Good morning ,
First of all, thanks for asking.
Second. (I want you to tell me).
Third. (Thanks for your help)
Answer:
The passive voice, just like Arabic passive voice, is used to express actions done by others rather than the speaker either in the present, the past or even the future.
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Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not
important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
- the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
- the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Examples of Passive
| Tense |
Subject |
Verb |
Object |
| Simple Present |
Active: |
Rita | writes | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | is written | by Rita. |
| Simple Past |
Active: |
Rita | wrote | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | was written | by Rita. |
| Present Perfect |
Active: |
Rita | has written | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | has been written | by Rita. |
| Future I |
Active: |
Rita | will write | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | will be written | by Rita. |
| Hilfsverben |
Active: |
Rita | can write | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | can be written | by Rita. |
Examples of Passive
| Tense |
Subject |
Verb |
Object |
| Present Progressive |
Active: |
Rita | is writing | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | is being written | by Rita. |
| Past Progressive |
Active: |
Rita | was writing | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | was being written | by Rita. |
| Past Perfect |
Active: |
Rita | had written | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | had been written | by Rita. |
| Future II |
Active: |
Rita | will have written | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | will have been written | by Rita. |
| Conditional I |
Active: |
Rita | would write | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | would be written | by Rita. |
| Conditional II |
Active: |
Rita | would have written | a letter. |
| Passive: |
A letter | would have been written | by Rita. |
See : (http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive)
or
http://alfalah.webnode.com (Grammar section)
