1. Active and passive voice
Active and passive voice represent two grammar structures that show whether the subject does the action or receives the action in a sentence.
The table below summarises the difference between these two voices.
Voice | Note | Example | When to use it |
---|---|---|---|
Active |
|
William painted the wall. |
|
Passive |
|
The wall was painted by William. |
|
2. Difference
In active voice, the subject comes first, followed by the verb and the object.
- I love you.
- He needs her.
- Donald built this house in 1999.
- The police killed the suspect.
A sentence in passive voice uses a conjugated form of to be followed by a past participle.
It follows the structure: object + 'be' verb + past participle + (by + subject).
Study the examples below.
- The suspect was killed by the police.
- This house was built by Donald in 1999.
- This grammar lesson was written by ESL teachers.
3. Forms
Present simple
Active
Subject + verb + object
The gardener mows the lawn every week.
Passive
Subject + am/is/are + past participle (+ by + agent)
The lawn is mowed by the gardener every week.
Present continuous
Active
Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing + object
The gardener is mowing the lawn.
Passive
Subject + am/is/are + being + past participle (+ by + agent)
The lawn is being mowed by the gardener.
Past simple
Active
Subject + verb (past) + object
Robert painted the wall.
Passive
Subject + was/were + past participle (+ by + agent)
The wall was painted by Robert.
Past continuous
Active
Subject + was/were + verb-ing + object
A contractor was building the house.
Passive
Subject + was/were + being + past participle (+ by + agent)
The house was being built by a contractor.
Future simple
Active
Subject + will + base verb + object
The courier will deliver the package tomorrow.
Passive
Subject + will + be + past participle (+ by + agent)
The package will be delivered by the courier tomorrow.
Be going to
Active
Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb + object
The courier is going to deliver the package tomorrow.
Passive
Subject + am/is/are + going to + be + past participle (+ by + agent)
The package is going to be delivered by the courier tomorrow.
Present perfect
Active
Subject + has/have + past participle + object
The courier has delivered the package.
Passive
Subject + has/have + been + past participle (+ by + agent)
The package has been delivered by the courier.
Past perfect
Active
Subject + had + past participle + object
A contractor had constructed the building.
Passive
Subject + had + been + past participle (+ by + agent)
The building had been constructed by a contractor.
Future perfect
Active
Subject + will + have + past participle + object
The chef will have baked the cake by the time the party starts.
Passive
Subject + will + have + been + past participle (+ by + agent)
The cake will have been baked by the chef by the time the party starts.
Modals
Active
Subject + modal verb + base verb + object
You should repair the fridge.
Passive
Subject + modal verb + be + past participle (+ by + agent)
The fridge should be repaired.

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