Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. The causer of the action, however, is not important or not known. (In contrast, active voice focusses on the causer of an action.)
Note: In an average English text, no more than 10 percent should be in passive voice. So use the passive sparingly, prefer sentences in active voice.
Form of Passive
Aktive | Passive | |
---|---|---|
Simple Present | Mr Smith writes the delivery notes. | The delivery notes are written (by Mr Smith). |
Present Progressive | Mr Smith is writing the delivery notes. | The delivery notes are being written (by Mr Smith). |
Simple Past | Mr Smith wrote the delivery notes. | The delivery notes were written (by Mr Smith). |
Present Perfect | Mr Smith has written the delivery notes. | The delivery notes have been written (by Mr Smith). |
Past Perfect | Mr Smith had written the delivery notes. | The delivery notes had been written (by Mr Smith). |
Future | Mr Smith will write the delivery notes. | The delivery notes will be written (by Mr Smith). |
Ausiliary Verbs | Mr Smith must write the delivery notes. | The delivery notes must be written (by Mr Smith). |