Explanation
Exercises
Passive voice — forms & use

What the passive is

  • The subject is the receiver of the action: The photos are taken in Africa.
  • Form = be (in the tense you need) + past participle (V3).
  • Agent (the doer) is optional, with by: The bridge was opened by the mayor.

Use the passive to focus on the result, when the agent is unknown/obvious/unimportant, or in formal/process writing.

Passive across common tenses

TenseActivePassive
Present simpleThey make cars.Cars are made.
Present continuousThey are building a road.A road is being built.
Present perfectThey have finished the work.The work has been finished.
Past simpleThey closed the shop.The shop was closed.
Past continuousThey were painting the room.The room was being painted.
Past perfectThey had repaired it.It had been repaired.
Future (will)They will announce the results.The results will be announced.
Be going toThey are going to open a café.A café is going to be opened.
ModalsThey must/can fix it.It must/can be fixed.

Agent: by + person/thing

  • Use when the agent is important/new: The novel was written by Atwood.
  • Omit for general/obvious agents: Taxes are collected every year.
  • Keep other prepositions: It is made of wood; He is known for his art.

From active to passive

  • Active: People speak English worldwide.
  • Passive: English is spoken worldwide.

Verbs with two objects

  • Active: They gave me a ticket.
  • Two passives are possible:
    I was given a ticket. / A ticket was given to me.

The version with the person as subject (I was given…) is more natural.

get-passive & causative

  • get + V3 (more informal; change/accident): He got promoted. / My bike got stolen.
  • have/get + object + V3 (causative = someone does it for us):
    I had my hair cut. / We got the boiler fixed.

Questions, negatives & non-finite forms

  • Questions: invert be → Is it made here?
  • Negatives: isn’t / wasn’t / hasn’t been + V3 → The file wasn’t saved.
  • Infinitive passive: to be + V3 → needs to be cleaned.
  • -ing passive: being + V3 → after being told the news…

Mini examples

  • Process: Chocolate is made from cocoa beans.
  • Unknown agent: My wallet was stolen on the bus.
  • News style: Three people have been arrested.
  • Modal: The report must be submitted by Friday.
  • Be going to: A new park is going to be built here.
Exercises:
1
2
3
4

Passive verb forms

Choose the correct passive verb form to complete the sentences below.
1
The museum is closed today; it for renovation.
2
By next Thursday the reports to the board.
3
This photo in 1920 by my great-grandfather.
4
The new rules yet; the website still shows the old version.
5
When we arrived, the guests dinner.
6
I couldn’t use the phone because it the whole morning.
7
Your parcel at reception. Please collect it.
8
All flights to Madrid due to fog.
9
These laptops in China.
10
Protective equipment in the lab at all times.

Passive verb forms

Choose the correct passive verb tense or form to complete the following sentences.
1
When we arrived, the hall _____ for the ceremony.
A.
B.
C.
2
The documents _____ to all participants yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
3
Your order _____ within three to five business days.
A.
B.
C.
4
The rules _____ at the entrance so that everyone can read them.
A.
B.
C.
5
This road _____ since last month, so expect delays.
A.
B.
C.
6
By the time the police arrived, the safe _____.
A.
B.
C.
7
The new app _____ in several languages at the moment.
A.
B.
C.
8
All visitors _____ by a staff member while on site.
A.
B.
C.
9
The mural _____ by a famous artist in 1998.
A.
B.
C.
10
Do you know whether the problem _____ already?
A.
B.
C.

Passive verb forms

Turn the following active sentences into passive sentences. Keep the same verb tense.
1
They sell fresh bread here. ⇒ Fresh bread here.
2
The committee is discussing the budget now. ⇒ The budget now.
3
They have postponed the meeting. ⇒ The meeting .
4
They were repairing the road when I arrived. ⇒ The road when I arrived.
5
Someone stole my bike last night. ⇒ My bike last night.
6
They had already finished the report before noon. ⇒ The report before noon.
7
They will publish the results next week. ⇒ The results next week.
8
They are going to open a new library in September. ⇒ A new library in September.
9
People say that the actor is ill. ⇒ The actor to be ill.
10
They must wear helmets on the site. ⇒ Helmets on the site.

Passive verb forms

Turn the following active sentences into passive sentences. Keep the same verb tense.
1
I noticed that somebody had broken the window. ⇒ I noticed that the window .
2
They will close the factory next year. ⇒ The factory next year.
3
Someone is interviewing the candidates at the moment. ⇒ The candidates at the moment.
4
People speak three languages in this region. ⇒ Three languages in this region.
5
They have given us all the instructions. ⇒ We all the instructions.
6
They were painting the fence when I arrived. ⇒ The fence when I arrived.
7
They are going to deliver the package tomorrow. ⇒ The package tomorrow.
8
Someone should do the dishes. ⇒ The dishes .
9
They have to submit the report by Friday. ⇒ The report by Friday.
10
People believe the scientist is 100 years old. ⇒ The scientist to be 100 years old.