Active and Passive Voice (Notes)

A The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active
verb and adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes the ‘agent’
of the passive verb. The agent is very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by
and placed at the end of the clause: The tree was planted by my grandfather.

B Examples of present, past and past perfect passive tenses:

We keep the butter here The butter is kept here

They broke the window The window was broken
People have seen wolves in the streets Wolves have been seen in the streets

C The passive of continuous tenses requires the present continuous forms of to be which are not
otherwise much used:

They are repairing the bridge The bridge is being repaired

They were carrying the injured player off the field The injured player was being carried off the field

D Auxiliary + infinitive combinations are made passive by using a passive infinitive:

You must/should shut these doors These doors must/should be shut

They should/ought to have told him (perfect He should/ought to have been told (passive
infinitive active) infinitive)

E Other infinitive combinations: Verbs of liking/loving/wanting/wishing etc + object + infinitive form

their passive with the passive infinitive:

He wants someone to take photographs He wants photographs to be taken

With verbs of command/request/advice/invitation + indirect object + infinitive we form the passive by

using passive form of the main verb. He invited me to go = I was invited to go. But with
advise/beg/order/recommend/urge + indirect object + infinitive + object we can form passive in two
ways: by making the verb passive as above or by advise, etc + that…. Should + passive infinitive. He
urged the council to reduce the rates = The council was/were urged to reduce the rates OR he urged
that the rates should be reduced. Agree/be anxious/arrange/be
determined/determine/decide/demand + infinitive + object are usually expressed in the passive by
that… should. He decided to sell the house = He decided that the house should be sold.

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

F Gerund combinations: Advise/insist/propose/recommend/suggest + gerund + object are usually
expressed by in the passive by that… should, as above: He recommended using bullet proof glass = He
recommended that bullet proof glass should be used.

It/they + need + gerund can also be expressed by it/they + need + passive infinitive. Both forms are
passive in meaning. Other gerund combinations are expressed in the passive by the passive gerund. I
remember them taking me to the Zoo = I remember being taken to the Zoo.

- In colloquial speech get is sometimes used instead of be: The eggs got (were) broken. You will
get (be) sacked if you take any more time off.
- Note that in theory a sentence containing a direct and an indirect object such as someone gave
her a bulldog, could have two passive forms: She was given a bulldog OR A bulldog was given
to her. The first of these is much the more usual so the indirect object becomes the subject of
the passive verb.
- Questions about the subject of a passive verb are also expressed by an affirmative: Something
was done = What was done? OR One of them was sold = Which of them was sold?
Interrogative verbs in active questions about the object become affirmative verbs in passive
questions: What did they steal?(interrogative) = What was stolen?(affirmative) Conversely,
affirmative verbs in active questions become interrogative verbs in the passive questions: Who
painted it?(affirmative) = Who was it painted by?(interrogative). Other types of question
require interrogative verbs in both active and passive: When/where/why did he paint it? =
When/where/why was it painted?

Uses of Passive: (the passive is used when)

(a) When it is not necessary to mention the doer of the action as it is obvious who he is/was/will be:
The rubbish hasn’t been collected. The streets are swept every day. Your hand will be X-rayed.
(b) When we don’t know or don’t know exactly, or have forgotten who did the action: The minister
was murdered. My car has been moved. I have been told that…
(c) When the subject of the verb would be people: He is suspected of receiving stolen goods.
(people suspect him of). They are suspected to be living in new York. (people suppose that they
are)
(d) When the subject of the active sentence is indefinite pronoun One: one sees this sort of
advertisement everywhere would be expressed: This sort of advertisement is seen everywhere.
In colloquial speech we can use the indefinite pronoun you and an active verb: You see this sort
of advertisement everywhere. But more formal English requires one + active verb.
(e) When we are more interested in the action than in the person who does it: The house next door
has been bought (by a Mr. Jones) Mr jones has bought the house next door. Similarly: A new
public library is being built (by our local council). In more formal English: They are building a
new public library. While a member of the council will of course say: We are/The council is
building….
(f) The passive may be used to avoid an awkward and ungrammatical sentence. When he arrived
home a detective arrested him = when he arrived home he was arrested (by a detective). When

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

 their mother was ill neighbors looked after the children = when their mother was ill the children
were looked after by neighbors.
(g) The passive is sometimes preferred for psychological reasons. A speaker may use it to disclaim
responsibility for disagreeable announcements: Employer: Overtime rates are being
reduced/will have been reduced. The active for agreeable announcements will be: I am/we are
going to increase overtime rates. The speaker may know who performed the action but wish to
avoid giving the name. Tom, who suspects Bill of opening his letters may say tactfully: This letter
has been opened! Instead of You have opened the letter!.

Prepositions with passive verbs:

(a) As already noted, the agent, when mentioned, is preceded by by: Dufy painted this picture = this
picture was painted by Dufy. What makes these holes? = what are these holes made by? Note,
however, that the passive form of such sentences will be: Smoke filled the room = the room
was filled with smoke. Paint covered the lock = The lock was covered with paint. We are
dealing here with materials not the agents.
(b) When a verb + preposition + object combination is put into the passive, the preposition will
remain immediately after the verb. We must write to him = He must be written to. You can play
with these cubs quite safely = these cubs can be played with quite safely. Similarly, with verb +
preposition/adverb combination: They threw away the old newspapers = The old newspapers
were thrown away. He looked after the children well = The children were well looked after.

Infinitive constructions after passive verbs:

(a) After acknowledge, assume, believe, claim, consider, estimate, feel, find, know, presume,
report, say, think, understand, etc. sentences of the type people consider/know/think etc. that
he is…. Have two passive forms: It is considered/thought/known that he is… = He is
considered/thought/known to be… Similarly, people said that he was jealous of her = it was
said that he was/He was said to be jealous of her. The infinitive construction is the neater of the
two. It is chiefly used with to be though other infinitives can sometimes be used: He is thought
to have information which will be useful to police. When the thought concerns the previous
action we use the perfect infinitive so that: People believed that he was = it was believed that he
was OR He was believed to be. People know that he was = It is known that he was OR He is
known to have been.

After suppose:
(1) Suppose in the passive can be followed by the present infinitive of any verb but this
construction usually conveys an idea of duty and is not there for the normal equivalent of
suppose in active: You are supposed to know how to drive = It is your duty to know/you should
know how to drive. He is supposed to be in Paris could mean either ‘He ought to be there’ or
‘people suppose he is there.

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

 (2) Suppose in the passive can similarly be followed by the perfect infinitive of any verb. This
construction may convey an idea of duty but very often does not: You are supposed to have
finished = You should have finished But He is supposed to have escaped = people suppose that
he escaped.
(3) Infinitives placed passive verbs are normally full infinitives: We saw them go out = they were
seen to go out. He made us work = we were made to work. Let, however is used without to:
They let us go = We were let go.
(4) The continuous infinitive can be used after the passive of believe, know, report, say, suppose,
think, understand: He is believed/known/said/supposed/thought to be living abroad = people
believe/know/say/suppose/think that he is living abroad. You are supposed to be working = You
should be working.

The perfect form of the continuous infinitive is also possible: He is believed to have been waiting for a
message = People believed that he was waiting for a message. You are supposed to have been working =
You should have been working.

Note: The following tenses cannot be changed into passive voice.

1. Present perfect continuous tense

2. Past perfect continuous tense
3. Future continuous tense
4. Future perfect continuous tense
5. Sentence having Intransitive verbs

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE TENSES CHART

SIMPLE PRESENT and SIMPLE PAST

The active object becomes the passive subject.
am/is/are +  past participle
was/were + past participle
Active: Simple Present Passive: Simple Present
The movie fascinates me. I am fascinated by the movie.
The movie bores Jack. Jack is bored by the movie.
The movie surprises them. They are surprised by the movie.
Active: Simple Past Passive: Simple Past
The movie bored me. I was bored by the movie.
The movie fascinated Jack. Jack was fascinated by the movie.
The movie surprised them. They were surprisedby the movie.

PRESENT and PAST CONTINUOUS (PROGRESSIVE)

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 Passive form: 
am/is/are + being + past participle
was/were + being + past participle
 Passive: Present Continuous
Active: Present Continuous
Shannon is being helped by me.
I am helping Shannon.
Su and Ling are being helped by
June is helping Su and Ling.
June.
Passive: Past Continuous
Active: Past Continuous The bathroom was being cleaned by
I was cleaning the bathroom. me.
They were cleaning the bedroom. The bedroom  was being cleaned by
Susan was cleaning the kitchen and them.
patio. The kitchen and patio were being
cleaned by Susan.

PRESENT PERFECT, PAST PERFECT and FUTURE PERFECT

Passive form: 
have/has been + past participle
had been + past participle
Active: Present Perfect Passive: Present Perfect
I have mailed the gift. The gift has been mailed by me.
Jack has mailed the gifts. The gifts have been mailed by Jack.
Active: Past Perfect Passive: Past Perfect
Steven Spielberg had directed the The movie had been directed by
movie. Steven Spielberg.
Penny Marshall had directed those The movies had been directed by
movies. Penny Marshall.
Active: Future Perfect Passive: Future Perfect
John will have finished the project The project will have been finished
next month. by next month.
They will have finished the projects The projects will have been finished
before then. before then.

FUTURE TENSES

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 Passive forms: will + be + past participle
is/are going to be + past participle
Active: Future with WILL Passive: Future with WILL
I will mail the gift. The gift will be mailed by me.
Jack will mail the gifts. The gifts will be mailed by Jack.
Passive: Future with GOING TO
Active: Future with GOING TO
The cake is going to be made by me.
I am going to make the cake.
Two cakes are going to be made by
Sue is going to make two cakes.
Sue.

PRESENT / FUTURE MODALS

The passive form follows this pattern:
modal + be + past participle
Passive: WILL / WON'T (WILL
Active: WILL / WON'T (WILL NOT)
NOT) Tom will be invited to the party by
Sharon will invite Tom to the party. Sharon.
Sharon won't invite Jeff to the party. Jeff won't be invited to the party by
(Sharon will not invite Jeff to the Sharon.
party.) (Jeff will not be invited to the party
by Sharon.)
Passive: CAN / CAN'T (CAN
Active: CAN / CAN'T (CAN NOT) NOT)
The future can be foretold by Mai.
Mai can foretell the future. The future can't be foretold by Terry.
Terry can't foretell the future.
(Terry can not foretell the future.) (The future can not be foretold by
Terry.)
Active: MAY / MAY NOT Passive: MAY / MAY NOT
Her company may give Katya a new Katya may be given a new office by
office. her company.
The lazy students may not do the The homework may not be done by
homework. the lazy students.
MIGHT / MIGHT NOT MIGHT / MIGHT NOT
Her company might give Katya a Katya might be given a new office
new office. by her company.
The lazy students might not do the The homework might not be done by

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homework. the lazy students.
Passive: SHOULD / SHOULDN'T
Active: SHOULD / SHOULDN'T
English verbs should be memorized 
Students should memorize English
by students.
verbs.
Cigarettes shouldn't be smoked  by
Children shouldn't smoke cigarettes.
children.
Active: OUGHT TO Passive: OUGHT TO
Students ought to learn English English verbs ought to be memorized
verbs. by students.
(negative ought to is rarely used)
Active: HAD BETTER / HAD Passive: HAD BETTER / HAD
BETTER NOT BETTER NOT
Students had better practice English English had better be practiced every
every day. day by students.
Children had better not drink Whiskey had better not be drunk by
whiskey. children.
Passive: MUST / MUST NOT
Active: MUST / MUST NOT
A passport to travel abroad must be
Tourists must apply for a passport to
applied for.
travel abroad.
That door must not be used by
Customers must not use that door.
customers.
Active: HAS TO / HAVE TO Passive: HAS TO / HAVE TO
She has to practice English every English has to be practiced every
day. day.
Sara and Miho have to wash the The dishes have to be washed by
dishes every day. them every day.
DOESN'T HAVE TO/ DON'T DOESN'T HAVE TO/ DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE TO
Maria doesn't have to clean her Her bedroom doesn't have to be
bedroom every day. cleaned every day.
The children don't have to clean their Their bedrooms don't have to be
bedrooms every day. cleaned every day.
Active: BE SUPPOSED TO Passive: BE SUPPOSED TO
I am supposed to type the The composition is supposed to be
composition. typed by me.
I am not supposed to copy the stories The stories in the book are not
in the book. supposed to be copied.
Janet is supposed to clean the living The living room is supposed to be
room. cleaned by Janet.
She isn't supposed to eat candy and Candy and gum aren't supposed to be
gum. eaten by her.
They are supposed to make dinner Dinner for the family is supposed to

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

for the family. be made by them.
They aren't supposed to make Dessert isn't supposed to be made by
dessert. them.

PAST MODALS
The past passive form follows this pattern:
modal + have been + past participle
Active: SHOULD HAVE / Passive: SHOULD HAVE /
SHOULDN'T HAVE SHOULDN'T HAVE
The students should have learned The verbs should have been
the verbs. learned by the students.
The children shouldn't have broken The window shouldn't have been
the window. broken by the children.
Active: OUGHT TO Passive: OUGHT TO
Students ought to have learned the The verbs ought to have been
verbs. learned by the students.
(negative ought to is rarely used)
Active: BE SUPPOSED TO (past Passive: BE SUPPOSED TO
time) (past time)
I was supposed to type the The composition was supposed to
composition. be typed  by me.
I wasn't supposed to copy the story The story in the book wasn't
in the book. supposed to be copied.
Janet was supposed to clean the The living room was supposed to
living room. be cleaned by Janet.
She wasn't supposed to eat candy Candy and gum weren't supposed
and gum. to be eaten by her.
Frank and Jane were supposed to Dinner was supposed to be made
make dinner. by them.
They weren't supposed to make Dessert wasn't supposed to be
dessert. made by them.
Active: MAY / MAY NOT Passive: MAY / MAY NOT
That firm may have offered Katya a Katya may have been offered a
new job. new job by that firm.
The students may not have written The paper may not have been
the paper. written by the students.
MIGHT / MIGHT NOT MIGHT / MIGHT NOT
That firm might have offered Katya Katya might have been offered a

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

 a new job. new job by that firm.
The students might not have written The paper might not have been
the paper. written by the students

Imperative Sentences
Order:
Do it Let it be done/ you are ordered to do it
Hand me that pen You are commanded to hand me that pen
Open the door Let the door be opened/you are ordered to open
the door
Talk to me! You are commanded to talk to me
Sweep the floor You are ordered to sweep the floor

Request:
Please help me You are requested to help me
Don’t disturb me please You are requested not to disturb me
Please sit near to me You are requested to sit near to me
Forgive me this time You are requested to forgive me this time
Save the poor people It is requested to save people

Advice:
Use vegetables for better health You are advised to use vegetables for better health
Serve your father You are advised to serve your father
Respect your parents Let your parents be respected
Take medicine regularly You are consulted to take medicine regularly
Have pleasing ways You are directed to have pleasing ways

Prohibition:
Don’t break the glass You are prohibited to break the glass OR you are
forbidden to break the glass/let the glass not be
broken by you
Don’t peep inside the door You are forbidden to peep inside the door
Never come in You are prohibited to come in
Never knock at the door again! You are warned not to knock at the door again

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Don’t write! You are prohibited to write

Permission:
Let him play cricket Let cricket be played by them
You can come anytime You are allowed to come anytime
Let him say something Let something be said by him
Let him sit beside me He is allowed to sit beside me

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720