Passive Voice in English is one of those grammar topics that sounds dramatic, but in real life it is usually very practical. It helps you talk about the action, the result, or the thing affected by an action—without always focusing on who did it. Very useful. Very common. Slightly less exciting than a fireworks show, but still important.
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If you have ever seen a sentence like “The emails were sent,” and wondered why English suddenly got mysterious, relax. The passive voice is not magic. It is just a different way to organize a sentence.
By the end of this guide, you will know how the passive voice works, when English speakers use it, how to form it in different tenses, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
For a quick language check before you start, you can also try the English Placement Test CEFR or practice with an English Vocabulary Test.
What Is The Passive Voice?
In an active sentence, the subject does the action.
Active: The chef cooked the meal.
In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action.
Passive: The meal was cooked by the chef.
So the focus changes. In the passive voice, English often cares more about what happened than who did it.
Rule: Passive voice = form of be + past participle.
Example: is made, was built, will be explained.
Passive Voice Formula
| Pattern | Meaning | Example | Learner Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| be + past participle | The subject receives the action | The window was broken. | The past participle is the third form of the verb: break → broke → broken. |
| is/are + past participle | Present passive | These cakes are baked fresh every morning. | Use is with singular subjects, are with plural subjects. |
| was/were + past participle | Past passive | The report was finished yesterday. | Use was for singular, were for plural. |
When English Uses The Passive Voice
English speakers use the passive voice for several common reasons. It is not only for textbooks and formal writing. It appears in news stories, instructions, school writing, and everyday speech too.
- When the person who did the action is unknown: My bike was stolen.
- When the person is not important: The room was cleaned.
- When you want to sound more formal or objective: The results were reviewed.
- When you want to focus on the result: The bridge was repaired.
- When you do not want to say who did it: A mistake was made.
That last one is famous because people use it when they want to avoid blaming someone. A classic passive voice move. Very convenient. Sometimes a little too convenient.
Active Vs Passive
| Active Voice | Passive Voice | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| The company sent the package. | The package was sent by the company. | The active sentence focuses on the company. The passive sentence focuses on the package. |
| Someone took my keys. | My keys were taken. | The passive can leave out the actor if it is unknown or unimportant. |
| The teacher explains the lesson. | The lesson is explained by the teacher. | Passive changes the sentence order and usually sounds less direct. |
Yak wisdom: Active voice tells you who did the thing. Passive voice tells you what happened to the thing. English likes both, because English enjoys having options and making learners work a little.
Passive Voice In Different Tenses
The passive voice can appear in many tenses. The structure changes a little, but the idea stays the same: be + past participle.
| Tense | Passive Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | am/is/are + past participle | The office is cleaned every evening. | Regular habit or fact |
| Past Simple | was/were + past participle | The message was sent at noon. | Finished action in the past |
| Present Continuous | am/is/are being + past participle | The road is being repaired. | Action happening now |
| Past Continuous | was/were being + past participle | The house was being painted. | Action in progress in the past |
| Present Perfect | have/has been + past participle | The tickets have been sold. | Result connected to now |
| Past Perfect | had been + past participle | The problem had been solved. | Earlier past action |
| Future Simple | will be + past participle | The results will be announced tomorrow. | Future action |
If this looks like a lot, do not panic. The easiest way to remember it is this: keep the verb be, then add the past participle.
Useful Passive Voice Phrases
Here are common passive forms you will see in English every day. These are especially useful in news, school writing, work emails, and instructions.
| English | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence | Learner Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| is made | iz mayd | is produced or created | This cheese is made locally. | Very common with products and food. |
| was built | wuz bilt | was constructed | The house was built in 1998. | Useful for buildings, roads, bridges. |
| is used | iz yoozd | is used for a purpose | This tool is used to open cans. | Often appears in explanations and manuals. |
| was given | wuz giv-uhn | received something | I was given a book for my birthday. | Common in stories and everyday speech. |
| is known for | iz nohn for | has a reputation for | That city is known for its food. | Often used in descriptions of places or people. |
| is based on | iz baysd on | comes from or uses as a foundation | The movie is based on a true story. | Very common in media and academic writing. |
| is located in | iz loh-kay-tid in | is situated in a place | The museum is located in the city center. | Formal but common. |
| is expected to | iz ik-SPEK-tid too | is supposed to happen | The package is expected to arrive tomorrow. | Common in news and plans. |
| was injured | wuz IN-jerd | got hurt | Two people were injured in the accident. | Common in news reports. |
| is prohibited | iz pro-HIB-i-tid | is not allowed | Smoking is prohibited here. | Formal; often seen in rules and signs. |
| is required | iz ri-KWYERD | is needed or necessary | An ID is required to enter. | Very useful in official instructions. |
| was discovered | wuz dis-KUV-erd | was found for the first time | The mistake was discovered quickly. | Common in science, history, and news. |
How To Form The Passive Voice
Start with the object of the active sentence. That object becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
Active: The chef cooked the meal.
Step 1: Move the meal to the front.
Step 2: Add the correct form of be.
Step 3: Add the past participle: cooked.
Passive: The meal was cooked.
If you want to mention the doer, add by + person.
The meal was cooked by the chef.
Important note: the by phrase is optional. English often leaves it out when the doer is not important.
Passive Voice With By
The word by shows who or what did the action.
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| was written by | The letter was written by Anna. | Anna wrote the letter. |
| is owned by | The company is owned by a family. | A family owns the company. |
| was hit by | The car was hit by a truck. | A truck hit the car. |
Learner note: Do not confuse by with with. In passive voice, by usually shows the doer. With usually shows the tool or thing used.
Example:
- The cake was cut with a knife.
- The cake was made by my sister.
Common Learner Mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The car is break. | The car is broken. | Passive voice needs the past participle, not the base verb. |
| The homework was did. | The homework was done. | Do has an irregular past participle: done. |
| The cake made yesterday. | The cake was made yesterday. | Passive voice needs a form of be. |
| The letters was sent. | The letters were sent. | Use were with plural subjects. |
| The room was cleaned by a broom. | The room was cleaned with a broom. | With is used for tools, not agents. |
Two of the most common mistakes are easy to fix: forget the verb be, or use the wrong verb form. English does enjoy hiding tiny traps in ordinary sentences.
Passive Voice Vs Active Voice In Real Life
Both forms are correct. The best choice depends on what you want to emphasize.
- Use active voice when the doer is important and the sentence should sound direct.
- Use passive voice when the result matters more than the doer.
- Use passive voice in formal writing, reports, instructions, and news.
- Use active voice in simple everyday conversation when possible, because it is often clearer.
Example in a work email:
Passive: The files were sent this morning.
Active: Sarah sent the files this morning.
The passive version is fine if the sender is not important. The active version is better if you want to clearly say who did it.
Passive Voice With Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are words like can, should, must, and might. They can also appear in passive voice.
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| can be + past participle | The app can be downloaded for free. | It is possible to download it. |
| should be + past participle | The form should be completed carefully. | It is a good idea to complete it carefully. |
| must be + past participle | The documents must be signed today. | It is necessary to sign them today. |
| might be + past participle | The meeting might be delayed. | It is possible that it will be delayed. |
Learner note: After a modal verb, use be + past participle. Do not say “can is downloaded” or “must signed.” English will not be impressed.
Passive Voice And Pronunciation
In spoken English, the auxiliary verb be often becomes weak and fast. Native speakers do not always say every sound very clearly. That is normal.
- is made → sounds like “iz mayd”
- was sent → sounds like “wuz sent”
- are used → sounds like “ar yoozd”
Learner note: The -ed ending in past participles can sound different:
- /t/ after voiceless sounds: stopped, fixed
- /d/ after voiced sounds: cleaned, called
- /ɪd/ after t or d sounds: wanted, needed
If you want a reliable dictionary explanation of passive voice, see Cambridge Dictionary’s explanation of passive voice.
Practice Section
Try these quick exercises. No drama. Just grammar.
1) Change Active To Passive
- The teacher checked the homework.
- Someone opened the window.
- The company will announce the results.
- They repaired the bridge last year.
Answers:
- The homework was checked by the teacher.
- The window was opened.
- The results will be announced by the company.
- The bridge was repaired last year.
2) Fill In The Blank
- The email ____ sent this morning. (was / were)
- The documents ____ signed yesterday. (was / were)
- The room ____ being cleaned now. (is / are)
- The house ____ built in 1950. (was / were)
Answers: was, were, is, was
3) Spot The Difference
- Active: The police arrested the man.
- Passive: The man was arrested by the police.
What changed? The object moved to the front, and the sentence now focuses on the man, not the police.
4) Say It Out Loud
- The letter was written yesterday.
- The food is served quickly.
- The road is being repaired.
- The package has been delivered.
Passive Voice In Everyday English
You will see the passive voice in lots of places:
- Instructions: “The device is turned on by pressing this button.”
- News: “Three people were injured in the accident.”
- School writing: “The experiment was completed in two hours.”
- Signs: “Food must be stored in a cool place.”
- Business emails: “The payment has been received.”
Common collocations: is made, is based on, is known for, is expected to, is required, was announced, was discovered.
Quick Reference Summary
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present passive | am/is/are + past participle | The office is cleaned every day. |
| Past passive | was/were + past participle | The report was finished on Monday. |
| Future passive | will be + past participle | The winners will be announced tonight. |
| Passive with modal verbs | modal + be + past participle | The form must be completed. |
- Passive voice = focus on the action or result.
- Active voice = focus on who does the action.
- Formula = be + past participle.
- “By” is optional when the doer is not important.
- Use passive for formal, objective, or result-focused English.
Passive voice is not there to make grammar harder. It is there because English needs a way to say things like “The package was delivered” without dragging the delivery driver into every sentence. Helpful, actually.
Yak Takeaway: If you remember just one thing, remember this: passive voice = be + past participle. That little formula does most of the heavy lifting, which is more than can be said for some grammar rules that enjoy pretending to be important.
