English Grammar: Past Simple Passive

Formation

• The past simple passive is formed using the verb "was" (singular) or "were" (plural) + past participle of the main verb.
• Example:
  • The window was broken. (singular)
  • The windows were broken. (plural)

Usage

• Used to describe an action that was performed on the subject in the past.
• Emphasizes the action's recipient rather than the performer.
• Often used to describe a completed or finished action in the past.

Examples

• The package was delivered yesterday.
• The new employee was trained by the HR department.
• The play was written by Shakespeare.

Contrast with Past Simple Active

• Past simple active: The dog bit the man. (focus on the doer)
• Past simple passive: The man was bitten by the dog. (focus on the receiver)

Common Sentence Structures

• By + agent: The letter was written by my sister.
• With + instrument: The cake was made with love.
• Without + agent/instrument: The door was opened without a key.

Practice Exercise

• Rewrite the following sentences from active to passive voice:
  1. The teacher graded the papers.
  2. The company will launch the new product.
  3. The storm destroyed the roof.

Formation of Past Simple Passive

• The past simple passive is formed using the verb "was" (singular) or "were" (plural) plus the past participle of the main verb.
• The subject of the sentence receives the action described by the verb.

Characteristics of Past Simple Passive

• Emphasizes the action's recipient rather than the performer.
• Often used to describe a completed or finished action in the past.
• Used to describe an action that was performed on the subject in the past.

Examples of Past Simple Passive

• The package was delivered yesterday.
• The new employee was trained by the HR department.
• The play was written by Shakespeare.

Contrast with Past Simple Active

• Past simple active focuses on the doer ( performer of the action).
• Past simple passive focuses on the receiver ( entity that receives the action).

Common Sentence Structures in Past Simple Passive

• By + agent: The letter was written by my sister.
• With + instrument: The cake was made with love.
• Without + agent/instrument: The door was opened without a key.

Practice Exercise

• Rewrite sentences from active to passive voice to change the focus from the doer to the receiver.
• Examples:
  • The teacher graded the papers → The papers were graded by the teacher.
  • The company will launch the new product → The new product will be launched by the company.
  • The storm destroyed the roof → The roof was destroyed by the storm.

Learn how to form and use the past simple passive tense to describe completed actions in the past, emphasizing the action's recipient.