English Grammar

Passive verb forms

Simple Present

Active verb form: write/writes

• He writes a letter.
• I write letters.

Passive verb form: is/am/are + written

• A letter is written by him.
• Letters are written by me.

Present Progressive

Active verb form: is/am/are + writing

• He is writing a letter.
• I am writing letters.

Passive verb form: is/am/are + being + written

• A letter is being written by him.
• Letters are being written by me.

Present Perfect

Active verb form: has/have + written

• He has written a letter.
• I have written letters.

Passive verb form: has/have + been + written

• A letter has been written by him.
• Letters have been written by me.

Simple Past

Active verb form: wrote

• He wrote a letter.
• I wrote letters.

Passive verb form: was/were + written

• A letter was written by him.
• Letters were written by me.

Past Progressive

Active verb form: was/were + writing

• He was writing a letter.
• I was writing letters.

Passive verb form: was/were + being + written

• A letter was being written by him.
• Letters were being written by me.

Past Perfect

Active verb form: had + written

• He had written a letter.
• I had written letters.

Passive verb form: had + been + written

• A letter had been written by him.
• Letters had been written by me.

Simple Future

Active verb form: will/shall + write

• He will write a letter.
• I shall write letters.

Passive verb form: will/shall + be + written

• A letter will be written by him.
• Letters shall be written by me.

Future Perfect

Active verb form: will/shall + have + written

• He will have written a letter.
• I will have written letters.

Passive verb form: will/shall + have + been + written

• A letter will have been written by him.
• Letters will have been written by me.

Perfect progressive passives and future progressive passives are unusual.

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