Introduction to Present Continuous Tense: Passive Voice
What is the Present Continuous Tense?
The Present Continuous Tense describes actions that are happening right now or ongoing at the moment of speaking.
When and Why is Passive Voice Used in Present Continuous?
The passive voice is used when:
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The focus is on the action, not the doer.
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The doer is unknown or unimportant.
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It is important to sound formal or objective in writing or speech.
Importance of Formal Writing and Communication
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Common in news reports, official memos, and academic content.
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Helps in maintaining a neutral and professional tone.
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Used when the receiver of the action is more important than the doer.
2. Review of Present Continuous Tense: Active Voice
Structure:
Subject + is/am/are + 1st form of verb + ing + object
Examples:
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He is cleaning the room.
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They are preparing dinner.
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I am writing a letter.
3. Structure of Present Continuous Tense: Passive Voice
Structure:
Object + is/am/are + being + 3rd form of verb + (by + subject)
Examples:
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The room is being cleaned by him.
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Dinner is being prepared by them.
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A letter is being written by me.
4. Identification: How to Recognize Present Continuous Passive Sentences
Urdu Sentence Clue:
جملے جن کا اختتام “رہی ہے، رہے ہیں، رہا ہے” کے ساتھ “جا” لگا ہو
جیسے:
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کام کیا جا رہا ہے۔
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کتاب پڑھی جا رہی ہے۔
Helping verbs: is/am/are + being
Verb: Always 3rd form (Past Participle)
5. Rules to Convert Active to Passive (Present Continuous Tense)
| Step | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify Subject, Verb, Object | He is cleaning the car. |
| 2 | Shift Object to Subject Place | The car… |
| 3 | Use correct form of “is/am/are + being.” | The car is being… |
| 4 | Use 3rd form of the verb | The car is being cleaned… |
| 5 | Add “by” + original subject (if needed) | The car is being cleaned by him. |
6. Examples: Active to Passive Conversion
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| She is washing the clothes. | The clothes are being washed by her. |
| They are building a house. | A house is being built by them. |
| I am writing an email. | An email is being written by me. |
| He is fixing the computer. | The computer is being fixed by him. |
7. Negative Sentences in Passive Voice
Structure:
Object + is/am/are + not + being + 3rd form + (by + subject)
Examples:
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He is not reading the book → The book is not being read by him.
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They are not making lunch → Lunch is not being made by them.
8. Interrogative Sentences in Passive Voice
a. Yes/No Questions
Structure:
Is/Am/Are + object + being + 3rd form + (by + subject)?
Example:
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Is she cleaning the kitchen? → Is the kitchen being cleaned by her?
b. Wh-Questions
Structure:
Wh-word + is/am/are + object + being + 3rd form + (by + subject)?
Example:
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What is he writing? → What is being written by him?
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Why are they painting the wall? → Why is the wall being painted by them?
