Passive Voice
Master all tenses in passive construction
What is Passive Voice?
The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the person or thing doing it. In passive constructions, the subject receives the action instead of performing it.
Formation of Passive Voice
The passive voice is formed using:
Subject + Form of “be” + Past Participle (+ by + agent)
Passive Voice in All Tenses
1. Simple Present
am/is/are + past participle
Active: The company employs 500 workers.
Passive: 500 workers are employed by the company.
Passive: 500 workers are employed by the company.
Active: She cleans the office every day.
Passive: The office is cleaned every day.
Passive: The office is cleaned every day.
2. Present Continuous
am/is/are + being + past participle
Active: They are building a new bridge.
Passive: A new bridge is being built.
Passive: A new bridge is being built.
Active: The chef is preparing dinner.
Passive: Dinner is being prepared by the chef.
Passive: Dinner is being prepared by the chef.
3. Present Perfect
has/have + been + past participle
Active: Someone has stolen my laptop.
Passive: My laptop has been stolen.
Passive: My laptop has been stolen.
Active: They have completed the project.
Passive: The project has been completed.
Passive: The project has been completed.
4. Simple Past
was/were + past participle
Active: Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.
Passive: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
Passive: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
Active: The storm damaged many houses.
Passive: Many houses were damaged by the storm.
Passive: Many houses were damaged by the storm.
5. Past Continuous
was/were + being + past participle
Active: They were discussing the issue.
Passive: The issue was being discussed.
Passive: The issue was being discussed.
Active: The mechanic was repairing the car.
Passive: The car was being repaired by the mechanic.
Passive: The car was being repaired by the mechanic.
6. Past Perfect
had + been + past participle
Active: Someone had broken the window.
Passive: The window had been broken.
Passive: The window had been broken.
Active: They had finished the work before noon.
Passive: The work had been finished before noon.
Passive: The work had been finished before noon.
7. Simple Future (will)
will + be + past participle
Active: The team will announce the results tomorrow.
Passive: The results will be announced tomorrow.
Passive: The results will be announced tomorrow.
Active: They will launch the product next month.
Passive: The product will be launched next month.
Passive: The product will be launched next month.
8. Future Perfect
will + have + been + past participle
Active: They will have completed the construction by December.
Passive: The construction will have been completed by December.
Passive: The construction will have been completed by December.
Active: We will have finished the report by Friday.
Passive: The report will have been finished by Friday.
Passive: The report will have been finished by Friday.
9. Modal Verbs (can, could, may, might, must, should, etc.)
modal + be + past participle
Active: You must submit the form by Monday.
Passive: The form must be submitted by Monday.
Passive: The form must be submitted by Monday.
Active: They should inform the customers.
Passive: The customers should be informed.
Passive: The customers should be informed.
Test Your Understanding
Complete this quiz to check your knowledge of passive voice constructions.
