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San Jose City College

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    Passive Forms of Verb Tenses

Only transitive verbsA transitive verb must be followed by an object. The object becomes the subject of the passive verb. have passive forms. The choice of active or passive form depends on which sentence element the writer chooses to emphasize. Note the following examples:
     • Anna's grandparents built the house. [The emphasis is on Anna's grandparents.]
     • The house was built by Anna's grandparents. [The emphasis is on the house.]

In passive verb phrases, the FINITE FORM is a form of BE (depending on the tense) and the NONFINITE FORM is the PAST PARTICIPLE.

     • BE + PAST PARTICIPLE ... was / were elected
     • MODAL + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE ... might be elected
     • MODAL + HAVE BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE ... should have been elected

GET USED TO WRITING THE PASSIVE FORMS OF VERBS:
The following table provides an overview of passive verb forms in all tenses. Learn these forms and practice writing them. Wherever subject-verb agreement rules would be necessary to follow, use the third person singular.

VERB	PRESENT	PAST	FUTURE
fix	is fixed	was fixed	will be fixed
steal	is stolen	was stolen	will be stolen
hurt
break
discover
reject
VERB	Pres. Perfect Passive	Past Perfect Passive	Future perfect passive
repair	has been repaired	had been repaired	will have been repaired
change
cure
forget
promote
abandon

Change the following sentences to passive form to change the emphasis of the sentence. Use the same verb tense as that of the active verb. Type a question mark in the frame for an example or for help if needed.

Example:
• The police have arrested the serial killer.
• The serial killer has been arrested.

1.	A doctor has released the accident victim from the hospital. The accident victim from the hospital.
2.	An oil company discovered oil off the coast of California. Oil off the coast of California.
3.	The search party might find the lost boy by tomorrow. The lost boy by tomorrow.
4.	The technician can't repair my computer. My computer .
5.	The faculty couldn't resolve their differences. Their differences .
6.	Doctors may have found a cure for colon cancer. A cure for colon cancer .
7.	They have discovered a cure for river blindness and have eradicated this disease. A cure for river blindness , and this disease .
8.	The insurance companies should not have increased car insurance rates for city drivers. Car insurance rates for city drivers .
9.	Many people believe they should raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes. The tax on cigarettes .
10.	Paul was a heavy smoker. If he hadn't smoked, he could have prevented his own death. His own death by not smoking.
11.	Will a cure for Alzheimer's disease ever be found? Most people hope that by the time they get Alzheimer's disease, a cure . [Use the perfect form of the verb.]

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