Passive voice

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).

 Simple Present:Active: Rita(subject) writes(verb) a letter(object); Passive: A letter(subject) is written(verb) by rita;

Simple Past: Active: Rita(subject) wrote(verb) a letter(object); Passive: A letter(subject) was written(verb) by Rita(object);

Present Perfect: Active: Rita(subject) has written(verb) a letter(object); Passive:A letter(subject) has been written(verb) by rita(object)

Future: Active: Rita(subject) will write(verb) a letter(object); Passive: A letter(subject) will be written(verb) by Rita(object);

Hilfsverben: Active: Rita(subject) can write(verb) a letter(object); Passive: A letter(subject) can be written(verb) by Rita(object).