Construction of the Passive Voice

The structure of the passive voice is very simple:

subject + auxiliary verb (be) + main verb (past participle)

The main verb is always in its past participle form.

Simple present.

1- We keep the butter in the fridge in summer.

Subject verb Direct object

– The butter is kept in the fridge in summer

Subject auxiliary verb (pp)

2- The engineers are repairing theLondon bridge. ( present continuous )

The Londonbridge is being repaired by the engineers.

3- The Prime Minister has just delivered a speech in the parliament ( Present perfect )

A speech has just been delivered by the prime minister in the parliament.

4- The Marines assassinated Ben Laden last year. ( Simple Past )

Ben Laden was assassinated last year by the Marines

5- We should preserve the African Elephant because it ‘s going to extinct. ( Modal)

The African elephant should be preserved because it’s going to extinct.

The Impersonal Passive

1- People say that Houssni Moubarak is in a coma these days.

It is said that Houssni Moubarak is in a coma these days.

Example 2

- People think that the Arab spring is going to be a dead loss

It is thought that the Arab spring is going to be a dead loss.

( The impersonal passive is used with verbs like assume, believe, consider, know, suppose,

Understand, estimate, feel ……..)

Being + verbs ( used after verbs in the Gerund form )

1- You should go home before dark to avoid being mugged.

2- Peter hates being given orders

3- I remember being punished by my teacher in the primary school.

4- Ilham doesn’t like being cheated.

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