Passive Sentence

Passive Sentences

Active sentences and passive sentences


(a) ACTIVE: Bob mailed the package.
(b) PASSIVE: The package was mailed by Bob


(a) and (b) have the same meaning.

S V O
(c) Bob mailed the package



S M “by-phrase”
The package was mailed by Bob




In (c): the object of an active sentence becomes the subject of a passive sentence.

S V O
(d) Bob mailed the package



S V “by-phrase”
The package was mailed by Bob



In (d): the subject of an active sentence is the object of by in the “by-phrase” in a passive sentence.

(e) ACTIVE: The teacher corrects
our homework
(f) PASSIVE: Our homework is
corrected by the
teacher
(g) ACTIVE: Mr. Lee will teach this
class.
(h) PASSIVE: This class will be
taught by Mr. Lee

Form of all passive verbs:
BE + PAST PASTICIPLE

BE can be in any of its forms: am, is, are, was, were, has been, have been, will be, etc.
THE PAST PARTICIPLE follows BE. For regular verbs, the past participle ends in –ed (e.g., mailed, corrected). Some past participle are irregular (e.g., taught)