Passive voice (1)

The PASSIVE VOICE places more emphasis on who or what receives the action than who or what does the action. So you will be taught how to use it today.

Below are some examples of active and passive sentences in the present simple and the past simple. 

Remember, the passive voice is formed using the verb ‘be’ in the appropriate tense and the past participle of the main verb.

Active: People speak Hebrew in Israel. 

Passive: Hebrew is spoken in Israel. 

Active: The secretary served some coffee at the meeting today. 

Passive: Some coffee was served at the meeting today. 

Active: People eat a special ham at Christmas. 

Passive: A special ham is eaten at Christmas. 

Here are some more examples of passive sentences in different tenses.

Present Continuous

The problem is being handled by the customer service team.

My car is being fixed.

Lunch is being served in the canteen. 

Past Simple

Our suggestions were implemented.

The assignment was sent out to the freelancers.

Linda was given a promotion.

Present Perfect

A meeting has been arranged for next Wednesday.

Houses have been built on the land we used to play on.

The project has finally been completed.

Past Continuous

A dog was being chased by a large cat.

A man was being held hostage while the police negotiated.

Dinner was being served when the plane hit turbulence.

Past perfect

He had been warned about his behavior before.

She was angry because she had just been fired from the job she loved.

They had been touted as the next big thing but they never made it.

Future

The project will be finished by noon.

A speech will be given on time management.

How to use the new product will be demonstrated by an expert.