Passives

What the ... thing is that? Well, I'll try to explain.

Passive Voice of the Verb is NOT when YOU do something, but when something is done TO YOU:

IT'S NOT 'I ask questions all the time.' - Я запитую весь час. BUT 
                 'I am asked questions all the time!' - Мене запитують весь час.

Passive Voice of the Verb is used when it's not important WHO did something, but WHAT was done:

The castle was built in the 10th century. - Замок був збудований в десятому столітті.

So, how do we form the passive voice? You can use this formula: be + V3(ed) (where be  changes and V3(ed) always remains the same)

SIMPLE / INDEFINITE TENSE

PRESENT: am/is/are +  V3(ed)

Usage: A regular, repeated action; facts.

e.g. (Latin exempli gratia = for example)
(active)    I write messages to my friends every evening. - Я пишу повідомлення своїм друзям кожного вечора.
                 (I do smth.)
(passive)  Messages are written every day. - Повідомлення пишуть щодня.
                  (what is done)
More examples:
I am often misunderstood. - Мене часто неправильно розуміють.
This novel isn't read by many people. Цей роман не читає багато людей.
Where are these beautiful flowers grown? - Де вирощують ці красиві квіти?

PAST: was/were +  V3(ed)

Usage: A finished action in the past. Important WHEN?

e.g.
(active)    We saw 'Twilight' last week.. - Ми бачили "Сутінки" минулого тижня.
                 (We did smth.)
(passive)  'Twilight' was seen by a lot of people last week. - "Сутінки" бачили багато людей минулого тижня.
                  (what was done)
More examples:
A lot of innocent people were killed during World War II. - Багато невинних людей було вбито під час Другої світової війни.
A series of novels 'The Vampire Diaries' wasn't written by Stephenie Meyer. - Серія романів "Щоденники вампіра" не була написана Стефені Маєр.
Why were you given the prize? - Чому тобі дали приз?

When you want to mention WHO does the action or WHAT causes it, you can add by + a person/people or by + a thing/things.
e.g.   Animals are treated by vets. - Тварин лікують ветеринари.
         Some roads are blocked by fallen trees. - Деякі дороги заблоковано деревами, що попадали.
         A series of novels 'The Vampire Diaries' was written by L.J. Smith. -  Серія романів "Щоденники вампіра" була написана Лізою Джейн Сміт.


REMEMBER, only transitive verbs (verbs with objects, e.g. read me a book, where book and me are objects) can be used in passive.