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