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The Passive Voice – How do we form it?

Active: Someone stole our car yesterday. (our car = the object)
Passive: Our car was stolen yesterday. (our car= the subject)
The object of an active verb becomes the subject of a passive verb.

be + -ed* (*past participle)
e.g. is/was/have been/will be/ written

be + being + -ed* (*past participle) = progressive form
e.g. is/was being written

We only change the form of the verb ‘to be’ according to the tense in active sentences.

Perfect continuous passives (have/has/had + been being +-ed) are very uncommon.

Present Simple

Active: They sell fruit there.

Passive: Fruit is sold there.

Present continuous

Active: They are selling fresh cherries now.

Passive: Fresh cherries are being sold now.

Present perfect

Active: They have sold my car.

Passive: My car has been sold.

Past simple

Active: They sold their car yesterday.

Passive: Their car was sold yesterday.

Past continuous

Active: They were selling my car when I came.

Passive: My car was being sold when I came.

Past perfect

Active: They had sold my car before I came.

Passive: My car had been sold before I came.

Be going to

Active: They are going to sell my car.

Passive: My car is going to be sold.

Future simple

Active: They will sell their car next year.

Passive: Their car will be sold next year.

Future perfect

Active: They will have sold my car by Friday.

Passive: My car will have been sold by Friday.

Modals + present inf.

Active: They can sell my car.

Passive: My car can be sold.

Modals + past inf.

Active: They must have sold my car by now.

Passive: My car must have been sold by now.

Gerund

Active: I insist on them selling my car.

Passive: I insist on my car being sold.

Infinitive

Active: I have to sell my car.

Passive: My car has to be sold.

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