Transform an active sentence step by step
#transformation#method#tense
Construit sur :The passive pattern and its purpose
Use the same four-step method every time:
- Find the object in the active sentence. Move it to the subject position.
- Keep the tense. Conjugate be in the tense of the original verb.
- Add the past participle of the main verb.
- Add by + the old subject when the agent matters.
Three transformations
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| A sees B. | B is seen by A. |
| A is seeing B. | B is being seen by A. |
| A saw B. | B was seen by A. |
| A was seeing B. | B was being seen by A. |
| A has seen B. | B has been seen by A. |
| A will see B. | B will be seen by A. |
Notice what changes and what does not:
- B becomes the new subject;
- the tense is carried by is / was / has been / will be;
- seen is the past participle;
- by A names the original doer.
Worked example. “The students are writing the report.” The receiver is
“the report”, so it comes first. The tense is present continuous, therefore use
is being; the passive is: The report is being written by the students.