Passive Voice in English Grammar

Study Notes

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action described by the verb.
The focus is on the person or thing affected by the action, rather than the person or thing performing the action.

The passive voice is formed using the auxiliary verb "be" (in the correct tense) + the past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
- Present Simple: The book is written by John. (Active: John writes the book.)
- Past Simple: The book was written by John. (Active: John wrote the book.)
- Future Simple: The book will be written by John. (Active: John will write the book.)

Identify the subject and object of the active sentence.
Swap the subject and object, and use the correct form of the auxiliary verb "be" and the past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
- Active: The teacher teaches the students. → Passive: The students are taught by the teacher.
- Active: The company will launch the new product. → Passive: The new product will be launched by the company.

To focus on the person or thing affected by the action.
To avoid mentioning the person or thing performing the action.
To make the sentence more formal or objective.
Examples:
- The new policy has been implemented. (Focus on the policy, rather than the person implementing it.)
- The play was written by an unknown author. (Avoid mentioning the author's name.)
- It is believed that the company will make a profit this year. (Formal or objective tone.)

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject receives the action described by the verb.
The focus is on the person or thing affected by the action, rather than the person or thing performing the action.

The passive voice is formed using the auxiliary verb "be" (in the correct tense) + the past participle of the main verb.
Present Simple: The book is written by John. (Active: John writes the book.)
Past Simple: The book was written by John. (Active: John wrote the book.)
Future Simple: The book will be written by John. (Active: John will write the book.)

Identify the subject and object of the active sentence.
Swap the subject and object, and use the correct form of the auxiliary verb "be" and the past participle of the main verb.
Active: The teacher teaches the students. → Passive: The students are taught by the teacher.
Active: The company will launch the new product. → Passive: The new product will be launched by the company.

To focus on the person or thing affected by the action.
To avoid mentioning the person or thing performing the action.
To make the sentence more formal or objective.
The new policy has been implemented. (Focus on the policy, rather than the person implementing it.)
The play was written by an unknown author. (Avoid mentioning the author's name.)
It is believed that the company will make a profit this year. (Formal or objective tone.)