Passive Voice — forms, timeline & smart uses
form = be (tense) + past participle
What the passive does
- focus Put the result/receiver first: The photos were published yesterday.
- unknown/obvious agent A wallet was found on the train. (we don’t know / it’s obvious who)
- impersonal style common in news, science, formal writing: The drug is considered safe.
The original object becomes the subject. The doer (the “agent”) is optional and is added with by: The film was directed by Nolan.
Passive across the tenses
| Tense | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | am/is/are + V-ed/3 | The letters are sent every Friday. |
| Present continuous | am/is/are being + V-ed/3 | The road is being repaired today. |
| Present perfect | has/have been + V-ed/3 | All tickets have been sold. |
| Past simple | was/were + V-ed/3 | The email was sent at noon. |
| Past continuous | was/were being + V-ed/3 | He was being questioned when I arrived. |
| Past perfect | had been + V-ed/3 | The results had been checked before publication. |
| Future (will) | will be + V-ed/3 | The winners will be announced tomorrow. |
| Be going to | am/is/are going to be + V-ed/3 | The bridge is going to be closed. |
| Future perfect | will have been + V-ed/3 | The stadium will have been completed by July. |
| Modal passive | modal + be + V-ed/3 | The parcel must be signed for. |
| Modal perfect passive | modal + have been + V-ed/3 | The report should have been sent earlier. |
| Non-finite | to be / being / to have been + V-ed/3 | instructions to be completed • work being done. |
Agent & instruments: by vs with
- by + doer The mural was painted by local artists.
- with + tool/material The soup was seasoned with basil.
- omit the agent if unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
Special passive types you’ll meet
- get-passive (informal, often unexpected results): He got promoted. The window got broken.
- have something done (arrange for a service): I had my hair cut yesterday.
- two objects: They gave her a prize → She was given a prize.
- prepositional passive: keep the preposition: He was laughed at. The project is talked about a lot.
- make/let/see/hear → passive adds to: They made him apologize → He was made to apologize; He was seen to leave / seen leaving.
“Be” passive vs adjectives (stative look-alikes)
- Event passive action/result: The door was closed at 8.
- Stative (adjectival) describes a state: The door is closed now.
- If you can add by + agent, it’s an event passive; if not, it’s probably a state (married, interested, finished, etc.).
Common pitfalls
- Don’t use passive with intransitives: ✖ *An accident was happened → ✔ An accident happened.
- Keep the correct participle: write → written, take → taken, build → built.
- Continuous passive = being: was being repaired (not ✖ was repairing).
Active → Passive: quick conversion
| Active | Passive | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| They publish the list at noon. | The list is published at noon (by them). | topic = the list |
| Someone has stolen my bike. | My bike has been stolen. | agent unknown |
| They will finish the bridge in July. | The bridge will be finished in July. | result/date emphasized |
Passive keeps the same time reference as the active; only the be part changes its tense.
Exercises:
Passive Voice Across the Tenses
Choose the correct passive voice forms for each gap below.
1
The new app
next Monday.
2
Most of our parts
in Germany.
3
The painting
in a basement in 1987.
4
The main hall
at the moment, so please use the side entrance.
5
When we arrived, the lights
after the power cut.
6
All tickets
already, so the concert is sold out.
7
By noon, the documents
to the board.
8
Safety helmets
at all times on the site.
9
This model
by a newer one next year.
10
The results
until the review is complete.
Passive Voice Across the Tenses
Decide if the following sentences are active or passive and choose the correct option to complete them.
1
The documents ____ to all members every Friday.
A.
B.
C.
2
A new bridge ____ last year.
A.
B.
C.
3
The windows ____ right now, so it might be noisy.
A.
B.
C.
4
The report ____ yet; we’re still waiting.
A.
B.
C.
5
The winners ____ at the end of the show.
A.
B.
C.
6
All laptops ____ during the audit.
A.
B.
C.
7
When we arrived, dinner ____.
A.
B.
C.
8
The old logo ____ soon; the design team has a new one.
A.
B.
C.
9
Have the invitations ____ yet?
A.
B.
C.
10
The technician ____ the software update last night.
A.
B.
C.
Passive Voice Across the Tenses
Fill in the gaps with the verbs in brackets in the correct passive voice form. Do NOT use contracted forms.
1
Most smartphones in Asia. (manufacture)
2
The road at the moment, so expect delays. (repair)
3
The emails yet, so please wait. (send)
4
The painting in the attic in 1999. (discover)
5
When we arrived, the stage for the concert. (assemble)
6
By the time the CEO arrived, the meeting room . (prepare)
7
The results at noon tomorrow. (announce)
8
The finalists to the ceremony next month. (invite)
9
For safety reasons, helmets in the workshop. (wear)
10
The package by now; please check the mailbox. (deliver)