1. PASSIVE VOICE
TENSES

2. Passive voice is not a TENSE (Simple Present, Present Perfect, Future).
It always uses the verb TO BE and the PAST PARTICIPLE of a verb, but this
doesn‘t mean the sentence is in PAST.
Your voice is amplified by the microphone.
VERB TO BE
PAST PARTICIPLE

3. The verb TO BE determines the tense of a sentence.
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
The security sensors detect movement.
Movement is detected by the security sensors
The verb “detect” is in
Simple Present
The verb “TO BE” is in
Simple Present

4. ACTIVE
PASSIVE
A virus attacked the system.
The system was attacked by the virus.
The verb “attack” is in
Simple Past
The verb “TO BE” is in
Simple Past.
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
Scientists have studied the case for years.
The case has been studied for years.
The verb “study” is in
Present Perfect.
The verb “TO BE” is in
Present Perfect.

5. ACTIVE
PASSIVE
People are learning TIC’s.
TIC’s are being learned.
The verb “learn” is in
Present Progressive
The verb “TO BE” is in
Present Progressive.
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
People were drinking Coke in the 1980’s.
Coke was being drunk in the 1980’s.
The verb “drink” is in
Past Progressive.
The verb “TO BE” is in
Past Progressive.

6. ACTIVE
PASSIVE
People have been using other energy sources.
Other energy sources have been being used.
The verb “use” is in
Present Perfect Progressive.
The verb “TO BE” is in
Present Perfect Progressive.
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
People will discover life forms in the space.
Life forms will be discovered in space.
The verb “discover” is in
Future with will.
The verb “TO BE” is in
Present Perfect Progressive.

7. Notice that the main verb of all the examples above is in PAST PARTICIPLE.
The verb TO BE is the one that changes.
Movement is detected by the security sensors
The system was attacked by the virus.
The case has been studied for years.
TIC’s are being learned.
Coke was being drunk in the 1980’s.
Other energy sources have been being used.
Life forms will be discovered in space.