Active vs Passive voice — what, when & why
Active sentence
- Subject = doer of the action.
- Pattern: Subject + verb + object.
- Example: Tom cleaned the room yesterday.
Passive sentence
- Subject = receiver of the action.
- Pattern: Object → Subject + be (tense) + past participle (+ by + agent).
- Example: The room was cleaned (by Tom) yesterday.
Only transitive verbs (with an object) can form a passive. Intransitives like arrive, happen, sleep cannot.
When we use the passive
- Unknown agent A bank was robbed yesterday.
- Obvious/irrelevant agent The robber was arrested last night.
- Avoiding blame / not naming the agent I was told you called.
- Topic focus Jurassic Park was filmed in 1993.
- Formal / process writing news, reports, instructions: The meeting will be held at 10.
Agent with by
- Use by + person/thing if the doer matters: The drug was discovered by Fleming.
- Omit the agent when it is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
- Keep other prepositions: made of glass, known for innovation.
How to transform active → passive
| Step | Tip |
|---|---|
| 1. Move the object to subject position | The letter becomes the new subject. |
| 2. Keep the same tense with be | present → is/are, past → was/were, perfect → has/have been, etc. |
| 3. Use V3 (past participle) | write → written, take → taken, close → closed. |
| 4. Add agent with by (optional) | only if it adds useful info. |
| 5. Keep time/place adverbials | yesterday, in 1993, at school stay the same. |
Mini examples
- Active: People speak English worldwide.
Passive: English is spoken worldwide. - Active: The police will release a statement.
Passive: A statement will be released. - Active: They are repairing the bridge.
Passive: The bridge is being repaired. - Active: Someone had stolen my bike.
Passive: My bike had been stolen.
For full passive forms in all tenses: be (tense) + V3 — e.g., is made, was built, has been discovered, is being renovated.
Exercises:
Active and passive voice
Choose the correct form, active or passive, to complete the sentences below.
1
This model
in Germany, but the parts come from several countries.
2
The police
the suspect last night after a long chase.
3
All the invitations
yet, so we need to print more.
4
They
the bridge in 2012 and it still looks new.
5
My laptop
while I was having coffee; someone must have taken it.
6
The results
by an independent lab every month.
7
Please don’t touch the exhibits. They
of very delicate materials.
8
By the time we arrived, the room
and the guests had already left.
9
We
the report tomorrow; can you review it in the afternoon?
10
Seat belts
at all times on this ride.
May and might: What’s the difference?
Choose the correct forms for the gaps below
1
The proposal _____ by the board tomorrow morning.
A.
B.
C.
2
They _____ the new logo last week.
A.
B.
C.
3
All tickets _____ within two hours of release.
A.
B.
C.
4
The windows _____ at the moment, so it’s a bit noisy.
A.
B.
C.
5
If you park here, your car _____.
A.
B.
C.
6
We _____ our suppliers to reduce packaging this year.
A.
B.
C.
7
A detailed manual _____ with the device when you buy it.
A.
B.
C.
8
Who _____ this cake? It smells amazing!
A.
B.
C.
9
By 2030, most new cars _____ autonomously in city centers.
A.
B.
C.
10
The report _____ to you as soon as it is ready.
A.
B.
C.
Active and passive voice
Choose the correct form, active or passive, to complete the sentences below.
1
City officials (confirm) that the Modern Art Museum
2
(break into) last night.
3
Security staff (notice) the intruders at about 2 a.m.,
4
but they (escape) before the police arrived.
5
Several paintings (take) from the east wing,
6
and two guards (knock) to the ground.
7
The main entrance (close) since early morning
8
while forensic teams (collect) evidence.
9
So far, nobody (arrest),
10
but detectives (appeal) for witnesses to come forward.