General

  • In a sentence in the active voice, the subject is taking action. The sentence is expressing something about the subject of the sentence.
  • In a sentence in the passive voice, with the subject of the sentence is something done. The sentence is still expressing something about the subject of the sentence. The acting part can be added with the so called “by-clause”.

Rules

to be + past participle

  1. The object of the sentence in active voice will be the subject of the sentence in the passive voice.
  2. The subject of the sentence in active voice will be the object of the sentence in the passive voice. (by-agent - very often missing)

We are only able to transform a sentence in active voice into passive voice if the active voice sentence has an object.

Examples

Voice Sentence Tense
Active I write a program. Simple Present
Passive A program is written (by me). Simple Present
Active I am writing a program. Present Continous
Passive A program is being written now. Present Continous
Active I wrote a program Simple Past
Passive A program was written. Simple Past
Active I was writing a program when suddenly the phone rang. Past Continous
Passive A program was being written. Past Continous
Active I’ve just made coffee. You want some? Present Perfect Simple
Passive Coffee has just been made by me. You want some? Present Perfect Simple
Active I had written a program. Past Perfect
Passive A program had been written by me. Past Perfect
Active I will write program. Will Future
Passive A program will be written by me. Will Future
Active I may write a program. Modals
Passive A program may be written by me. Modals