PASSIVE VOICE

(DIATEZA PASIVĂ)

Passive: to be (at the required tense) + Verb III (past participle)

Work on the model:

1) Present Simple: am/is/are+Verb III
e.g. They clean the office twice a week. – The office is cleaned twice a week (by
them).
They don’t accept secrets. – Secrets are not accepted (by them).
Where do you keep the sugar? – Where is the sugar kept (by you)?
a) Many people speak English. ………………………………………………..
b) Do they produce oil in Spain? ………………………………………………..
c) They make bread in this factory. ………………………………………………..

2) Present Continuous: am/is/are+being+Verb III

e.g. They are cleaning the office now. – The office is being cleaned now.
a) The author is writing a new book. ………………………………………………..
b) She is watering the plants in the garden. …………………………………………
c) Someone is using the computer. ………………………………………………..

3) Present Perfect Simple:have/has+been+ Verb III

They have cleaned the office this morning. – The office has been cleaned this
morning (by them).
a) The mechanic has repaired the car. ………………………………………………
a) The chef hasn’t made dinner. ………………………………………………..
b) The police officer has interrogated the suspects. ………………………………..

4) Past Simple: was/were+ Verb III

They cleaned the office yesterday. – The office was cleaned yesterday (by them).
She didn’t send the email. – The email wasn’t sent by her.
Where did you find this letter? – Where was this letter found (by you)?
a) A bomb killed the soldier. ………………………………………………..
b) Did they find the ring in the garden? ……………………………………………
c) John didn’t break the window. ………………………………………………..

5) Past Continuous: was/were+being+ Verb III

She was cleaning the office when the boss arrived. – The office was being cleaned
when the boss arrived.
a) Someone was following Jane. ………………………………………………..
b) The farmer was planting the trees. ………………………………………………..
c) Mum was cleaning the windows. ………………………………………………..

6) Past Perfect Simple: had+been+ Verb III

She had already cleaned the office when I called. – The office had already been
cleaned when I called.
a) They had buit the road by 2005. ………………………………………………..
b) Mum had already cooked dinner. ………………………………………………..
c) We had decorated the room by 5p.m. ……………………………………………

7) Future Simple: will+be+ Verb III

She will clean the office tomorrow. – The office will be cleaned tomorrow (by her).
a) Jack will send the invitations soon. ………………………………………………
b) They will give her a nice present. ………………………………………………..
c) Mary will post the letters. ………………………………………………..

8) Modal verbs: can/can’t/ must/may/might/should + be+ Verb III

She can clean the office. – The office can be cleaned by her.
He must do this exercise. – This exercise must be done by him.
a) You must take the dog for a walk. ………………………………………………..
b) We should eat this cake immediately. ……………………………………………
c) You can use the dictionary. ……………………………………………….…

Remember!
 We form questions in passive voice by putting the verb ’’to be’’before the
subject.
Is your car being repaired?
 We form negations with the word ’not’
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