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Foreign Language
Success Strategies
First Edition, Volume I: August 2006
Part II- English Language Grammar Primer & Exercises
Success Strategies
First Edition, Volume I: August 2006
Part II- English Language Grammar Primer & Exercises
SWITCHING FROM ACTIVE VOICE TO PASSIVE VOICE
1. Locate the direct object and place it in the subject position. If there is no direct object, you cannot change the voice of the verb to passive.
He mows the lawn. |
||
Subject |
Verb |
Direct Object |
He |
mows |
the lawn |
2. Change the verb. Passive voice constructions require a form of the verb to be and the past participle of the verb (the "-ed" form for regular verbs). In order to maintain the same verb tense, place to be in the same tense as the verb in the original active voice sentence.
He mows the lawn. |
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mows=simple present |
What is the simple present form |
is = simple present |
Now add the past participle. |
The lawn is mowed. |
|
3. If you'd like to state who is accomplishing this action, use the preposition by and the noun/pronoun (the subject in the active voice sentence).
He mows the lawn.
The lawn is mowed by him.