These are the rules....


active and passive

 

example:  

 

active (present):                              Marie visits Tom.

             (simple past):                       Marie visited Tom.

             (will-future):                         Marie will visit Tom.

               ......                                          ......

passive (present):                           Tom is visited (by Marie).

               (simple past):                     Tom was visited (by Marie).

               (will-future):                       Tom will be visited (by Marie).

  ......                                           ......

 

rule:         We use a passive sentence to describe what is done or what happens to peoples or things.

The subject of the active sentence turns into the object of the passive sentence and is attached with the word "by" (and can be left out if it's not important or not known)

The object of the active sentence turns into the subject of the passive sentence.

               Often we do not say who does the action because
                                (a) it is not important

                                   or
                                (b)
we do not know who it is/was.

 

 

form of the passive:   respective form of to be + 3rd form of the verb in the active sentence.


active and passive with two objects

 

example:  

 

active  (present):                             Marie gives Tom a present.

      

passive (present):                           Tom is given a present (by Marie). (1)

 

OR:                             A present is given to Tom (by Marie). (2)

 

(the other tenses work similarily)

 

rule:         If there are two objects in a sentence, either object of the active sentence can turn into the

                 subject of the passive sentence

 

Possibility (1): The indirect object turns into the subject of the passive sentence. The direct object remains the object and the subject of the active sentence turns into the second object of the passive sentence and is attached with the word "by" (and can be left out if it's not important or not known)

 

Possibility (2): The direct object turns into the subject of the passive sentence. The indirect object is attached with the word "to" and the subject of the active sentence turns into the second object of the passive sentence and is attached with the word "by" (and can be left out if it's not important or not known)

 

form of the passive:   respective form of to be + 3rd form of the verb in the active sentence.