Learning outcomes
- convert active to passive correctly
- keep tense unchanged during voice conversion
- identify when passive voice is preferable
Passive structure
General form:object + be (correct tense) + past participle (+ by + agent optional)
- Active: “The team won the match.”
- Passive: “The match was won (by the team).”
Tense mapping quick table
- Present simple:
is/am/are + V3 - Past simple:
was/were + V3 - Present perfect:
has/have been + V3 - Future simple:
will be + V3
Why use passive?
- agent unknown
- agent not important
- formal/academic style focus on process/result
Exam hints and traps
- Keep original tense meaning.
- Use correct participle form (
written,taken,done). - Intransitive verbs usually cannot form standard passive.
Quick practice
Convert to passive:- “They clean the room daily.”
- “She has completed the report.”
- “The police arrested the thief.”
- “The room is cleaned daily.”
- “The report has been completed.”
- “The thief was arrested (by the police).”