Past Passives

[5] PAST SIMPLE

Active: SUBJECT + VERB 2+ OBJECT
Passive: SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + VERB 3 + BY AGENT

For examples,
Active: She invited friends for dinner last night.
Passive: Friends were invited (by her) for dinner last night.

Active: They cleaned their house before new year.
Passive: Their house was cleaned (by them) before new year.



[6] PAST CONTINUOUS

Active: SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + VERB-ING+ OBJECT
Passive: SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + BEING + VERB 3 + BY AGENT

For examples,
Active: She was drawing a picture.
Passive: A picture was being drawn (by her).

Active: We were cutting the grass when you called.
Passive: The grass was being cut (by us) when you called.



[7] PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Active: SUBJECT + HAD + VERB 3 + OBJECT
Passive: SUBJECT + HAD + BEEN + VERB 3 + BY AGENT

For examples,
Active: They had sold a company before setting up a new one.
Passive: A company had been sold (by them) before setting up a new one.

Active: He had finished the food when we arrived.
Passive: The food had been finished (by him) when we arrived.



[8] PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Active: SUBJECT + HAD + BEEN + VERB-ING + OBJECT
Passive: SUBJECT + HAD + BEEN + BEING + VERB 3 + BY AGENT

For examples,
Active: The police had been investigating them for long.
Passive: They had been being investigated by the police for long.

Active: They had been selling a lot of drug before arrested.
Passive: A lot of drug had been being sold by them before arrested.