Active x Passive

First of all, let's talk about the difference between Active and Passive Voice:

Active voice = the subject is acting, doing something

Passive vocie = the subject is “receiving” an action; someone or something does something to the subject

example:

Journalists write articles. - Active voice

“Journalists” is the subject here; Who writes? Journalists.

“articles” is the object here – What do journalist write? Artciles.

So when turning Active Voice into Passive – the subject and the object change places.

Articles are written by journalists. - Passive Voice

“Articles” is the subject here. What is written? Articles.

“Journalists” is the object here. By whom are they written? By Journalists.

(1) FORM:

1.1

We form the passive using the Object (I, you , he, somebody or something etc) + form of the verb “BE” (depending on the tense) + past participle. That is, we just change the form of the verb 'be' according to the tense and we add the past participle.

Notice how the verb 'be' changes in the different tenses followed by the past participle:

PRESENT:

He does the job. - Active, Present Simple

The job is done by him. - Passive, Present Simple

The jury is making a decision. - Active, Present Progressive

A decision is being made by the jury. - Passive, Present Progressive

My father has painted this picture. - Active, Present Perfect

This picture has been painted by my father. - Passive, Present Perfect.

PAST:

He did the job. - Active, Past Simple

The job was done by him. - Passive, Past Simple

The jury was making a decision. - Active, Past Progressive

A decision was being made by the jury. - Passive, Past Progressive

My father had painted this picture. - Active, Past Perfect

This picture had been painted by my father. - Passive, Past Perfect.

FUTURE:

He will do the job. - Active, Future Simple

The job will be done by him. - Passive, Future Simple

My father will have painted this picture. - Active, Future Perfect

This picture will have been painted by my father. - Passive, Future Perfect.

 

NOTE:

You cannot construct passive sentences in the Present Perfect Progressive, Future Progressive and Past Perfect Progressive:

The contract had been being revised.

1.2

SPECIAL FORMS:

Just like we change the verb 'to be' according to the tense, it can also take all the other possible verb forms:

INFINITIVE – 'to do something' is changed to 'something to be done'

You are to refuse the deal. - The deal is to be refused.

You have to refuse the deal. - The deal has to be refused.

PRESENT PARTICIPLE – 'doing something' is changed to 'being done'

He likes others challenging him. - He likes being challenged by others.

PERFECT -ING FORM – 'having done something' is changed to 'something having been done'

Having addressed the issue, they went on with the schedule for the meeting. - The issue having been addressed, they went on with the schedule for the meeting.

MODALS + be + past participle – 'should not have done something' is changed to 'should not have been done'

I'm sorry, we should not have left you alone. - I'm sorry, you should not have been left alone.
(2) USAGE:

The Passive Voice is often used in formal or scientific texts. We use it in formal talks, essays etc to make our speech more official or sophisticated.

We use the passive to construct sentences in which

2. 1

(a) the agent (the person or thing performing an action) is known, unimportant or obvious.)The candidate's resume was examined, and he was called in for an interview.(It is obvious that a prospective employer performed this action.)All customer complaints must be dealt with immediately.(It doesn't matter who deals with them as long as they are dealt with.)
(b) the agent must not be mentioned (often to avoid being impolite, or to avoid mentioning who is responsible for the action). Perhaps the report should be studied in more detail. (more polite than saying 'you should study the report in more detail') These invoices should have been sent yesterday. (avoids mentioning who should have sent them.)

2.2

Although the passive allows us to omit the agent, sometimes we construct a passive sentence because we want to use a more formal style and not for any of the reason stated above. In such cases, we might want to mention the agent. This is mostly done by using the word by.

The machinery was serviced by a team of experienced technicians.

2.3.

When the agent is not a person or thing that acts, but rather a means through which something is done, we use the word with.

The door was opened with a crowbar.

2.4.

In relative clauses, the relative pronoun and 'BE' can be omitted.

Candidates who are selected for a second interview will be tested on their writing skills.

Candidates selected for a second interview will be tested on their writing skills.

The Agreement, which is signed by both parties, is not to be broken.

The Agreement, signed by both parties, is not to be broken.

2.5.

Adverbs in passive sentences are usually inserted between the “BE” and the Past Participle.

They were heavily penalized.