Passive Voice

Passive Voice in Finished-Result Verbs 

Some verbs refer to actions that produce a finished result. Examples are cut, build, pack and close. The past participles of these finished - result verbs, and some of their passive voice tenses, can have two meanings. They can refer to the action, or they can describe the result (rather like adjectives) Compare: 

The theatre was closed by the police on the orders of the mayor. (refers to the state the action of closing)

When I got there I found that the theatre was closed. (refers to the state of being shut - the result of the action) 

Because of this, present passive forms can have similar meanings to present perfect passives.

Examples:

The vegetables are all cut up - what shall I do now? (= The vegetables have all been cut up.)

I got caught in the rain and my suit is ruined. (=...has been ruined.)

I think your ankle is broken. (=...has been broken.) 

Active Verbs with Passive Meaning 

Not all active verbs have 'active' meanings; for instance, if you say that somebody receives something or suffers, you are really saying that something is done to him/her.

Examples: 

    My shoes are wearing out.

    She is sitting.

    Suddenly the door opened. 

Confusing Forms 

Students often confuse active and passive verbs forms in English. Typical mistakes:

I was very interesting in the lesson.

We were questioning by the immigration officer.

She has put in prison for life.

Mistakes like these are because:

Be is used to make both passive voice verb forms and active progressive tenses and past participles are used to make both passive voice verb forms and active perfect tenses. 

Compare:

            He was calling. (Active - past progressive)

            He was called. (Passive - simple past)

            He has called. (Active - present perfect simple)

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