Passive

1
Passive
2
Forma

• Form
• to be past participlePresent simpleActive
  My mother washes my clothesPassive My clothes
  are washed by my mother.
• Present continuousActive My mother is washing
  my clothesPassive My clothes are being washed
  by my mother.
• Present perfectActive My mother has washed my
  clothesPassive My clothes have been washed by
  my mother.
• Past simpleActive My mother washed my
  clothesPassive My clothes were washed by my
  mother.

3
Forma

• Past continuousActive My mother was washing my
  clothesPassive My clothes were being washed by
  my mother.
• Past perfectActive My mother had washed my
  clothesPassive My clothes had been washed by my
  mother.
• Future 'will'Active My mother will wash my
  clothesPassive My clothes will be washed by my
  mother.
• Future 'going to'Active My mother is going to
  wash my clothesPassive My clothes are going to
  be washed by my mother.

4
Modals

• Modal verbsActive My mother might wash my
  clothesPassive My clothes might be washed by my
  mother.Active My mother can wash my
  clothesPassive My clothes can be washed by my
  mother.Active My mother must wash my
  clothesPassive My clothes must be washed by my
  mother.

5
Functions

• Functions and examples
• We use the passive when who or what causes the
  action is not important or is not known, or when
  we want to focus on the action.The rubbish is
  taken out every day.(We don't know who takes the
  rubbish out, or maybe it's not important)The
  Great Wall of China was built thousands of years
  ago.(It's not important exactly who built it, we
  want to focus on the action of building)The
  money has been stolen.(We don't know who stole
  it, and we want to emphasise the action of
  stealing)My windows are cleaned once a
  month.(It's not important who cleans them. The
  action of cleaning is more important)

6
Important points

• if there are two objects in the active sentence,
  two passive sentences are possible.
• Active They gave me 50 dollars to do
  it.Passive I was given 50 dollars to do it / 50
  dollars was given to me to do it.Get is often
  used instead of be in informal spoken English.I
  got offered the promotion.The table got damaged
  in the fire.I got asked to present the
  award.The subject of the active verb (sometimes
  called the agent) is not usually expressed in
  passive sentences, because it is unknown or
  unimportant. However, if it is used, it is
  usually preceded with 'by'.The painting was done
  by Picasso.When we talk about a tool used by an
  agent, it can be preceded by 'with'.The painting
  was done with oils on canvas.