To transform a sentence into the passive voice, follow these steps:
1.
Analyse the active sentence. Identify the direct object (Od) and the main verb (V).
Shakespeare
wrote
Hamlet.
S
V
Od
2.
Use the Od as the S (at the beginning):
Hamlet...
3.
If there are no modal verbs, auxiliaries, frequency adverbs, etc. in front of the main verb, skip this step.
4.
Replace the main verb with BE
(in the same tense or form as the main verb):
Hamlet was...
5.
Add the past participle of the main verb:
Hamlet was written...
6.
Add the agent (by...) only if it is
important:
Hamlet
was written
by Shakespeare.
S
Aux+V
Ag
("Hamlet was written" is not a meaningful sentence, so the agent is necessary.)
Here is another example:
1.
Analyse the active sentence. Identify the direct object (Od) and the main verb (V).
They
have already
built
the new bridge.
S
auxiliaries, etc
V
Od
2.
Use the Od as the S (at the beginning):
The new bridge...
3.
If there are any modal verbs, auxiliaries, frequency adverbs, etc. in front of
the main verb, do not change them (but if the verb is in the present simple or present perfect,
check whether you need to add or eliminate the -s, because in the passive the subject is different):
The new bridge has already...
4.
Replace the main verb with BE
(in the same tense or form):
The new bridge has already been...
5.
Add the past participle of the main verb:
The new bridge has already been built.
6.
Add the agent (by...) only if it is important:
The new bridge
has already been built.
S
Aux+V
("by them" is not important; we don't even know who "they" were.)
Further practice.
Instructions:
If you are learning the passive voice, write the passive sentence; if you are only revising, just think of the answer.
Click on the blank to see the correct answer.
If your answer was correct, select the correct answer and leave it on the screen.
If your answer was wrong, leave the blank.
When you finish, count your right answers and write down your score.
You can answer the wrong ones, repeat the exercise, or wait a day or two and then repeat it.
Check your progress by counting and writing down your right answers every time you do the exercise.
You must transform these sentences into the passive voice.
You can repeat this exercise.
You don't have to write the correct answer.
You can learn the basics of the passive voice in a short time.
First you must identify the direct object.
Teachers always use examples to explain this.
However, we can also find different kinds of passive sentences.
In some passive sentences we use the indirect object as the passive subject.
In these cases, we will not alter the position of the direct object.
