Page 131 - New Grammar with a Smile 6

Read this table to understand the tense structure when we change a sentence from the
active to the passive voice. Note the changes that occur in singular and plural number.

Tense Active voice Passive voice
Simple present

• singular • Robin writes a poem. • A poem is written by Robin.
• plural • Robin writes poems. • Poems are written by Robin.
Simple past

• singular • Robin wrote a poem. • A poem was written by Robin.
• plural • Robin wrote poems. • Poems were written by Robin.
Simple future
• singular • Robin will write • A poem will be written
a poem. by Robin.
• plural • Robin will write • Poems will be written
poems. by Robin.
Present continuous

• singular • Robin is writing • A poem is being written
a poem. by Robin.

• plural • Robin is writing • Poems are being written
poems. by Robin.

Past continuous
• singular • Robin was writing • A poem was being written
a poem. by Robin.
• plural • Robin was writing • Poems were being written
poems. by Robin.
Present perfect

• singular • Robin has written • A poem has been written
a poem. by Robin.

• plural • Robin has written • Poems have been written
poems. by Robin.

Past perfect
• singular • Robin had written • A poem had been written
a poem. by Robin.
• plural • Robin had written • Poems had been written
poems. by Robin.
Future perfect
• singular • Robin will have • A poem will have been written
written a poem. by Robin
• plural • Robin will have • Poems will have been written
written poems. by Robin.

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