ACTIVE & PASSIVE VOICE II
Passive
voice structures with infinitives:
Read the
following sentence.
People say
that he is a criminal.
Can we
change this sentence into the passive? Yes!, we can.
He is said
to be a criminal. (NOT that he is a criminal is said by people.)
They say
these nuts are good for health. (Active)
These nuts
are said to be good for health. (Passive)
They
believe him to be dangerous. (Active)
He is
believed to be dangerous. (Passive)
Changing interrogative
sentences into the passive:
Read the following sentences.
Active
voice: Did she recognize you?
Passive
voice: Were you recognized by her?
Active
voice: Can anybody cure it?
Passive
voice: Can it be cured (by anybody)?
Active
voice: Who wrote this book?
Passive
voice: By whom was this book written?
Active
voice: Have you finished work?
Passive
voice: Has the work been finished by you?
Active
voice: When will they announce the results?
Passive
voice: When will the results be announced (by them)?
Note:
The
primary auxiliary verbs do, does or did does not appear in the passive form.
The verbs have,
has, had, will, shall, can, may etc., do not change their position at
the beginning of the sentence when the active voice is changed to the passive
voice.
Active
voice: Have you invited them?
Passive
voice: Have they been invited by you?
Active
voice: Will you help him?
Passive
voice: Will he be helped by you?
The
question words when, why, where, how or what does not change
their position at the beginning of the sentence when the active voice is
changed into the passive voice. Note that who changes to by whom and whom
into who.
What did
he say? (Active Voice)
What was
said by him? (Passive Voice)
Whom did
you invite? (Active Voice)
Who was
invited by you? (Passive Voice)