passive voice simple present

Exercise on Passive Voice - Simple Present

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.

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. He opens the door. - 
2. We set the table. - 
3. She pays a lot of money. - 
4. I draw a picture. - 
5. They wear blue shoes. - 
6. They don't help you. - 
7. He doesn't open the book. - 
8. You do not write the letter. - 
9. Does your mum pick you up? - 
10. Does the police officer catch the thief? - 

More passive

Write passive sentences in Simple Present.

1. the documents / print 
2. the window / open 
3. the shoes / buy 
4. the car / wash 
5. the litter / throw away 
6. the letter / send 
7. the book / read / not 
8. the songs / sing / not 
9. the food / eat / not 
10. the shop / close / not