The Passive Voice: grammar rules, explanations and examples.
The Formation of the Passive Voice
auxiliary verb to be + Participle II
A passive verb form is made with the auxiliary verb to be (in the different tenses) and the past participle of the main verb.
| Affirmative | Interrogative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| I am told. She is told. He is told. It is made. We are told. You are told. They are told. |
Am I told? Is she told? Is he told? Is it made? Are we told? Are you told? Are they told? |
I am not told. He is not told. She is not told. It is not made. We are not told. You are not told. They are not told. |
The subject of a passive verb is usually the person or thing that is affected be the action of the verb.
Compare:
I wrote this letter. (Active) → This letter was written by me. (Passive)