Active / Passive Verb Forms

Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "Active Forms" and "Passive Forms".

It is important to recognize the difference!

Active Verb Forms

ACTIVE FORM

[Thing doing action] + [VERB] + [thing receiving action]

In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object.

Most sentences are active.

Active Verb Forms

EXAMPLE:

The professor        teaches               the students.    (subject)                (active verb)         (object)(doing action)                                     (receiving action)

Active Verb Forms

John                           washes           the dishes.

(subject)             (active verb)         (object)(doing action)                                      (receiving action)

Passive Verb Forms

PASSIVE FORM

[Thing receiving action] + [BE] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]

In some sentences, speakers use the passive form. In the passive form, the thing receiving the action is the subject and the thing doing the action is the object.

You can use the passive form if you think the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized.

Passive Verb Forms

EXAMPLES:

The students         are  taught by  the professor.(subject)                   (passive verb)(receiving action)                                               (doing action)

Passive Verb Forms

The dishes              are washed by John.(subject)                     (passive verb)(receiving action)                                        (doing action)

Active / Passive Verb Forms

Active or Passive?

1. He eats steak everyday. 2. She is picked up after school.3. The book is often read by students.4. I read the newspaper before work.5. Sally studies French.6. French is studied by many foreigners.7. Debbie cleans the kitchen once a week.8. The kitchen is cleaned once a week.9. George usually does the work.10. The work is often done by Jennifer.

Active!

Passive!

Passive Verb Forms - Quiz

General Knowledge Quiz!

You will see ten questions, each with four answers to choose from.

Choose the correct answer!

Passive Verb Forms - questions

1. Microsoft was   a)invented in Lyon, France.   b)founded by Bill Gates.   c)bought by Rupert Murdoch.   d)written by Elton John.

2. Television was   a)invented in Lyon, France.   b)written by Charles Dickens.   c)won by England.   d)invented by John Logie Baird.

3. Penicillin was   a)discovered by Alexander Fleming   b)written by Charles Dickens.   c)bought by Rupert Murdoch.   d)founded by Lord Reith.

4. America was    a)invented in Lyon, France.   b)written by Charles Dickens.   c)won by England.   d)discovered by Christopher Columbus.

5. Turkey was   a)invented in Lyon, France.   b)founded in the 20th Century.   c)bought by Rupert Murdoch.   d)written by Elton John.

Passive Verb Forms - questions

6. The Times newspaper was   a)bought by Rupert Murdoch.   b)written by Charles Dickens.   c)won by England.   d)written by Elton John.

7. The cinema was   a)written by Elton John.   b)written by Charles Dickens.   c)won by England.   d)invented in Lyon, France.

8. ‘David Copperfield’ was   a)written by Elton John.   b)written by Charles Dickens.   c)won by England.   d)discovered by Christopher Columbus.

9. The 1966 World Cup was   a)written by Elton John.   b)discovered by Alexander Fleming   c)won by England.   d)founded by Lord Reith.

10. ‘Candle In The Wind’ was   a)invented by John Logie Baird.   b)discovered by Alexander Fleming   c)written by Elton John.   d)founded by Lord Reith.

Passive Verb Forms - answers

Microsoft was   b)founded by Bill Gates.   

Television was  d)invented by John Logie Baird.

Penicillin was  a)discovered by Alexander Fleming  

America was    d)discovered by Christopher

Columbus.

Turkey was   b)founded in the 20th Century. 

Passive Verb Forms - answers

The Times newspaper was   a)bought by Rupert Murdoch.  

The cinema was   d)invented in Lyon, France.

‘David Copperfield’ was   b)written by Charles

Dickens.   

The 1966 World Cup was   c)won by England. 

‘Candle In The Wind’ was   c)written by Elton John.   

Passive Verb Forms - Past

PASSIVE FORM - PAST TENSE

[Thing receiving action] + [BE] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]

The form is the same for the simple past, but you use was or were instead of is, am or are.

You saw lots of examples in the general knowledge quiz. Here are some more...

Arjen RobbenArjen Robben scored the goal.

ActiveThe goal was scored by Arjen Robben.

Passive

Conchita WurstConchita Wurst won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.

ActiveThe 2014 Eurovision Song Contest was won by Conchita Wurst.

Passive

Spain

Spain won the 2010 World Cup.Active

The 2010 World Cup was won by Spain.Passive