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
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
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
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)