Positive form
to be + Participle II
|
Tense |
Form |
Example | |
|
Present Simple |
am/is/are + kept |
The books are delivered here. | |
|
Present Continuous |
am/is/are + being kept |
The bridge is being repaired. | |
|
Past Simple |
was/were + kept |
The window was broken. | |
|
Past Continuous |
was/were + being kept |
The football player was being carried off the field. | |
|
Present Perfect |
have/has + been kept |
This letter has been opened. | |
|
Past Perfect |
had been + kept |
I came too late: all my papers had been removed. | |
|
Future Simple |
will be + kept |
They will be met at the station. | |
|
|
am/is/are was/were |
going + to be kept |
A new president is going to be elected next year. The tournament was going to be held at 2 p.m., it was rescheduled to 5 p.m. |
|
|
have/has/ had will have |
to be kept |
These books have to be returned to the library by Friday. |
|
|
must can could may etc. |
be kept |
Identity badges must be worn by all visitors. A beautiful lake can/ could be seen from his bedroom window. The art exhibition may be arranged next month. |
to
be going to
have
to
Modal
Verbs
NOTE:
Present/Past Perfect Continuous, Future Continuous/Perfect are very uncommon in the passive.
Exercise 1. Put the verbs in brackets into a suitable passive tense.
Example: Football is very popular. It is played (play) all over the world.
1. These CD players are very reliable. They ___ (make) in Japan
2. I can't give you a lift to work. My car ___ (damage)last night.
3. We needn't stay late at work. The meeting ___ (cancel) by the managing director.
4. The conference will have ___ (postpone).
5. Dr. Grey isn't available at the moment. He ___ (interview).
6. When I got back to the car park, my car wasn't there. It ___ (steal).
7. The news is going ___ (announce) tomorrow.
8. I couldn't use the photocopier this morning. It ___ (repair).
9. Tomorrow the ship will arrive at the next port of call. Don't worry, all the letters ___ (send) then.
10. All travel expenses for the training course must ___ (pay) by employers.
Negative form
|
Tense |
Form |
Example |
|
Present Simple |
am not/isn't/aren't + kept |
The books aren't sent to London by train. |
|
Present Continuous |
am not/isn't/aren't + being kept |
Jill's house isn't being painted at the moment. |
|
Past Simple |
wasn't/weren't + kept |
The car engine wasn't checked thoroughly. |
|
Past Continuous |
wasn't/weren't + being kept |
The equipment wasn't being installed when the manager came. | |
|
Present Perfect |
haven't/hasn't + been kept |
The rubbish hasn't been collected. | |
|
Past Perfect |
hadn't + been kept |
The windows hadn't been broken when they arrived home. | |
|
Future Simple |
won't + be kept |
All the documents won't be signed till Wednesday. | |
|
|
am not/isn't/ aren't wasn't/weren't |
going + to be kept |
The new hospital isn't going to be built next year. The mail wasn't going to be sent immediately. |
|
|
don't/doesn't have didn't have won't have |
to be kept |
The form doesn't have to be signed in the presence of a lawyer. |
|
|
mustn't can't couldn't etc. |
be kept |
Perfect copies of a Renoir or a Picasso couldn't be bought some years ago. Rules of behaviour mustn't be neglected. Cheap clothes can't be bought at this shop |
to
be going
have
to
Modal
Verbs
Exercise 2. Rewrite these sentences. Begin with the words provided.
Example: They don't owe much money to the bank. Much money isn't owed to the bank.
1. Nobody checks the water level every day. The water level __.
2. The police aren't questioning James. James __.
3. We didn't invite the Browns to the wedding. The Browns __.
4. You mustn't keep meat in this place. Meat __.
5.1 haven't told the children about the party. The children __.
6. They weren't painting the house when it began to rain. The house __.
7. The bank isn't going to change the design of bank notes. The design of bank notes __.
8. The watchman won't blow a whistle if there's no emergency. A whistle __.
9. Fortunately, by the time Sam and Pamela arrived at the concert hall, there were still some tickets left. The tickets __.
10. You can't see his birthplace because they haven't preserved it. His birthplace__.