Accidental Statesman Research paper and Thesis with outline

The Three Rules of Passive Voice

First Rule

It can’t be passive without one of these:

Am Is Are Was Were Be Being Been

Second Rule

It can’t be passive if the action verb isn’t a past participle.

- The past participles of regular verbs end in –ed.

- The past participles of irregular verbs usually end in –en, -n, or –t.

Look for a Past Participle

Active: The adjutant assists the commander. Assists is the action verb.

Passive changes the verb to a past participle.

The commander is assisted by the adjutant. Assisted is a past participle in the sentence.

Examples of Past Participles

Verb Past Participle

Promote Promoted

Tell Told

Show Shown

Fight Fought

Lose Lost

Choose Chosen

Give Given

Passive Constructions

To Be + Past Participle

They will be promoted.

I am told that the decision is final.

A film is usually shown every Friday.

Battles are somehow lost.

The candidates were very well chosen.

Passive—No Matter What Tense

Present: He is being counseled.

Past: He was counseled.

Future: He will be counseled.

Present Perfect: He has been counseled.

Past Perfect: He had been counseled.

Future Perfect: He will have been counseled

Third Rule

When you get to the action verb you can ask the following: “By Whom?”

The documents were signed. – Signed by whom?

The topic was discussed. – Discussed by whom?