Appendix 1 – Active and Passive

Present simple
active passive
We make butter from milk.
Somebody cleans these rooms every day.
People never invite me to parties.
How do they make butter?
Butter is made from milk.
These rooms are cleaned every day.
I am never invited to parties.
How is butter made?
Past simple
active passive
Somebody stole my car last week.
Somebody stole my keys yesterday.
They didn't invite me to the party.
When did they build these houses?
My car was stolen last week.
My keys were stolen yesterday.
I wasn't invited to the party.
When were these houses built?
Present continuous
active passive
They are building a new airport at the moment.
(= it isn't finished)
They are building some new houses near the river.
A new airport is being built at the moment.
Some new houses are being built near the river.
Past continuous
active passive
When I was here a few years ago, they were building a new airport.
(= it wasn't finished at that time)
When I was here a few years ago, a new airport was being built.
Present perfect
active passive
Look! They have painted the door.
These shirts are clean. Somebody has washed them.
Somebody has stolen my car.
Look! The door has been painted.
These shirts are clean. They have been washed.
My car has been stolen.
Past perfect
active passive
Ann said that somebody had stolen her car.
Ann said that her car had been stolen.
active passive
Somebody will clean the office tomorrow.
Somebody must clean the office.
I think they'll invite you to the party.
They can't repair my watch.
You should wash this sweater by hand.
They are going to build a new airport.
Somebody has to wash these clothes.
They had to take the injured man to hospital.
The office will be cleaned tomorrow.
The office must be cleaned.
I think you'll be invited to the party.
My watch can't be repaired.
This sweater should be washed by hand.
A new airport is going to be built.
These clothes have to be washed.
The injured man had to be taken to hospital.