Grammar › Passive Voice › Passive Voice: the basics
Passive Voice: the basics
The passive puts the receiver of the action first. To build it:
- Use be + past participle — The letter was sent yesterday.
- Make the active object the new subject — They clean it → It is cleaned.
- Add 'by + doer' only if it matters — …by the manager.
Only 'be' carries the tense (is/was/has been). Use the passive when the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
How to form the passive
Use be + past participle. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject.
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| They build houses. | Houses are built. |
| Someone stole my bike. | My bike was stolen. |
| They have sold the car. | The car has been sold. |
| A famous architect designed it. | It was designed by a famous architect. |
Only be changes to show the tense; the main verb stays as a past participle (built, stolen, sold).
When to use the passive
1. The doer is unknown
- My wallet was taken on the bus. (I don’t know who took it)
2. The doer is obvious or unimportant
- The suspect was arrested last night. (obviously by the police)
3. To focus on the action or the receiver
- English is spoken all over the world.
⚠️ Add the doer only when it adds information: The novel was written by Orwell (useful) vs The rubbish was collected (no need to say “by the bin men”).
Common mistakes
1. Forgetting ‘be’. The house built in 1900 → The house was built in 1900.
2. Using the base verb, not the participle. It was make in China → It was made in China.
3. Making an intransitive verb passive. The accident was happened → The accident happened. Pro tip: the passive needs an object to promote — verbs like happen, arrive and sleep can’t be passive.
✏️ Practice: Passive Voice: the basics
1. This bridge ___ in 1932.
2. Make it passive: 'They make these shoes in Italy.'
3. My car ___ last week — I've reported it to the police.
4. The report ___ already ___ to all staff.
5. Which sentence correctly adds the doer?
6. Choose the sentence that should stay ACTIVE (can't be passive).
7. Coffee ___ in over 70 countries.
8. Correct this: 'The window broke by the boys.' (they did it)
9. A decision ___ at the meeting tomorrow.
10. When is the passive the BEST choice?
Frequently asked questions
How do I form the passive voice?
Use the correct tense of 'be' + the past participle: is made, was made, has been made. The active object becomes the subject: They make cars here → Cars are made here.
When should I use the passive?
When the doer is unknown (My phone was stolen), obvious (The thief was arrested), or unimportant, or to focus on the action or receiver (English is spoken here).
Do I always need 'by'?
No. Add 'by + agent' only when the doer matters: The play was written by Shakespeare. Usually the doer is left out.
Which verbs can't be passive?
Intransitive verbs (with no object) — arrive, happen, sleep, die — have no passive: not 'was arrived'.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Passive Voice: the basics”:
- Can form the passive with be + past participle in the present and past (CEFR B1).
- Can transform active sentences into passive ones, making the object the subject.
- Can decide when to include or omit the agent with 'by'.
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