Page 251 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

A p p e n d i x 1 P a s s i v e v e r b f o r m s

Present simple
active: tell(s) John tells me that you're thinking of leaving.
passive: am/is/are told I'm told (by John) that you're thinking of leaving.
Past simple
active: told John told me that you were leaving.
passive: was/were told I was told (by John) that you were leaving.
Present perfect
active: have/has told John has told me that you are leaving.
passive: have/has been told I have been told (by John) that you are leaving.
Past perfect
active: had told John had already told me that you were leaving.
passive: had been told I had already been told (by John) that you
were leaving.
Present continuous
active: am/is/are telling John is always telling me that you are leaving.
passive: am/is/are being told I am always being told (by John) that you are leaving.
Past continuous
active: was/were telling John was always telling me that you were leaving.
passive: was/were being told I was always being told (by John) that you were leaving.
Future simple
active: will tell I will tell John that you are leaving.
passive: will be told John will be told (by me) that you are leaving.
Future perfect
active: will have told By tomorrow I will have told John that you are leaving.
passive: will have been told By tomorrow John will have been told that you
are leaving.

Present perfect continuous (rare in the passive)
active: has/have been telling John has been telling me for ages that you are leaving.
passive: has/have been being I have been being told (by John) for ages that you
told are leaving.

Other passive verb forms are very rare.

Modal verbs with passives

active: should/could/might/ought to (etc.) tell You should tell John.
passive: should/could/might/ought to (etc.) be told John should be told.
active: should/could/might/ought to (etc.) have told You should have told John.
passive: should/could/might/ought to (etc.) have been told John should have been told.
active: should/could/might/ought to (etc.) have You should have been telling
been telling John while I was outside.
passive: should/could/might/ought to (etc.) have been John should have been being
being told told while I was outside.

Other passive verb forms are very rare.
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