The passive voice is used when focusing on the person or thing affected by an action.
The following chart includes sentences changed from the active to the passive in the principal tenses.
|
Active
|
Passive
|
Time Reference
|
|
They make Fords in Cologne.
|
Fords are made in Cologne.
|
Present Simple
|
|
Susan is cooking dinner.
|
Dinner is being cooked by Susan
|
Present Continuous
|
|
James Joyce wrote "Dubliners".
|
"Dubliners" was written by James Joyces.
|
Past Simple
|
|
They were painting the house when I arrived.
|
The house was being painted when I arrived.
|
Past Continuous
|
|
They have produced over 20 models in the past two years.
|
Over 20 models have been produced in the past two years.
|
Present Perfect
|
|
They are going to build a new factory in Portland.
|
A new factory is going to be built in Portland.
|
Future Intention with Going to
|
|
I will finish it tomorrow.
|
It will be finished tomorrow.
|
Future Simple
|
| 