mpt · CSS study notes
Part 1 — Foundations, Objects, Pronouns & V3
1. Active voice
In active voice, the subject performs the action.
Pattern
Subject + verb + object
Example
The teacher explains the lesson.
- Subject: the teacher
- Verb: explains
- Object: the lesson
The teacher performs the action.
2. Passive voice
In passive voice, the receiver of the action becomes the subject.
Pattern
Object + correct form of be + V3 + optional by + doer
Example
The lesson is explained by the teacher.
- New subject: the lesson
- Passive verb: is explained
- Doer: the teacher
3. The passive formula
The central passive structure is:
be + V3
The form of be changes with the tense and the new subject.
The main verb always becomes its past participle, or V3.
Examples
is written
was written
has been written
will be written
can be written
4. Find the object first
Only a sentence with an object can normally become passive.
Ask what? or whom? after the verb.
Example 1
Ali opened the door.
Ali opened what?
the door
Therefore, the sentence can become passive:
The door was opened by Ali.
Example 2
The teacher praised Sara.
The teacher praised whom?
Sara
Passive:
Sara was praised by the teacher.
5. Transitive verbs can form the passive
A transitive verb takes an object.
Examples
She wrote a letter.
They built a bridge.
The police arrested the thief.
These can become passive:
A letter was written by her.
A bridge was built by them.
The thief was arrested by the police.
6. Intransitive verbs normally cannot form the passive
An intransitive verb has no object.
Common examples include:
sleep, arrive, die, happen, occur, go, come, fall, laugh
Examples
The baby slept.
There is no object.
A passive sentence cannot be formed.
The accident happened yesterday.
There is no receiver of the action.
Do not write:
Yesterday was happened by the accident.
That sentence is incorrect.
🧠
Object test
If you cannot answer what? or whom? after the verb, the sentence normally cannot become passive.
7. Linking verbs do not form ordinary passives
Linking verbs connect the subject with a description or identity.
Common examples:
be, seem, become, appear, look, feel
Example
She is intelligent.
Intelligent is not an object. It describes the subject.
No passive form is possible.
Example
He became a doctor.
A doctor identifies the subject. It is a complement, not an object.
Do not convert it into passive.
8. The object becomes the new subject
Active
The boy broke the window.
Passive
The window was broken by the boy.
The original object the window becomes the new subject.
The original subject the boy moves after by.
9. Pronoun changes
Pronouns change form when their grammatical role changes.
| Subject form | Object form |
|---|---|
| I | me |
| we | us |
| you | you |
| he | him |
| she | her |
| it | it |
| they | them |
Example: object becomes subject
Active
They helped her.
Passive
She was helped by them.
Her changes to she because it becomes the subject.
Example: subject moves after “by”
Active
He wrote the letter.
Passive
The letter was written by him.
He changes to him after the preposition by.
Example
Active
She invited us.
Passive
We were invited by her.
10. Learn V1, V2 and V3
The passive voice always uses V3.
| V1 | V2 | V3 |
|---|---|---|
| write | wrote | written |
| break | broke | broken |
| choose | chose | chosen |
| give | gave | given |
| take | took | taken |
| see | saw | seen |
| do | did | done |
| make | made | made |
| send | sent | sent |
| build | built | built |
Common MPT error
The window was broke by the boy. ❌
The window was broken by the boy. ✅
After a form of be, use V3.
11. Agreement in passive voice
The form of be agrees with the new subject.
Singular new subject
The letter is written.
The letter was written.
Plural new subject
The letters are written.
The letters were written.
Common mistake
The letters is written by her. ❌
The letters are written by her. ✅
12. “By + doer” is optional
Use by + doer only when the doer is important, surprising, or necessary.
Keep the doer
Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
The identity of the writer matters.
Remove the doer
My phone was stolen.
The thief is unknown.
English is spoken worldwide.
The general doer, people, is obvious and unimportant.
The road was repaired yesterday.
The focus is the road and the result.
13. Why passive voice is used
The doer is unknown
The window was broken.
The doer is unimportant
Rice is grown in many countries.
The action or result is more important
The bridge has been completed.
Formal or official style
The applications will be reviewed.
Scientific writing
The solution was heated to 80°C.
Avoiding direct blame
A mistake was made.
14. Quick conversion practice
Sentence 1
Sara cleans the room.
Object:
the room
Tense:
present simple
Passive:
The room is cleaned by Sara.
Sentence 2
The workers built the bridge.
Object:
the bridge
Tense:
simple past
Passive:
The bridge was built by the workers.
Sentence 3
Someone has stolen my bag.
Object:
my bag
Tense:
present perfect
Passive:
My bag has been stolen.
The doer someone is omitted because it adds no useful information.