Passive Voice - Rules and examples - All tenses in 1 table!

Today we're going to have a look at PASSIVE VOICE. We use this construction when we don't know who performed a certain action or it is simply not important. Passive voice is also a great choice when you write essays, give instructions or write formal e-mails - in the 1st case you can show off with your fluency, in the 2nd and 3rd - whatever you write or say will sound more serious and worth attention :)

There are certain situations in which passive voice is not possible, but when it comes to the English language - you will be surprised how many sentences put in the passive voice are considered correct - even though in your native language they would be completely absurd!

Study these 2 examples:

1. People say that doctor Martin is the best in town. - This is a normal, natural sentence.

Now, let's put it in the passive voice:

2. Doctor Martin is said to be the best in town. - Sounds ridiculous when you translate it into your mother tongue, doesn't it? Well, in English it is a perfectly logical sentence. We use it to avoid an impersonal they or people.

Other verbs can also be reported in this way, for example: believe, understand, know, think, etc.

Example: People know that he is the best. / He is known to be the best.

*REMEMBER that some transitive verbs cannot be made passive in some uses. For example like and love.

Example: I like this city. (a passive form of this sentence is not possible)

But for the less advanced students, there is a table with easier examples :)

For the printable version, click HERE.


TENSE

ACTIVE

PASSIVE
PRESENT
SIMPLE
She cleans the house every day.
The house is cleaned by her.
PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
She is cleaning the house now.
The house is being cleaned now.
PAST SIMPLE
She cleaned the house yesterday.
The house was cleaned yesterday.
PAST
CONTINUOUS
She was cleaning the house at 7p.m yesterday.
The house was being cleaned at 7p.m yesterday.
PRESENT
PERFECT
She has cleaned the house today.
The house has been cleaned today.
PAST
PERFECT
She had cleaned the house before I came back.
The house had been cleaned before I came back.
FUTURE
SIMPLE
She will clean the house tomorrow.
The house will be cleaned tomorrow.
FUTURE
PERFECT
She will have cleaned the house by 2p.m tomorrow.
The house will have been cleaned by 2p.m tomorrow.
CONDITIONAL 1
If she cleans the house, I will be happy.
If the house is cleaned, I will be happy.
CONDITIONAL 2
If she cleaned the house, I would be happy.
If the house was cleaned, I would be happy.
CONDITIONAL 3
If she had cleaned the house, I would have been happy.
If the house had been cleaned, I would have been happy.
MODALS (CAN; MUST; SHOULD ETC.)
She must clean the house tomorrow.
The house must be cleaned tomorrow.
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