Try using this fun Verb Machine online link to practise your verbs.
Go to the link below and then follow the instructions.
You can choose between verb, tense, mood and voice to see examples of form.
Verb Machine
1) … when we don’t know, or we are not interested in, who does an action.
- My car was stolen yesterday.
We don’t know who stole the car.
- A lot of wine is produced in France.
It’s not important who produces the wine.
2) … when the main topic of the sentence isn’t who did the action.
2) … when the main topic of the sentence isn’t who did the action.
- Television was invented in the 1920s by John Logie Baird.
The main topic here is television – we aren’t particularly interested in ‘who’.
- Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
In English we tend to put the most important thing at the start of the sentence.
3) … more in written English than in spoken English.
3) … more in written English than in spoken English.
- War and Peace was written by Tolstoy.
You often see the passive in textbooks.
- The mixture is heated to 500˚C.
Scientific texts especially use the passive.
Tenses
The passive can be used with all tenses - the form of ‘be’ changes.
Tenses
The passive can be used with all tenses - the form of ‘be’ changes.
- What is tiramisu made from?. Present Simple.
- The hall is being painted this week so our class will be in a different room. Present Continuous.
- Oranges have been grown here for centuries. Present Perfect.
- When he got home he found that his flat had been burgled. Past Perfect.
- The work won’t be finished until next week. Future Simple.
Modal verbs also use ‘be’ and the past participle.
