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)
Examples of Passive
Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Simple Present | Active: | Rita | writes | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | is written | by Rita. | |
Simple Past | Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | was written | by Rita. |
Exercises
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=6071
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=1870
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=4356
http://www.espressoenglish.net/passive-voice-examples-exercises-present-past/
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-voice_quiz.htm
http://www.english-4u.de/passive_ex2.htm
http://www.agendaweb.org/verbs/passive-exercises.html
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/active_passive/sentences_simple_present.htm