The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

The Passive

Passive: the present simple

The boy kicks the ball -> The ball is kicked by the boy

We play the song -> The song is played by us

In the present we see that there is a form of to be + past participle

He writes a letter.
A letter ____ by him.

They sing the song.
The song ____ by them.

We love this movie.
This movie _____ by us.

They supervise the work.
The work ______ by them.

My father plans a meeting.
A meeting ______ by my father.

Passive: the simple past

We loved this song -> This song was loved by us.

They discussed this theme -> This theme was discussed by them.

They left the building.
The building _____ by them.

The students made drawings.
Drawings ______ by the students.

The teacher raised a question.
A question _______ by the teacher.

He withdrew his proposal.
The proposal ______ by him.

Continuous forms

We are playing a game -> A game is being played by us.

They were leaving the area -> The area was being left by them.

They are watching a programme.
A programme _____ by them.

She was doing the cooking.
The cooking _________ by her.

They were doing the laundry.
The laundry ______ by them.

They were revising the plans.
The plans ________ by them.

She was writing an e-mail.
An e-mail _____ by her.

Passive: the perfect

He has given her a test -> A test has been given to her.

They had reached a conclusion -> A conclusion had been reached by them.

She has cut the cake.
The cake _____ by her.

They have driven a car.
A car _____ by them.

My parents had read this book.
This book _____ by my parents.

The police had given him a warning.
He _____ a warning by the police.

The dogs have hidden their bones.
The bones ______ by the dogs.

Modal verbs

He could see the ship -> The ship could be seen by him.

They will listen to the podcast -> The podcast will be listened to by them.

My doctor must wear a face mask -> A face mask must be worn by my doctor.

You should give him some money.
Some money ______ to him.

We may read this book.
This book _____ by us.

The assistant will remember the code.
The code _____ by the assistant.

They can serve the food.
The food ____ by them.

She must leave the building.
The building _______ by her.

They would help us.
We ____ by them.

The government can help poor people.
Poor people ____ by the government.

Passive: revision

The same sentence in all forms and tenses.

The girl writes a letter.
A letter ____ by the girl.

The girl wrote a letter.
A letter ____ by the girl.

The girl is writing a letter.
A letter _____ by the girl.

The girl was writing a letter.
A letter ______ by the girl.

The girl has written a letter.
A letter ______ by the girl.

The girl had written a letter.
A letter _______ by the girl.

The girl could write a letter.
A letter ______ by the girl.

The girl should have written a letter.
A letter ______ by the girl.

The girl might have written a letter.
A letter _____ by the girl.