passive voice

passive voice

1. Active:

   • the cat (S) ate (V) the rat (OBJECT)

2. Passive:

   • The rat (S) was eating (V) by the cat (AGENT)

3. After the modal verb:

   • Will, can, must, may...
   • BE + PAST PARTICIPLE.
   • E.g: ACTIVE: You can use the machine for cutting bread. PASSIVE: The machine can be used or cutting.

4. With verbs taking two objects it is more usual to being the passive sentence used for person

   • ACTIVE: I (S) sent (V) her (O) some roses (O)
   • PASSIVE: some roses (S) were sent (O) by me (AGENT)

5. Changes:

   • Present simple:
     • He delivered letters= Letters are delivered
   • Future simple:
     • he will deliver the letters = the letters will be delivered
   • Past perfect:
     • he had delivered the letters = the letters had been delivered
   • Present continous:
     • he is delivering the letters = the letters are being delivered
   • Past simple:
     • He delivered leters = the letters were delivered
   • Past continous:
     • he was delivering = the letter were being delivered
   • infinitives:
     • he has to deliver the letters = the letters have to be delivered
   • Present perfect:
     • he has delivered the letters = the letters have been delivered
   • modal:
     • he must deliver the letters = the letters must be delivered