is called for the subject of the active verb, when the agent is mentioned will be joined by “by” before the object.
Usually agent or actor needs to be mentioned first in a sentence, so that we know what we are talking about. However, sometimes the agent or actor is
less important that the action or the result; sometimes the actor is unknown, or should not be mentioned. By changing the form of the verb and varying word
order, we can shift emphasis away from the actor. The actor is either omitted or relegated to a subordinate position in the sentence.
When someone wants to use a passive voice, heshe has to know that the sentence can be changed into the passive or not. Passive voice can only be
applied in case of having an acting subject. One of difficulties that causes the students make mistake or errors in
learning passive is it is difficult for the students to understand teacher‟s explanation. The students usually confuse in using to be is, am, are, was,
were corresponded with the subject as its antecedence in a sentence. Passive voice in English is different from passive voice in Indonesian. In English,
passive voice has some of be that must be followed, each tense has different form of be. Passive voice in Indonesian language is not like that, it does not
have any to be or auxiliary verb and tense. Example: Adi belajar bahasa Inggris. active
Bahasa Inggris dipelajari oleh Adi. passive
6. The form of Passive Voice of Simple Present Tense and Past Tense
Form of the passive voice: be + past participle
The passive of an active is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active and adding the past participle of the active verb.
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There is a pattern of Passive Voice in present tense:
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A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, London: Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 302
O + isamare + V3 + by + S
An active sentence with present tense
I study English every day. I
study English
everyday S
V O
Adv.
A passive sentence with present tense
English is studied by me everyday. English
studied by
me everyday.
O V
S Adv.
Note: in Active form: study = V1 Passive form: study + ed = studied = V3
7. The Way to Transform Active to the Passive
The explanation above showed about the way to transform the active to the passive voice. There are some steps that must be taken in order to a
sentence to be converted from its active form into its passive form. In the demonstration to follow, each step has been isolated to show step how the
passive form is built. General rules for changing active into passive form:
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1 Inverse the position of subject agent and object.
2 Always use the correct form of verb „be‟ in the passive voice.
3 Use the third form past participle of the verb.
4 Introduce the preposition „by‟ before the agent.
5 Never change the tense while making passive from the active voice.
Present Tense Active form: Shakespears
writes this poem
Subject Verb
Direct Object
Step 1: Switch the Subject and Direct Object
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http:indiastudychanel.comresouces136857-Passive-Voice-Sentece-Simple- present.aspx
Result: This poem writes
Shakespeare
Direct Object Subject
Step 2: Insert the appropriate form of be immediately in front of the verb.
Result: This poem is
write Shakespeare
Verb Step 3: Change the verb to its past participle form
Result: This poem is
written Shakespeare
Verb
Step 4: Insert the word by immediately in front of the subject.
Result: This poem is
written by
Shakespeare
Subject The active sentence has been successfully converted into its passive form,
“This poem is written by Shakespeare.”
Past Tense Active form: Shakespeare
wrote this poem
Subject Verb
Direct Object
Step 1: Switch the Subject and Direct Object Result: This poem
wrote Shakespeare
Direct Object Subject
Step 2: Insert the appropriate form of be immediately in front of the verb.
Result: This poem was
wrote Shakespeare
Verb
Step 3: Change the verb to its past participle form
Result: This poem was
written
Shakespeare Verb
Step 4: Insert the word by immediately in front of the subject.
Result: This poem was
written by
Shakespeare
Subject
The active sentence has been successfully converted into its passive form,
“This poem was written by Shakespeare.”
The passive voice of verbs in the present and past tense is formed in this way; be is, am, are, was, were + past participle + by + agent.
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Table 2.1 Examples Active and Passive Voice
Examples Notes
Active
Passive Subject Verb Object
Nine Planets Orbit The Sun.
The Sun Is Orbited by Nine Planets. Subject Verb agent
Focus of active sentence: nine
planets.
Focus of
passive sentence: the sun.
Active
Passive Subject Verb Object
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. Subject Verb Agent
Focus of active sentence: Alexander
Graham Bell. Focus of passive
sentence: the telephone.
8. The Usage of Passive Voice
