{"id":44142,"date":"2023-07-07T16:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T13:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.englishcentral.com\/blog\/?p=44142"},"modified":"2023-11-15T14:50:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T11:50:53","slug":"simple-past-tense-passive-voice-explanation-with-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishcentral.com\/blog\/en\/simple-past-tense-passive-voice-explanation-with-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Past Tense Passive Voice: Explanation with Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Verbs are words that are used with a subject to say what something\/someone does<\/strong> or what happens<\/strong> to them, or simply to inform the observer about their state of being.<\/strong> These verbs can be used with various tenses depending on the time that the action happens. The simple past tense<\/strong> is one of these tenses which is used to refer to actions that are completed in a period of time before the present<\/strong>. The passive voice of simple past tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb \u201cwas\/were\u201d and the past participle of the main verb. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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How to Make Simple Past Passive Sentences<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The passive voice of simple past tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb \u201cwas\/were\u201d and the past participle of the main verb. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. To form a sentence in passive voice of simple past tense, we use the following rules:<\/p>\n

We convert the object of the Active Voice Sentence into the subject of the Passive Voice Sentence.
\nWe use the auxiliary verb was\/were according to the subject of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nWe use the past participle form of the verb.
\nWe then use the word \u201cby\u201d, to show the doer of the action.
\nThen we convert the subject of the Active Voice Sentence into the object of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nWe add the remaining words if there are any in the Active Voice Sentence at last.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Simple Past Positive Passive Sentences
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The passive voice of simple past tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb \u201cwas\/were\u201d and the past participle of the main verb. To form a positive sentence in passive voice of simple past tense, we use the following rules:<\/p>\n

We convert the object of the Active Voice Sentence into the subject of the Passive Voice Sentence.
\nWe use the auxiliary verb was\/were according to the subject of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nWe use the past participle form of the verb.
\nWe then use the word \u201cby\u201d, to show the doer of the action.
\nThen we convert the subject of the Active Voice Sentence into the object of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nWe add the remaining words if there are any in the Active Voice Sentence at last.<\/p>\n

The structure formula is:<\/p>\n

Object of Active Sentence + was\/were + past participle of main verb + by + Subject of Active Sentence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Object<\/th>Auxiliary verb<\/th>Main Verb<\/th>By<\/th>Subject<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were<\/td>Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>I<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were<\/td>Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were<\/td>Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>We<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were<\/td>Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>They<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were<\/td>Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>He<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were<\/td>Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>She<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were<\/td>Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>It<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Active voice:<\/strong> I (Subject) + bought (V2) + two sandwiches (Object).
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Two sandwiches (Object) + were (Auxiliary verb) + bought (V3) + by me (By + subject).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Simple Past Tense Positive Passive Examples:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here are some positive sentence examples in Simple Past Tense Passive voice.<\/p>\n

Active voice:<\/strong> I wrote an amazing book.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> An amazing book was written (by me).
\nActive voice:<\/strong> I helped Jim a lot .
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Jim was helped a lot (by me).
\nActive voice:<\/strong> She bought two apples.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Two apples were bought by her.
\nActive voice:<\/strong> My mother baked the food.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> The food was baked by my mother.
\nActive voice:<\/strong> The teacher read the book.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> The book was read by the teacher.
\nActive voice:<\/strong> I prepared pizza for everyone in the house.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Pizza was prepared for everyone in the house (by me).
\nActive voice:<\/strong> Luke bought a bike recently.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> A bike was bought recently (by Luka).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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Simple Past Tense Negative Passive Sentences
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We use Simple Past Tense Negative Passive Sentences to deny situations that occurred and finished in the past. To form a negative sentence in passive voice of simple past tense, we follow these steps:
\nWe convert the object of the Active Voice Sentence into the subject of the Passive Voice Sentence.
\nWe use the auxiliary verb was\/were according to the subject of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nThen we add \u201cnot\u201d in order to make the sentence negative.
\nWe use the past participle form of the verb.
\nWe then use the word \u201cby\u201d, to show the doer of the action.
\nThen we convert the subject of the Active Voice Sentence into the object of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nWe add the remaining words if there are any in the Active Voice Sentence at last.<\/p>\n

The structure formula is:<\/p>\n

Object of Active Sentence + was\/were not + past participle of main verb + by + Subject of Active Sentence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Object<\/th>Auxiliary verb<\/th>Main Verb<\/th>By<\/th>Subject<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were
\n+
\nNot<\/td>		Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>I<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>		Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>		Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>We<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>		Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>They<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>		Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>He<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>		Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>She<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Object<\/td>Was\/were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>		Past participle of the verb (V3)<\/td>By<\/td>It<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Active voice:<\/strong> I (Subject) + did + not + buy + two sandwiches (Object).
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Two sandwiches (Object) + were (Auxiliary verb) + not + bought (V3) + by me (By + subject).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Simple Past Tense Negative Passive Examples:
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Active voice: I did not write an amazing book.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> An amazing book was not written (by me).
\nActive voice:<\/strong> I did not help Jim a lot.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Jim was not helped a lot (by me).
\nActive voice:<\/strong> She did not buy two apples.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Two apples were not bought by her.
\nActive voice:<\/strong> My mother did not bake the food.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> The food was not baked by my mother.
\nActive voice:<\/strong> The teacher did not read the book.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> The book was not read by the teacher.
\nActive voice:<\/strong> I did not prepare pizza for everyone in the house.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> Pizza was not prepared for everyone in the house (by me).
\nActive voice:<\/strong> Luke did not buy a bike recently.
\nPassive voice:<\/strong> A bike was not bought recently (by Luka).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Passive Questions in Simple Past Tense
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To form passive questions in simple past tense, we can follow these steps:
\nWe use the auxiliary verb was\/were according to the subject of the Passive Voice Sentence.
\nWe convert the object of the Active Voice Sentence into the subject of the Passive Voice Sentence.
\nWe use the past participle form of the verb.
\nThen we use the word \u201cby\u201d, to show the doer of the action.
\nThen we convert the subject of the Active Sentence into the object of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nWe then put the remaining words if there are any.
\nAt last, we use the sign of interrogation \u201c?\u201d.<\/p>\n

For example:
\nActive:<\/strong> Did she eat the burger?
\nPassive:<\/strong> Was the burger eaten by you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Auxiliary verb<\/th>Object<\/th>Main Verb<\/th>By<\/th>Subject<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Past participle of the main verb<\/td>By<\/td>I<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Past participle of the main verb<\/td>By<\/td>You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Past participle of the main verb<\/td>By<\/td>We<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Past participle of the main verb<\/td>By<\/td>They<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Past participle of the main verb<\/td>By<\/td>He<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Past participle of the main verb<\/td>By<\/td>She<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Past participle of the main verb<\/td>By<\/td>It<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Simple Past Tense Passive Interrogative Examples:
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here are some positive passive interrogative examples in Simple Past Tense:<\/p>\n

Active Voice:<\/strong> Did they stop him there?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was he stopped by them there?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Did you drink cold tea?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was cold drink drunk by you?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Did she light two torches?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Were two torches lit by her?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Why did he not invite her to the party?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Why was she not invited by him to the party?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Did they fire him at night?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was he fired by them at night?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Did she divorce him?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was he divorced from her?<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Negative Passive Interrogative Sentences in Simple Past Tense
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To form passive questions in simple past tense, we can follow these steps:
\nWe use the auxiliary verb was\/were according to the subject of the Passive Voice Sentence.
\nWe convert the object of the Active Voice Sentence into the subject of the Passive Voice Sentence.
\nWe use \u201cnot\u201d to make the sentence negative.
\nWe use the past participle form of the verb.
\nThen we use the word \u201cby\u201d, to show the doer of the action.
\nThen we convert the subject of the Active Sentence into the object of the Passive Voice sentence.
\nWe then put the remaining words if there are any.
\nAt last, we use the sign of interrogation \u201c?\u201d.<\/p>\n

For example:
\na) Active Voice: Didn\u2019t you eat a sandwich?
\nb) Passive Voice: Was the sandwich not eaten by you?<\/p>\n

Negative Passive Interrogative Sentences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Auxiliary verb<\/th>Object<\/th>Not + Main Verb<\/th>By<\/th>Subject<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Not
\n+
\nPast Participle of the verb<\/td>		By<\/td>I<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Not
\r\n+
\r\nPast Participle of the verb<\/td>		By<\/td>You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Not
\r\n+
\r\nPast Participle of the verb<\/td>		By<\/td>We<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Not
\r\n+
\r\nPast Participle of the verb<\/td>		By<\/td>They<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Not
\r\n+
\r\nPast Participle of the verb<\/td>		By<\/td>He<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Not
\r\n+
\r\nPast Participle of the verb<\/td>		By<\/td>She<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was\/Were<\/td>Object<\/td>Not
\r\n+
\r\nPast Participle of the verb<\/td>		By<\/td>It<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n
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Simple Past Tense Negative Passive Interrogative Examples:
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here are some negative passive interrogative examples in Simple Past Tense:<\/p>\n

Active Voice:<\/strong> Did they not stop him there?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was he not stopped by them there?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Didn\u2019t you drink cold tea?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was cold drink not drunk by you?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Didn\u2019t she light two torches?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Were two torches not lit by her?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Why did he not invite her to the party?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Why was she not invited by him to the party?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Did they not fire him at night?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was he not fired by them at night?
\nActive Voice:<\/strong> Did she not divorce him?
\nPassive Voice:<\/strong> Was he not divorced from her?<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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Short Answers in Simple Past Tense Passive<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To form short answers in simple past tense passive voice, we we can follow these steps:
\nWe use \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d according to the question.
\nWe use the needed subject.
\nWe use \u201cwas\u201d or \u201cwere\u201d according to the subject of the sentence..
\nWe use the past participle form of the verb.<\/p>\n

Positive Answers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Confirmation word<\/th>Subject<\/th>Auxiliary Verb<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yes<\/td>I<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yes<\/td>You<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yes<\/td>We<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yes<\/td>They<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yes<\/td>He<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yes<\/td>She<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yes<\/td>It<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Was the burger eaten by you? \/ Yes, it was.<\/strong>
\nWas the homework done by him? \/ Yes, it was.<\/strong>
\nWas the letter sent? \/ Yes, it was.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Negative answers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Denial word<\/th>Subject<\/th>Auxiliary verb<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
No,<\/td>I<\/td>Was \/ Were
\n+
\nNot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No,<\/td>You<\/td>Was \/ Were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No,<\/td>We<\/td>Was \/ Were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No,<\/td>They<\/td>Was \/ Were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No,<\/td>He<\/td>Was \/ Were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No,<\/td>She<\/td>Was \/ Were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No,<\/td>It<\/td>Was \/ Were
\r\n+
\r\nNot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Was the burger eaten by you? \/No, it wasn\u2019t.<\/strong>
\nWas the homework done by him? \/ No, it wasn\u2019t.<\/strong>
\nWas the letter sent? \/ No, it wasn\u2019t.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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Wh- Questions in Simple Past Tense Passive<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To ask for more specific information, we can include question words in our passive voice questions. These question words include \u201cwho, what, where, when, how etc.\u201d. To ask a passive question in Simple Past Tense with these question words, we need to follow this simple formula:<\/p>\n

Wh- word + object + was\/were + past participle form of the verb (V3) + by + subject + ?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t
Question Word<\/th>Object<\/th>Auxiliary Verb<\/th>Verb<\/th>By<\/th>Subject<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Who, what, where, when, how<\/td>Object<\/td>Was\/Were<\/td>V3<\/td>By<\/td>He\/She\/It<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>You\/We\/They<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Here are some examples of Wh- question sentences in Simple Past Tense Passive:<\/p>\n

What was eaten by you?<\/p>\n

What was drunk by him?<\/p>\n

Who was seen ?<\/p>\n

Who was beaten?<\/p>\n

Why were you kicked?<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Frequently Asked Questions About Simple Past Tense Passive Voice
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What are some examples of Simple Past Passive Voice sentences?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some examples for Simple Past Passive voice sentences:
\nThis was never done before.
\nAn amazing book was written.
\nThe bananas were eaten.<\/p>\n

What are some examples of negative Simple Past Passive Voice sentences?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some examples for negative Simple Past Passive voice sentences:
\nMath was not taught by Laura at high school.
\nHe was not invited by them.
\nI was not helped.<\/p>\n

What are some examples of interrogative Simple Past Passive Voice sentences?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some examples for interrogative Simple Past Passive voice sentences:<\/p>\n

Was the burger eaten by you?
\nWas the homework done by him?
\nWas the letter sent?<\/p>\n

What is the difference between active voice and passive voice?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

In an active voice, the subject is performing the action. It is always known who is doing the action. In a passive voice, the subject is the receiver of the action. It is not always clear who is doing the action. To give the information about the carrier of the action, we use the preposition \u201cby\u201d followed by the agent of the action.<\/p>\n