The passive voice Utilizamos a voz passiva com o intuito de fazer com que a ação fique mais evidente do que quem a realiza ou pela ausência de informações a respeito de quem cometeu tal ato ou, simplesmente, pelo fato de a publicação preferir evidenciá-la em detrimento de quem a realizou. Quando o foco está em quem realiza a ação usamos a voz ativa (active voice): Mr Smith locks the gate at 6 o’clock every night. The storm destroyed dozen of trees. Quando o foco está em quem sofre a ação, usamos a voz passiva (passive voice): The gate is locked at 6 o’clock every night. Dozens of trees were destroyed. A voz passiva é formada pelo auxiliar be e o past participle do verbo principal: Two new stores were opened this year. The room had been cleaned. Se você usar a voz passiva e você quiser mencionar quem realizou a ação, use by: He had been poisoned by his girlfriend. She was brought up by an aunt. Veja outros exemplos: Simple Present –  The gate is locked at 5 pm. Present Progressive – Jobs are still being lost. Simple Past – He was killed in a plane crash. Future – The books will be sent to you. Present Perfect – The car has been stolen. Past Perfect – This phone bill had not been paid. Future Perfect – Further information will have been sent by then. Modals – What can be done? Referência: Student’s Grammar. Harper Collins Publishers.