By Vahid Alaghehband
The passive voice (be + past participle) focuses on what receives the action, not on who does it: The bridge was built in 1990. Use it when you don't know who did something, when it doesn't matter or when it is obvious; it is common in news, instructions and formal writing. To say who did it, add by: …by a local company.
This guide is part of English grammar by level. The passive voice is B1 grammar on the CEFR (B1.1 in the Vozi Grammar catalog). It is especially common in news, reports, instructions and formal emails.
How to form the passive voice
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | They clean the office every day. | The office is cleaned every day. |
| Past simple | Someone stole my bike. | My bike was stolen. |
| Present perfect | They have canceled the flight. | The flight has been canceled. |
| Future (will) | They will announce the results. | The results will be announced. |
| Present continuous | They are repairing the road. | The road is being repaired. |
| With a modal | You must sign the form. | The form must be signed. |
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Affirmative | The invoice was sent yesterday. |
| Negative | The invoice wasn't sent. |
| Question | Was the invoice sent? |
| Short answer | Yes, it was. No, it wasn't. |
The verb be changes with the tense; the past participle never changes. Only verbs with a direct object have a passive: arrive or happen, for example, don't. The most common irregular participles are in our past simple guide.
When to use the passive voice
When you don't know or it doesn't matter who did it
The focus is on the result.
- My wallet was stolen on the bus.
- English is spoken in many countries.
- The meeting has been moved to Friday.
Processes, news and instructions
Very common in informative texts.
- Cacao is grown in the coastal region.
- Three people were injured in the accident.
- The dough is left to rest for an hour.
Formal and work contexts
Emails, notices and documents.
- Your application has been received.
- Payments must be made before the 15th.
- The report will be sent by email.
Key words
These forms and words signal the passive voice:
- by (who does it)
- is / are + past participle
- was / were + past participle
- has been
- is being
- will be
- can / must be
- is made of / in
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ✗ The house was build in 2010. | ✔ The house was built in 2010. | After be, use the past participle (built), not the base form. |
| ✗ The letter sent yesterday. | ✔ The letter was sent yesterday. | The verb be is missing. |
| ✗ Is spoken English here. | ✔ English is spoken here. | The subject (English) comes before the verb. |
| ✗ The accident was happened at night. | ✔ The accident happened at night. | Happen has no object, so it has no passive. |
| ✗ The results will announced tomorrow. | ✔ The results will be announced tomorrow. | With will and modals you also need be. |
Active vs passive voice
| Active voice | Passive voice | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Who does the action | What receives the action |
| Subject | The agent: The chef prepares the food. | The object: The food is prepared by the chef. |
| When it works best | When who does it matters | When it is unknown, unimportant or obvious |
| Tone | Direct, conversational | More impersonal and formal |
Don't overuse the passive when speaking: We fixed the problem sounds more natural than The problem was fixed by us.
Short conversation
Two coworkers check an order at the office.
A: Has the order been sent to the client?
B: Yes, it was sent this morning.
A: Great. Were the invoices printed too?
B: Not yet. The printer is being repaired.
A: OK. When will it be fixed?
B: The technician said it will be ready by three.
A: Perfect. Then the invoices can be printed this afternoon.
B: Exactly. And they'll be delivered tomorrow.
10 exercises with answers
Complete with the passive voice. In the last ones, transform or fix the sentence.
- The museum ___ (visit) by thousands of people every year.
- My phone ___ (steal) last night.
- The emails ___ (already / send). (present perfect)
- The new school ___ (build) next year.
- The road ___ (repair) at the moment.
- These shoes ___ (make) in Ecuador.
- ___ the tickets ___ (pay) yesterday?
- The form must ___ (sign) by the manager.
- Rewrite in the passive: They canceled the concert.
- Fix the mistake: The book was wrote by a local author.
Show answers
- is visited
- was stolen
- have already been sent
- will be built
- is being repaired
- are made
- Were … paid
- be signed
- The concert was canceled.
- The book was written by a local author.
Next step: if you don't know your level, take the English level test (about 15 minutes, with instant results). To keep working on this topic, see Vozi Grammar's English grammar exercises by level.
Frequently asked questions
How do you form the passive voice in English?
With the verb be in the tense you need and the past participle of the main verb: is made, was made, has been made, will be made. To say who did the action, add by.
When do you use the passive voice?
When you don't know who did the action, when it doesn't matter or is obvious, and in formal writing, news, processes and instructions.
Can you use the passive in every tense?
In almost every tense: present, past, present perfect, future, continuous forms and with modals. Only the verb be changes; the past participle stays the same.
Is the passive voice bad style?
No, but it is less direct. Use it when the action or the result matters more than the person who did it, and use the active voice for most everyday conversation.