Passive Voice

• show that something is being done to the subject.

  • Yesterday, the couch was cleaned by me.​

  • (​was cleaned is an action done to the couch)

• ​Passive voice verbs always include a TO BE verb in front of the main verb

  • "is" and "are" show present tense

  • ​"was" and "were" show past tense

  • "will" shows future tense​

Creating Passive Voice Sentences

• Sometimes writers use passive voice ​to put the emphasis on what receives the action. This is common in scientific reports.

​

Anna baked the pie earlier.

• Follow these steps:

  • ​Switch the order of who did and who received the action

    • The pie baked Anna earlier.​

  • ​Add in the word by

    • The pie baked by Anna earlier.​

  • ​Turn the active voice verb into a passive voice verb.

    • The pie was baked by Anna earlier.​