Verb Tenses: Passive Voice
Simple Tenses
Simple Present
General facts or habitual repetitive actions
=
am, is, are + past participle
Examples
- Lunch is served at noon.
- The locks are checked every night.
Simple Past
Completed past actions
=
was, were + past participle
Example
- She was rewarded for her information.
Simple Future
Future promises, predictions, or actions
=
will be + past participle
Example
- I will be there on Saturday.
Simple Progressive
Present Progressive
Future actions (paired with go, leave, move, etc.) or actions that are currently in progress
=
am, is, are + being + past participle
Examples
- The votes are being counted by impartial volunteers.
- Joe is being crowned king of the dance.
Past Progressive
Actions that were in progress at a specific time past
=
was, were + being + past participle
Example
- They thought they were being careful.
Perfect Tenses
Present Perfect
Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that begin in the past but are still currently occurring
=
has, have + been + past participle
Examples
- The boat has been delayed because of the hurricane in the Atlantic.
- Tests have been proctored by teachers for many years.
Past Perfect
Actions that began or occurred before something else in the past
=
had + been + past participle
Example
- She had been searching for clues for hours before bedtime.
NOTE: Future progressive, future perfect, & perfect progressive are not used in passive voice.
