1. Review: the future tense
The future tense is used to talk about what will happen in the future.
To make the future tense, use:
- subject + will + verb
- subject + (be) going to + verb
| will + v. | be going to + v. |
|---|---|
| I will go to class on Monday. | Frank is going to take a taxi to the bank. |
| He will steal the car tomorrow. | They are going to have a fight. |
2. What is the passive voice?
The passive voice changes ‘x did something to y’ into ‘y has something done to it (by x)’.
It is made by:
- object + be + perfect participle (+ by subject)
*Perfect participle (p.p.) = gone, done, seen, eaten etc.
‘Be’ changes depending on the tense you want to use (present, past, future, perfect, etc.).
3. The future tense (passive voice)
The future tense (passive) uses the structures:
- object + be (future) + perfect participle (+ by subject)
- object + (be) going to be + perfect participle (+ by subject)
| Object | Will be / (be) going to be | P.p. | By subject | Future time | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| the dinner | will be | cooked | by the staff | tonight | The dinner will be cooked by the staff tonight. |
| the penalty | will be | taken | by Jones | – | The penalty will be taken by Jones. |
| I | am going to be | met | by Julia | I am going to be met at the airport by Julia. | |
| The match | is going to be | replayed | next month | The match is going to be replayed next month. |
4. Converting a future tense into its passive voice
To change a future tense into its passive form:
1. swap the subject and object
2. change ‘will …’ to ‘will be + p.p.’
| Future tense | Future tense (passive) |
|---|---|
| I will do the dishes after dinner. | The dishes will be done after dinner. |
| They will paint the house next week. | The house will be painted next week. |
| The company will fire her this afternoon. | She will be fired by the company this afternoon. |
| Magnus is going to open a new sweet shop on Main Street. | A new sweet shop is going to be opened by Magnus on Main Street. |
| Cats are always chasing birds. | Birds are always being chased by cats. |
| Louise is going to prepare the room for Saturday’s party. | The room for Saturday’s party is going to be prepared by Louise. |
5. Exercises
1. Change these sentences in the passive voice.
(i) They will be rowing the boat with all their strength.
(ii) Armstrong’s will publish the book.
(iii) We will be giving free speakers with these computers.
2. Change these sentences out of the passive voice.
(i) The exams will be taken on Tuesday.
(ii) Everyone who helped will be rewarded by the management.
(iii) The game will be cancelled by the referee because of the bad weather.