Passive voice
Quick Learn
The passive voice shifts focus from the person performing the action to the person or thing receiving the action.
Remember
- Form it with the verb be and the past participle: English is spoken, the bridge was built.
- Present simple passive uses am, is, or are: cars are manufactured in this modern factory.
- Past simple passive uses was or were: the parcel was delivered to the office yesterday.
Examples
- 1English is spoken as an official language in dozens of countries worldwide.
- 2This magnificent stone cathedral was built more than five centuries ago.
Common Trap to Avoid
Intransitive verbs that cannot take an object can never be made passive: say an accident happened, never an accident was happened.
Deep Dive
The rule
Focus on the action
The Passive Voice is used when the focus of the sentence is on the action itself or on the person or object that experiences or receives the action, rather than on who performed it. Active Voice focuses on the agent:
- Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Passive Voice focuses on the recipient/result:
- Penicillin was discovered in 1928.
The form
Structural Formula (A2 Level): Subject + appropriate form of BE + Past Participle (third form of the verb) (+ by agent).
Present and past passive
(1) Present Simple Passive: am / is / are + past participle:
- English is spoken by millions of people across the globe
- Millions of packages are delivered every single day
- Butter is made from cow's milk
(2) Past Simple Passive: was / were + past participle:
- This historical stone castle was built in the twelfth century
- The telephone was invented in the nineteenth century
- Two valuable paintings were stolen from the gallery last night
With or without by
Mentioning the Agent with BY: If the person or entity performing the action is relevant, add by + agent at the end of the clause:
- Hamlet was written by William Shakespeare.
If the agent is unknown, obvious, or unimportant, omit by entirely:
- My bicycle was stolen yesterday.
Sentence anatomy
Sentences from this lesson, taken apart in the order English needs.
SubjectThis magnificent stone cathedralHelper verbwasVerbbuiltTimemore than five centuries ago.
SubjectCoffee beansHelper verbareVerbgrownPlacein tropical regions of South America and Africa.
SubjectOur school websiteHelper verbwasVerbdesignedDoerby two talented former students.
SubjectThe missing walletHelper verbwasVerbfoundDoerby a conscientious park workerPlaceon the grass.
Visual guide
How to read this A2 topic
At A2, the challenge is choosing between similar time frames, pronouns, and quantity patterns.
1. Look for the time clue
Yesterday, now, every day, already, and since often decide the tense.
I watched it yesterday.
2. Choose the pattern first
Pick the whole grammar structure before choosing the final word.
I am going to study.
3. Check word position
Adverbs, objects, and pronouns must sit in natural English order.
I know him well.
Passive voice
Use be + past participle when the receiver of the action is more important than the doer.
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| present simple | They clean the room. | The room is cleaned. |
| past simple | They cleaned the room. | The room was cleaned. |
| present perfect | They have cleaned the room. | The room has been cleaned. |
| modal | They must clean the room. | The room must be cleaned. |
Contrasts that often decide the answer
Event or background
Simple forms move events forward; continuous forms show an action in progress.
I left while she was talking.
Fact or stance
Modals, hedges, and reporting structures show how certain or responsible the speaker sounds.
This may indicate a problem.
Clause or compressed phrase
Advanced writing often compresses full clauses into participle, noun, or prepositional phrases.
Having reviewed the data, we revised the plan.
Examples
- 1English is spoken as an official language in dozens of countries worldwide.
- 2This magnificent stone cathedral was built more than five centuries ago.
- 3Millions of electronic components are manufactured in this modern factory.
- 4The important documents were delivered safely to the embassy this morning.
- 5Coffee beans are grown in tropical regions of South America and Africa.
- 6Our school website was designed by two talented former students.
- 7Fresh organic bread is baked in the neighborhood bakery early every morning.
- 8The missing wallet was found by a conscientious park worker on the grass.
- 9Over two hundred trees were planted along the city avenues this spring.
- 10These handcrafted ceramic cups are imported directly from southern Japan.
Exceptions
Intransitive Verbs Cannot be Passive: Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object in the active voice) can form the passive. Intransitive verbs expressing occurrence, arrival, or bodily states (arrive, sleep, die, happen, fall, wait) cannot be made passive: say "A serious accident happened yesterday", never "An accident was happened yesterday".
Common mistakes
Omitting the auxiliary verb be
Mistake
The historical bridge built in 1905.
Correct
The historical bridge was built in 1905.
Passive voice strictly requires a form of be.
Using base verb instead of past participle
Mistake
German is speak here.
Correct
German is spoken here.
The main verb must be in the past participle.
Creating passive from intransitive verbs
Mistake
The guests were arrived early.
Correct
The guests arrived early.
Arrive is intransitive.
Recap
The heart of the lesson on one card, before you test yourself.
Remember
- Form it with the verb be and the past participle: English is spoken, the bridge was built.
- Present simple passive uses am, is, or are: cars are manufactured in this modern factory.
- Past simple passive uses was or were: the parcel was delivered to the office yesterday.
Common mistakes
Mistake: The historical bridge built in 1905.
Correct: The historical bridge was built in 1905.Mistake: German is speak here.
Correct: German is spoken here.Mistake: The guests were arrived early.
Correct: The guests arrived early.
Test yourself
Take three active sentences and rewrite them into the passive voice using was or were, then practise this topic.
Related Grammar Topics
Continue building your skills with other topics at this level.