The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or thing experiencing an action rather than the person or object performing that action. In other words, it is not the thing or person that is important in the conversation, but rather the subject of the sentence.
The passive voice in the continuous tenses
The continuous tense shows an action that is, was, or will be in progress at a certain time. The continuous tense is formed with the verb ‘be’ + -ing form of the verb.
1- The passive voice in the past continuous tense
The past continuous expresses an incomplete action in the past. The formation is "was or were + being + past participle", examples:
- The book was being read by the boy.
- Flowers were being grown in this garden.
- The house was being cleaned last week.
- Pancakes were being made in the kitchen.
2- The passive voice in the present continuous tense
is something someone is doing right now. The formation is "am /is / are + being + past participle", examples:
- I am being told.
- The book is being read.
- Flowers are being grown.
- This man is being kept in prison.
3- The passive voice in the future continuous tense
The future continuous expresses an incomplete action that will be completed at a later time. The formation is "will be + being + past participle", examples:
- His birthday dinner will be being eaten this time tomorrow.
- I hope dinner will be being cooked when I get home.
- Your car will be being fixed.
- The house will be being cleaned tomorrow.
The passive voice in the perfect tenses
The perfect tenses always refer to completed actions. If you get confused, try replacing “perfect” with “completed” and the time relationship should become clearer.
1- The passive voice in the past perfect tense
The past perfect is used to indicate that something happened before something happened in the past. The formation is "had + been + past participle", examples:
- The city had been defended.
- The window had been broken.
- Had the problems been solved?
- Five banks had been robbed.
- The house had been cleaned before they arrived.
2- The passive voice in the present perfect tense
The present perfect is used for something that happened before now with a specific time. The formation is " have / has + been + past participle ", examples:
- The clinic has been cleaned.
- Many books have been written.
- Has the man been caught?
- The house has been cleaned since you left.
Passive voice in simple tenses
The passive voice in simple tenses is used when we want to focus on the person or thing on which the action occurs and not who does the action.
In other words, in passive sentences the most important thing or person is made the subject of the sentence.
1- The passive voice in the simple past tense
The simple past tense is something that was true some time in the past. The formation is "was, were + past participle", examples:
- I was paid last week.
- He was given a big bowl of rice.
- She was told to finish her work.
- The mistakes were corrected.
- No apples were eaten.
2- Passive voice in the present simple tense
The simple present tense is used to talk about verbs, recurring events, permanent states, or things that are always right. The formation is "am/is/are + past participle", examples:
- English is taught.
- The house is cleaned.
- The flowers are watered.
- Nothing is drunk.
3- Passive voice in the simple future tense
The simple future is used to indicate a later time than now and is used to talk about things that haven't happened yet. The formation is "will + be + past participle", examples:
- The horses will be taken to the stable.
- Will I be given a job?
- She will be asked to stay late.
- A letter will be written.
The passive voice in the conditional tenses
The conditional sentence can be in the passive voice in Conditional Tenses. However, the sentence must make sense using the passive voice.
1. Passive voice in the past conditional tense
The Passive voice in the past conditional. The formation is "would have + been + past participle", examples:
- A letter would have been written.
- English would have been spoken.
- Would have been injured if she had not been healthy.
- The house would have been cleaned if it had been dirty.
2- Passive voice in the present conditional tense
The passive voice in the present conditional. The formation is "would + be + past participle", examples:
- You would be congratulated.
- Pizza would be ordered.
- A new house would be built.
- The house would be cleaned if they had visitors.
The model verbs in the passive voice
Imagine that you are planning to travel to another country. There is a lot you need to do before you leave. Here are some things you may need to do:
- Your passport must be renewed.
- Your hair should be cut.
- Your clothes and shoes must be prepared.
- Pancakes can be made on a stove.
- That painting can be seen in the Louvre.
- Bikes may be ridden on this bike path.
- People must be warned that there are crocodiles in the area.
- Her work has to be done by tomorrow or she'll get in trouble with her boss.
- Something should be done about global warming or else some types of penguins will perish from the earth.
- A lot of cows can be raised on a productive farm.
Use "to clean" in all passive tenses
The formation is "subject + to be (according to the subject) + object + rest of the sentence".
Here are simple phrases about using "to clean" in all the passive tenses:
- The house is cleaned everyday. (Simple present)
- The house is being cleaned at the moment. (Present Continuous)
- The house was cleaned yesterday. (Past simple)
- The house was being cleaned last week. (Past Continuous)
- The house has been cleaned since you left. (Present perfect)
- The house had been cleaned before they arrived. (Past Perfect)
- The house will be cleaned next week. (Future perfect)
- The house will be being cleaned tomorrow. (Future continuous)
- The house would be cleaned if they had visitors. (Present conditional)
- The house would have been cleaned if it had been dirty. (Past conditional)
- The house must be cleaned before we arrive. (Model verbs)