Active / Passive Voice Form
In an active sentence, the subject is before the predicate (verb and object).
e.g. Global warming, deforestation, and pollution destroy the earth’s natural resources.
(Subject) (Verb) (Object)
In a passive sentence, the subject of the sentence is placed after the verb in the object position.
e.g. The earth’s natural resources are destroyed by global warming, deforestation, and pollution.
(Object in subject position) (Verb) (Subject in object position)
The passive voice is formed using the verb “to be” + the past participle.
Examples of the VERB “TO BE”: am, is, are, was, were, been, being
Examples of the PAST PARTICIPLE: seen, gotten, lived, worked, bought, taught, loved, caught, ect..
Passive
She was being watched by the police.
The house is being taken care of by the neighbors.
A bomb was detonated in the hotel lobby.
The project will be completed before Saturday.
Active
The police were watching her.
The neighbors are taking care of the house.
Someone detonated a bomb in the hotel lobby.
Someone will complete the project before Saturday.
Sometimes the subject disappears completely in the passive voice:
Pride and Prejudice was written in 1813. (Writer of the book is absent)
Sometimes the subject remains, after the preposition “by”
Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen in 1813.
1. The students wrote a grammar test yesterday.
2. She has just received a letter from her cousin.
3. It was very warm last night.
4. He has already invited his friends to his birthday party .
5. I have just written a composition.
6. You told me about it three days ago!
7. Friends have just talked about their plans for the future.
1. I have a cat and my sister has a hamster. I must feed my cat and I have to take care of my sister’s hamster when she is too busy.
2. Cody has a puppy. The vet says she mustn't give the dog any chocolate. She mustn't take her dog for a walk four times a day, as the dog is too small.
3. I mustn't forget about my best friend’s birthday. I have to save some of my pocket money to buy her a gift.
4. Mum says we mustn't eat food in our room. If we do we will have to tidy it ourselves.
5. I know we must do our homework every day. We have to stay after classes today, as we didn’t do our homework yesterday.
6. She must babysit her little brother as her parents haven’t come home yet. She mustn't leave her child alone.
7. My mum have to work on Saturday now. I must take the rubbish out before she comes home.
1. Ты хочешь одолжить журнал. Could I borrow the journal?
2. Ты хочешь узнать который час. Could I ask you what's the time is it?
3. Ты хочешь, чтобы тебе с домашним заданием. Could you help me with homework?
4. Ты хочешь, чтобы в душной комнате открыли окно. Could you open the window?
5. Ты хочешь воспользоваться этим компьютером. Could I use this computer?
