Archive for the ‘English Grammar’ Category

Passive verb forms overview

December 28th, 2011 in English Grammar

Here is a list of all the passive verb forms of the ordinary English verbs break and paint.

Simple present: is / are + broken; is / are + painted

The furniture is broken up for firewood.

The rooms are painted.

Present continuous: is / are + being + broken; is / are + being + painted

The furniture is being broken up for firewood.

The rooms are being painted.

Present perfect: has / have + been + broken; has / have + been + painted

The furniture has been broken up for firewood.

The rooms have been painted.

Simple past: was / were + broken; was / were + painted

The furniture was broken up for firewood.

The rooms were painted.

Past continuous: was / were + being + broken; was / were + being + painted

The furniture was being broken up for firewood.

The rooms were being painted.

Past perfect: had + been + broken; had + been + painted

The furniture had been broken up for firewood.

The rooms had been painted.

Simple future: will + be + broken; will + be + painted

The furniture will be broken up for firewood.

The rooms will be painted.

Future perfect: will + have + been + broken; will + have + been + painted

The furniture will have been broken up for firewood.

The rooms will have been painted.

The passive forms of future continuous and present perfect continuous are unusual.