.

Passive: The house is cleaned by Tom.

Example of Past Simple:

Active: Sam repaired the car.

Passive: The car was repaired by Sam.

Example of Present Perfect:

Active: Many tourists have visited that castle.

Passive: That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Example of Future (Will):

Active: Tonight, John will wash the dishes.

Passive: Tonight, the dishes will be washed by John.

Example with can:

Active: Bill can water the flowers.

Passive:The flowers can be watered by Bill.

1. Active: Anne writes a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by Anne.

2. Active: Anne wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Anne.

Examples:

3. Active: Anne has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Anne.

4. Active: Anne will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Anne.

LET’S TRY!!

•1) Julia rescued three cats._____________________

• 2) Alex learned the poem.

______________________

• 3)Steven has forgotten the book______________________

• 4) They sang a new song.____________________

• 5) The girls had lost the match.______________________

• 6) The teacher will open the window._______________________

The End