Grammar › Passive Voice
Passive Voice
The passive puts the receiver of the action first. The essentials:
- Form it with be + past participle — The window was broken.
- Only "be" changes tense — is/was/has been/will be broken.
- Add the doer with "by" only if it matters — …by the storm.
Use the passive when the doer is unknown, obvious or unimportant, or to focus on the action.
| Topic | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Passive Voice: the basics | How to form and use the passive | The house was built in 1900. |
| The Passive in All Tenses | Passive across the tenses | It is made / was made / has been made. |
| Active vs Passive | Choosing active or passive | They built it. → It was built. |
| Causative: have/get something done | Arranging for others to do things | I had my car repaired. |
| Passive Reporting Structures | It is said that… / He is said to… | He is said to be rich. |
Where do I start?
- New to the passive? → the basics (be + past participle).
- Need it in a specific tense? → the passive in all tenses.
- Not sure whether to use active or passive? → active vs passive.
- Arranging for someone else to do something? → have/get something done.
Related grammar points
- The Get Passive — The informal passive with ‘get’
- Passive with Two Objects — I was given a book
Frequently asked questions
What is the passive voice?
A structure where the subject receives the action instead of doing it: The cake was eaten. It is formed with the verb "be" + the past participle. The doer (agent) is optional, added with "by".
How do I form the passive?
Use the right tense of "be" + the past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made. The main verb never changes — only "be" carries the tense.
When should I use the passive?
When the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant, or when you want to focus on the action or the receiver: My bike was stolen; English is spoken here.
How do I show who did the action?
Add "by + agent": The novel was written by Orwell. Leave it out when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.