The Passive Voice

Vocabulary flashcards covering the formation and examples of the Passive Voice in Simple Present and Simple Past.

Passive Voice (General Rule)

Formed using the form of be + 3rd form.

Simple Present Passive (Rule)

am/is/are + 3 form

Simple Past Passive (Rule)

was/were + 3 form

I wash my car every Saturday (Passive)

my car is washed every Saturday

They celebrate many festivals (Simple Present Passive)

Many festivals are celebrated

I washed my car last week (Passive)

My car was washed last week

They celebrated many festivals (Simple Past Passive)

Many festivals were celebrated

by-agent

The phrase introduced by 'by' in a passive sentence identifying who performed the action (e.g., 'by my husband' or 'by the people in New Orleans').

My husband washed my car (Passive conversion)

My car is washed by my husband

People in new Orleans celebrate festivals (Passive conversion)

Festivals are celebrated by the people in New Orleans