The passive voice

The passive voice

1)      Use of the passive voice: a)      We use the passive voice when we want to focus on the action rather than who is doing the action. e.g: Three apples are eaten by Ahmed b)      The passive voice is used when what or who causes the action is unknown or unimportant e.g: Three apples are eaten     2)      Active tenses and their passive equivalents: Tenses Active form Passive form Simple present Jane  writes a letter/ letters S A letter is written P  letters are written Present continuous Jane is writing a letter/ letters S A letter is being written P  letters are being written Simple past Jane wrote a letter / letters S A letter was written P Letters were written Past continuous Jane was writing a letter / letters S A letter was being written P Letters were being written Present  perfect simple Jane has written a letter/ letters S A letter has been written P Letters have been written Past perfect simple Jane had written a letter / letters S A letter had been written P Letters had been written future Jane will write a letter/ letters S A letter will be written P Letters will be written 3)      With modals (must, may, should, would, could, might…….) the passive is formed in this way: Modal+ be + the past participle of the verb e.g:  you must pay the bill .......................... the bill must be paid you should respect your teacher  .................. your teacher should be respected