To make a verb passive, we use the verb be conjugated in the same tense used in the active voice and change the main verb into the past participle.
These are the main patterns used:
Simple Tenses
{be} + {Past Participle}
active
Eric kisses Amanda.
passive
Amanda is kissed by Eric.
active
Eric kissed Amanda.
passive
Amanda was kissed by Eric.
Continuous Tenses
{be} + {being} + {past participle}
active
Eric is kissing Amanda.
passive
Amanda is being kissed by Eric.
active
Eric was kissing Amanda.
passive
Amanda was being kissed by Eric.
Perfect Tenses
{have} + {been} + {past participle}
active
Eric has kissed Amanda.
passive
Amanda has been kissed by Eric.
active
Eric had kissed Amanda.
passive
Amanda had been kissed by Eric.
When we use auxiliary verbs, we add them to the front of the structures above:
{modal/auxiliary/be going to} + {be} + {past participle}
Amanda could be kissed by Eric.
Amanda is going to be kissed by Eric.
{modal/auxiliary/be going to} + {be} + {being} + {past participle}
Amanda might be being kissed by Eric.
{modal/auxiliary/be going to} + {have} + been} + {past participle}
Amanda will have been kissed by Eric.
Amanda ought to have been kissed by Eric.
To make the passive Infinitives follow these patterns:
PRESENT
active
{to} + {infinitive}
Someone ought to help him.
passive
{to} + {be} + {past participle}
He ought to be helped.
PAST
active
{to} + {have} + {past participle}
Someone ought to have helped him.
passive
{to} + {have} + {been} + {past participle}
He ought to have been helped.
Sometimes you can use get instead of be to make the sentence a little more informal.
The phone box was vandalized last night.
The phone box got vandalized last night.
This is generally used in speech rather than writing.
N.B. Not all active verbs can be turned into passive. Verbs which cannot be followed by objects cannot be used in the passive voice. These types of verbs are called intransitive verbs.
Some intransitive verbs are: appear, arrive, come, cry, die, go, happen, occur, rain, sleep, stay, walk. These verbs cannot be used in the passive voice.
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