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Passive Verb Tenses

Summary:

This handout explains and describes the sequence of verb tenses in English.

Contributors:Chris Berry, Allen Brizee, Elizabeth Angeli
Last Edited: 2010-04-17 05:58:46

 

Simple Present
Active: Passive
  • The company ships the computers to many foreign countries.
  • Computers are shipped to many foreign countries

 

Present Progressive
Active: Passive:
  • The chef is preparing the food.
  • The food is being prepared.

 

Simple Past
Active: Passive:
  • The delivery man delivered the package yesterday.
  • The package was delivered yesterday.

 

Past Progressive
Active: Passive:
  • The producer was making an announcement.
  • An announcement was being made.

 

Future
Active: Passive:
  • Our representative will pick up the computer.
  • The computer will be picked up.

 

Present Perfect
Active: Passive:
  • Someone has made the arrangements for us.
  • The arrangements have been made for us.

 

Past Perfect
Active: Passive:
  • They had given us visas for three months.
  • They had been given visas for three months.

 

Future Perfect
Active: Passive:
  • By next month we will have finished this job.
  • By next month this job will have been finished.

 

Modals
Active: Passive:
  • You can use the computer.
  • The computer can be used.

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