Practical English grammar guide
Passive voice in English: structure, uses, examples and exercises
Learn how to form the passive voice in English, choose the correct tense of to be and transform active sentences without changing their meaning.
Change the focus of the sentence without changing the story.
Essential concept
What is the passive voice in English and what is it used for?
The passive voice is a way of organizing information. In an active sentence, the subject performs the action; in a passive sentence, the subject receives it. The fact remains the same: only the element you want to emphasize changes.
Active voice
The focus is on the person or thing that performs the action.
Passive voice
The focus is on the result or on the person or thing that receives the action.
The choice
Use the passive when the action or result matters more than the agent.
Four-step method
How to change an active sentence into the passive voice
Changing from the active to the passive voice in English is easier when you separate each decision. Keep the same verb tense and check that the main verb is transitive, which means that it can take an object.
Core formula
Passive voice structure in English
The basic structure stays the same in every tense. The auxiliary to be changes; the main verb remains in the past participle. Regular verbs usually end in -ed, while irregular verbs require their third form.
Receiver + to be + past participle + (by + agent)| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + be + participle | The emails were sent. |
| Negative | Subject + be + not + participle | The emails were not sent. |
| Question | Be + subject + participle? | Were the emails sent? |
| With a modal | Subject + modal + be + participle | The form must be signed. |
If you remove the participle, the main idea disappears. If you change the tense of to be, you change when the action happens.
Verb tense map
The passive voice in every verb tense
This passive voice table shows how to preserve the tense of the active sentence. Learn each tense pattern instead of memorizing isolated sentences.
| Tense | Passive form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | am / is / are + participle | Coffee is grown in Colombia. |
| Present continuous | am / is / are being + participle | The road is being repaired. |
| Present perfect | has / have been + participle | The report has been finished. |
| Past simple | was / were + participle | The bridge was built in 1998. |
| Past continuous | was / were being + participle | The room was being cleaned. |
| Past perfect | had been + participle | The tickets had been sold. |
| Future with will | will be + participle | The winner will be announced. |
| Be going to | am / is / are going to be + participle | A new school is going to be opened. |
| Modal verbs | modal + be + participle | This rule should be explained. |
| Perfect modal | modal + have been + participle | The message might have been deleted. |
Purpose and context
When to use the passive voice in English
The passive is not simply a more formal version of every sentence. Use it when it answers the reader's real question better: what happened, which result matters or which process is being described.
The agent is unknown
We do not know who performed the action.
My bike was stolen last night.The agent is obvious
Mentioning the agent would add no new information.
The suspect was arrested.The result matters
The object or effect deserves the first position.
The new bridge has been completed.Processes and instructions
The passive describes stages in a neutral, orderly way.
The mixture is heated to 80°C.Formal texts
It is common in news reports, science and formal documents.
The data were collected in May.The agent is secondary
The speaker avoids focusing the sentence on one person.
A mistake was made.Details that show a higher level
The passive with by, get, two objects and impersonal structures
Once you master the basic formula, these patterns help you recognize the passive voice in conversations, news reports and academic texts.
By + agent
Add the agent when it identifies, contrasts or surprises. Omit it when it is unknown, obvious or irrelevant.
Get + participle
The get-passive is more informal and often highlights an unexpected change or event.
Verbs with two objects
With give, send, offer or tell, either object can become the subject.
Impersonal passive
With say, believe, think or report, English uses structures such as it is said that or he is believed to.
Have / get something done
This structure does not mean that the subject performs the action personally. It means that the subject arranges or pays for someone else to do it.
I had my laptop repaired. — Someone repaired my laptop for me.Models in context
Examples of the passive voice in English
Compare each sentence with its explanation and notice the auxiliary. The main meaning is carried by the participle; the tense is shown by the form of to be.
| Sentence in English | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|
| English is spoken in many countries. | People speak English in many countries. | General fact |
| The documents are being checked. | Someone is checking the documents now. | Action in progress |
| The package was delivered this morning. | Someone delivered the package this morning. | Past result |
| The problem had already been solved. | The solution happened before another past event. | Earlier past |
| The meeting will be held online. | The meeting is planned for the future. | Future plan |
| The application must be completed today. | Completing it today is an obligation. | Obligation |
| She was given a second chance. | Someone gave her another opportunity. | Two objects |
| It is said that the castle is haunted. | People say that the castle is haunted. | Impersonal passive |
Intelligent correction
Common mistakes with the passive voice
Most mistakes come from omitting one of the two verb elements or copying the active word order.
The auxiliary to be is missing.
Use the past participle, not the past simple.
The main verb must be in the past participle.
News is singular in English.
In an affirmative sentence, the subject comes before the auxiliary.
Happen is intransitive and cannot be used in the passive.
Practice with feedback
Passive voice exercises with answers
Choose the correct option. Then check the result and review the explanation for each sentence.
View explained answers
1. were sent · 2. will be built · 3. is spoken · 4. is being repaired · 5. be finished · 6. been · 7. The window was broken by Tom. · 8. A mistake was made.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the passive voice in English
What is the passive voice formula in English?
The formula is receiver + to be in the correct tense + past participle. Add the agent with by only when it provides useful information.
How do I know which verb tense to use in the passive?
Keep the tense of the active sentence and transfer it to the verb to be. Then put the main verb in the past participle.
When is by omitted in the passive voice?
Omit it when the agent is unknown, obvious, generic or irrelevant to the message.
Can every verb be used in the passive voice?
No. Usually only transitive verbs, which can take an object, form the passive. Verbs such as happen, arrive and sleep do not.
What is the difference between the active and passive voice?
The active highlights who performs the action; the passive highlights who or what receives it, the process or the result.
How is the passive formed with modal verbs?
Use subject + modal + be + participle: The work must be completed.
What is the get-passive?
It is an informal alternative with get + participle, often used for changes or events that affect the subject: He got promoted.
Is the passive voice used more in English than in Spanish?
Yes. It is common in English news, science, processes and instructions. Spanish often uses a construction with se instead.
Keep connecting concepts
Resources for mastering English verbs and grammar
Strengthen your passive voice skills with the topics that control its auxiliary, participle and verb tenses.