Active or passive?
In an active sentence the doer (agent) is the subject: A boy broke the window. In a passive sentence the receiver of the action becomes the subject: The window was broken. We use the passive when the doer is unknown, obvious or unimportant, or when we want to focus on the action or the result.
How to form it
be (in the same tense) + past participle
- Present simple: English is spoken here.
- Past simple: The bridge was built in 1990.
- Present perfect: The email has been sent.
- Future (will): The results will be announced tomorrow.
- Modal: This door must be kept closed.
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | They make cars here. | Cars are made here. |
| Past simple | Someone stole my bike. | My bike was stolen. |
| Present perfect | They have cancelled the flight. | The flight has been cancelled. |
| will | They will open the shop soon. | The shop will be opened soon. |
| Present continuous | They are repairing the road. | The road is being repaired. |
When do we use by …?
Add by + agent only if the doer is interesting or new information: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare. Leave it out when it is obvious (The thief was arrested) or unknown (My car was stolen).
Lots of examples
- Rice is grown in many parts of Asia.Present simple passive.
- The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.Past simple + by.
- My phone was stolen on the train.Doer unknown.
- The new library will be opened next month.Future passive.
- The report has just been finished.Present perfect passive.
- English is spoken all over the world.General fact.
- The road is being repaired at the moment.Present continuous passive.
- Visitors must not be allowed inside.Modal passive.
- Was the window broken by the storm?Question.
- The meeting wasn’t cancelled.Negative.
- I was given a ticket by the guard.Passive with two objects.
- These shoes were made in Italy.Origin.
Don’t say / Say
Don’t sayThe cake made by my mother.
SayThe cake was made by my mother.Why: Don’t forget the verb be.
Don’t sayThe film was directed from Spielberg.
SayThe film was directed by Spielberg.Why: Use by for the doer.
Don’t sayThe accident was happened yesterday.
SayThe accident happened yesterday.Why: Intransitive verbs can’t be passive.
Don’t sayThe letters are write every day.
SayThe letters are written every day.Why: Use the past participle.
Don’t sayMy bag has stolen.
SayMy bag has been stolen.Why: Present perfect passive = has been + participle.