Quick Review: Basic Passive
The passive voice shifts focus from who does the action to what receives the action.
Active: The chef prepares the food. Passive: The food is prepared (by the chef).
Structure: Subject + be + past participle (+ by agent)
Passive in All Tenses
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | They make cars here. | Cars are made here. |
| Present Continuous | They are building a bridge. | A bridge is being built. |
| Past Simple | Someone stole my bike. | My bike was stolen. |
| Past Continuous | They were repairing the road. | The road was being repaired. |
| Present Perfect | They have cancelled the flight. | The flight has been cancelled. |
| Past Perfect | They had completed the project. | The project had been completed. |
| Future (will) | They will announce the results. | The results will be announced. |
| Future (going to) | They are going to open a new store. | A new store is going to be opened. |
Passive with Modal Verbs
Modal + be + past participle
- This can be done in two days.
- The report must be submitted by Friday.
- Mistakes should be corrected before printing.
- The rules may be changed next year.
- The building could be demolished soon.
- This information might be used against you.
Examples in Context
- Children shouldn't be allowed to watch violent movies.
- All passengers must be seated before takeoff.
- The results can be viewed online.
- This problem needs to be addressed immediately.
- The data ought to be protected more carefully.
Reporting Passives
When we report what people say, think, or believe, we often use passive structures. This is very common in formal English, news, and academic writing.
Structure: It + is/was + past participle + that...
| Active (with "people say") | Passive |
|---|---|
| People say that he is a genius. | It is said that he is a genius. |
| People believe that the economy will improve. | It is believed that the economy will improve. |
| They reported that the fire started at midnight. | It was reported that the fire started at midnight. |
Alternative Structure: Subject + is/was + past participle + to infinitive
- He is said to be a genius.
- The economy is believed to improve next year.
- She is known to have worked in three countries. (for past experiences)
Common reporting verbs used this way: say, believe, think, know, report, expect, consider, understand, claim, allege
The Causative: Have/Get Something Done
The causative describes when you arrange for someone else to do something for you. You don't do it yourself.
Have + object + past participle
- I had my hair cut yesterday. (A hairdresser cut it — not me.)
- We had the house painted last month. (Painters did it.)
- You should have your eyes tested. (An optician will test them.)
Get + object + past participle
"Get" is more informal than "have":
- I got my phone repaired. (Someone fixed it for me.)
- She got her car washed at the car wash.
Negative Experiences
We also use this structure for bad things that happen to us:
- He had his wallet stolen on the train. (Someone stole it — he was the victim.)
- They got their house broken into last night.
When to Use Passive Voice
The passive is the right choice when:
- The action is more important than the actor: "The Mona Lisa was painted in the 16th century."
- The actor is unknown: "My car was broken into last night."
- In formal/academic/scientific writing: "The experiment was conducted over six months."
- To avoid blame or be diplomatic: "Mistakes were made." (Who made them? We're not saying.)
- In news reports: "Three people were injured in the accident."
Example Sentences
- The new hospital is being built near the city center.
- The winners will be announced at the ceremony tonight.
- This book has been translated into 30 languages.
- She is considered to be one of the best scientists of her generation.
- I need to have my suit dry-cleaned before the wedding.
- It is expected that prices will rise next year.
- The documents should have been signed before the deadline.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting "been" in perfect passives
- Wrong:
The letter has sent. - Correct: The letter has been sent.
Mistake 2: Using active form with causative meaning
- Wrong:
I cut my hair yesterday.(This means YOU cut it yourself.) - Correct: I had my hair cut yesterday. (Someone else cut it.)
Mistake 3: Overusing the passive
- Not ideal: "The door was opened by me and the room was entered by me."
- Better: "I opened the door and entered the room." (Use active when the doer is important and known.)
Mistake 4: Wrong word order in passive questions
- Wrong:
Was stolen what? - Correct: What was stolen?
Practice Tips
- Rewrite news headlines: Take active sentences from news articles and rewrite them in passive voice.
- Practice the causative with real life: Think about services you use: "I get my clothes washed at the laundromat. I have my teeth checked twice a year."
- Read academic texts: Notice how often passive voice is used in formal writing. Try to identify the structure.
- Transform between active and passive: Take any sentence and practice switching between the two forms.