B1Grammar

Understanding and Using the Passive Voice in English

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What is the Passive Voice?

In English grammar, we often use the active voice. This is when the subject of the sentence performs the action. For example:

  • Active: The dog chased the ball. (The dog is the subject, and it performs the action of chasing.)
  • Active: People speak English all over the world. (People are the subject, and they perform the action of speaking.)

But sometimes, we use the passive voice. In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The action is done to the subject, not by the subject. Let’s look at the same examples in the passive voice:

  • Passive: The ball was chased by the dog. (The ball is now the subject, and the action of chasing is done to it.)
  • Passive: English is spoken all over the world. (English is now the subject, and the action of speaking is done to it.)

Why do we use the passive voice? We use it when:

  • We want to focus on the action, not who did it. Think about news reports – often we don’t know who did something, or it’s not important. For example: “The bank was robbed last night.” We are more interested in the fact that the bank was robbed than who robbed it.
  • The person who does the action is unknown or not important. For example: “My car was stolen.” It’s more important that the car was stolen than who stole it (especially if we don’t know!).
  • It is obvious who does the action. For example: “Mistakes were made.” We understand that ‘mistakes were made’ by people in charge, even if we don’t say exactly who.
  • In more formal or official situations. The passive voice can sound more formal and less personal than the active voice.

Understanding the passive voice in English is important for both reading and speaking. At B1 level, you’ll find it used in many different situations.

How to Form the Passive Voice?

The basic structure of the passive voice is:

be + past participle

The ‘be’ verb changes depending on the tense of the active sentence. Let’s see how to form the passive in different tenses. This is key to mastering the English passive form.

Forming the Passive: Present Simple

Active: Subject + verb (present simple) + object

Passive: Object + is/are/am + past participle + (by + subject)

Examples:

  • Active: They clean the office every day.
  • Passive: The office is cleaned every day. (By them – optional and often omitted)
  • Active: She makes cakes.
  • Passive: Cakes are made by her.
  • Active: I write emails.
  • Passive: Emails are written by me.

Remember to use ‘is’ for singular subjects (the office), ‘are’ for plural subjects (cakes, emails), and ‘am’ for ‘I’ (though ‘I’ as the object in a passive sentence is less common).

Forming the Passive: Past Simple

Active: Subject + verb (past simple) + object

Passive: Object + was/were + past participle + (by + subject)

Examples:

  • Active: The company built this house in 1920.
  • Passive: This house was built in 1920. (By the company – optional)
  • Active: He broke the window.
  • Passive: The window was broken by him.
  • Active: We watched the film last night.
  • Passive: The film was watched last night by us.

Use ‘was’ for singular subjects (this house, the window, the film) and ‘were’ for plural subjects (e.g., “The windows were broken”).

Forming the Passive: Present Continuous

Active: Subject + is/are/am + verb-ing + object

Passive: Object + is/are/am being + past participle + (by + subject)

Examples:

  • Active: They are building a new school.
  • Passive: A new school is being built. (By them – optional)
  • Active: She is reading the book.
  • Passive: The book is being read by her.
  • Active: I am cleaning the kitchen.
  • Passive: The kitchen is being cleaned by me.

Notice the “being” – this shows the action is in progress in the passive voice, just like “-ing” in the active continuous tenses.

Forming the Passive: Past Continuous

Active: Subject + was/were + verb-ing + object

Passive: Object + was/were being + past participle + (by + subject)

Examples:

  • Active: They were painting the walls.
  • Passive: The walls were being painted. (By them – optional)
  • Active: She was writing a letter.
  • Passive: A letter was being written by her.
  • Active: We were watching TV.
  • Passive: TV was being watched by us.

Again, “being” shows the continuous aspect in the passive past.

Forming the Passive: Present Perfect

Active: Subject + has/have + past participle + object

Passive: Object + has/have been + past participle + (by + subject)

Examples:

  • Active: Someone has stolen my wallet.
  • Passive: My wallet has been stolen. (By someone – often omitted because it’s unknown/unimportant)
  • Active: She has finished the report.
  • Passive: The report has been finished by her.
  • Active: We have seen that film.
  • Passive: That film has been seen by us.

The “been” is crucial for the present perfect passive.

Forming the Passive: Future Simple (will)

Active: Subject + will + verb (base form) + object

Passive: Object + will be + past participle + (by + subject)

Examples:

  • Active: They will announce the results tomorrow.
  • Passive: The results will be announced tomorrow. (By them – optional)
  • Active: She will organize the party.
  • Passive: The party will be organized by her.
  • Active: I will send the email.
  • Passive: The email will be sent by me.

“Will be” is the future passive form.

When to Use the Passive Voice?

As we mentioned earlier, we use passives in specific situations. Let’s look at some more examples to understand when to use the passive voice effectively.

  • When the action is more important than the actor:
    • “The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.” (The painting itself is the focus, but we also know who painted it).
    • “The road is being repaired.” (We care about the road being fixed, not necessarily who is repairing it).
  • When the actor is unknown or obvious:
    • “My bike was stolen.” (Unknown actor).
    • “The criminals were arrested.” (Obvious actor – the police).
  • In formal writing and news reports:
    • “It is believed that…” (Formal and impersonal).
    • “The suspect was taken into custody.” (News report – formal and objective).

In everyday conversation, we often prefer the active voice because it’s more direct and personal. However, understanding and using passives correctly will make your English sound more natural and sophisticated, especially in formal contexts.

Passive Voice in Speaking

While the passive voice is sometimes seen as more formal and written, it’s also used in grammar for speaking, even in everyday conversations. Don’t think passives are just for writing! Here are some examples of spoken English practice using passives:

  • Talking about processes: “How is coffee made?” “Coffee is grown in many countries and then it is roasted and ground.”
  • Explaining problems or accidents: “My phone was broken yesterday.” “The window got smashed by a ball.”
  • Giving instructions (less direct/more polite): “The form needs to be signed here.” “The door should be closed after you.”
  • When the ‘by’ phrase is obvious or unnecessary in conversation: “I was invited to a party.” (It’s understood someone invited you). “The meeting was cancelled.” (Perhaps by the manager or organizers).

Practicing spoken English with passives will help you become more comfortable and confident using passives in various situations. It’s a valuable part of improving English grammar for practical communication.

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s your turn to practice! Try these exercises to test your understanding of the passive voice. This will help you learn English grammar and improve English vocabulary related to passives.

Exercise 1: Change these active sentences to passive sentences.

  1. Active: Someone cleans the rooms every morning.
    Passive: The rooms ____________________ every morning.
  2. Active: The dog ate my homework!
    Passive: My homework ____________________ by the dog!
  3. Active: They are building a new bridge in the city.
    Passive: A new bridge ____________________ in the city.
  4. Active: Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.
    Passive: Hamlet ____________________ by Shakespeare.
  5. Active: The company will launch a new product next year.
    Passive: A new product ____________________ next year.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the passive form of the verb in brackets. Use the correct tense.

  1. The letters ____________________ (send) yesterday. (Past Simple)
  2. Dinner ____________________ (prepare) in the kitchen right now. (Present Continuous)
  3. This song ____________________ (sing) by a famous artist. (Present Simple)
  4. The report ____________________ (finish) by the team already. (Present Perfect)
  5. The tickets ____________________ (book) online. (Future Simple – will)

Answers

Exercise 1 Answers:

  1. Passive: The rooms are cleaned every morning.
  2. Passive: My homework was eaten by the dog!
  3. Passive: A new bridge is being built in the city.
  4. Passive: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
  5. Passive: A new product will be launched next year.

Exercise 2 Answers:

  1. The letters were sent yesterday.
  2. Dinner is being prepared in the kitchen right now.
  3. This song is sung by a famous artist.
  4. The report has been finished by the team already.
  5. The tickets will be booked online.

Great job practicing the passive voice! Keep practicing and you’ll become more confident in using passives in your English speaking and writing.

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