Passive Voice in English
Here’s a comprehensive overview of passive voice in English, including rules, structures, uses, and examples for each tense with different subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
Present Simple Passive:
Rule: Use the appropriate form of “to be” (am, is, are) + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/You/We/They: am/are/is + [past participle]
– He/She/It: is + [past participle]
Use: Describe actions that are done regularly or facts.
Examples:
– The report is written every month.
– English is spoken all over the world.
– The cake is baked by Mary.
Present Continuous Passive:
Rule: Use appropriate form of “to be” (am, is, are) + being + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/He/She/It: am/is + being + [past participle]
– You/We/They: are + being + [past participle]
Use: Describe ongoing actions happening now.
Examples:
– The house is being painted.
– A song is being played on the radio.
– The contract is being reviewed by the lawyer.
Present Perfect Passive:
Rule: Use have/has been + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/You/We/They: have been + [past participle]
– He/She/It: has been + [past participle]
Use: Indicate actions that started in the past and continue into the present.
Examples:
– The book has been read by many students.
– The project has been completed.
– The message has been delivered to the recipient.
Past Simple Passive:
Rule: Use [past tense of “to be”] + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/He/She/It: was + [past participle]
– You/We/They: were + [past participle]
Use: Describe completed actions in the past.
Examples:
– The letter was sent yesterday.
– The movie was watched by millions.
– The meal was cooked by a professional chef.
Past Continuous Passive:
Rule: Use [past tense of “to be”] + being + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/He/She/It: was + being + [past participle]
– You/We/They: were + being + [past participle]
Use: Describe ongoing actions in the past.
Examples:
– The song was being sung when I entered the room.
– The report was being reviewed when the boss arrived.
– A new bridge was being constructed last year.
Past Perfect Passive:
Rule: Use had been + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/You/He/She/It/We/They: had been + [past participle]
Use: Indicate actions that were completed before another action in the past.
Examples:
– By the time I arrived, the job had been done.
– The document had been signed before the meeting started.
– All the tickets had been sold by the time we reached the venue.
Future Simple Passive:
Rule: Use will be + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/He/She/It: will be + [past participle]
– You/We/They: will be + [past participle]
Use: Express actions that will happen in the future.
Examples:
– The prizes will be awarded next week.
– The event will be celebrated with a grand ceremony.
– A new policy will be implemented by the government.
Future Continuous Passive:
Rule: Use will be + being + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/He/She/It: will be + being + [past participle]
– You/We/They: will be + being + [past participle]
Use: Describe ongoing actions in the future.
Examples:
– The building will be being renovated next month.
– A new movie will be being filmed in the city.
– By this time next year, the project will be being completed.
Future Perfect Passive:
Rule: Use will have been + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/You/He/She/It/We/They: will have been + [past participle]
Use: Indicate actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Examples:
– The work will have been finished by the deadline.
– The report will have been submitted by the end of the day.
– The construction will have been completed by next summer.
Present Perfect Continuous Passive:
Rule: Use have/has been + being + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/You/We/They: have been + being + [past participle]
– He/She/It: has been + being + [past participle]
Use: Describe ongoing actions that started in the past and continue into the present.
Examples:
– The project has been being discussed for weeks.
– The issue has been being addressed by the team.
– The technology has been being upgraded regularly.
Past Perfect Continuous Passive:
Rule: Use had been + being + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/You/He/She/It/We/They: had been + being + [past participle]
Use: Describe the duration of an ongoing action completed before another action in the past.
Examples:
– By the time they arrived, the work had been being done for hours.
– The system had been being tested before it crashed.
– The research had been being conducted for months before the results were published.
Future Perfect Continuous Passive:
Rule: Use will have been + being + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/You/He/She/It/We/They: will have been + being + [past participle]
Use: Indicate the duration of an ongoing action that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Examples:
– By the end of the year, the project will have been being worked on for two years.
– The event will have been being planned for months before it takes place.
– The new policy will have been being discussed extensively by the time it is implemented.
Conditional Simple Passive:
Rule: Use would/should/could + be + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/He/She/It: would/should/could + be + [past participle]
– You/We/They: would/should/could + be + [past participle]
Use: Describe hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future.
Examples:
– If I won the lottery, a new house would be bought.
– The problem would be solved if more resources were available.
– A solution would be found if everyone contributed.
Conditional Continuous Passive:
Rule: Use would/should/could + have been + being + [past participle].
Structure:
– I/He/She/It: would/should/could + have been + being + [past participle]
– You/We/They: would/should/could + have been + being +