The Passive
Look at the constructions:
Present simple / Past simple
|
Subject |
to be |
past participle of verb |
(by + object pronoun/name) |
|
The song |
is |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
|
The song |
was |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
Grapes are grown in France.The dishes were washed by my mother.
Present continuous / Past continuous
|
Subject |
to be |
being |
past participle of verb |
(by + object pronoun/name) |
|
The song |
is |
being |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
|
The song |
was |
being |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
The house is being painted.The dog was being washed when I went into the room.
Present Perfect / Past Perfect
|
Subject |
to have |
been |
past participle of verb |
(by + object pronoun/name) |
|
The song |
has |
been |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
|
The song |
had |
been |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
The car has been repaired.The door had been painted before I came home.
Future with going to / future in the past
|
Subject |
to be |
going to be |
past participle of verb |
(by + object pronoun/name) |
|
The song |
is |
going to be |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
|
The song |
was |
going to be |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
The house is going to be built next year.The car was going to be washed when it started raining.
Modal verbs
|
Subject |
modal verbs |
be |
past participle of verb |
(by + object pronoun/name) |
|
The song |
will |
be |
sung |
by Bob Dylan. |
The house should be built.The car ought to be cleaned.The dog must be fed.
* Note There is no passive form of the present perfect continuous or past perfect continuous.