Passive Voice

The passive voice focuses on the person or thing that receives an action. We often use it when the person performing the action is unknown, unimportant, obvious, or less important than the result. The active voice focuses on who or what performs the action.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Verb to be or auxiliary verb.
*Agent.}

Both sentences describe the same action, but they organize the information differently. In the active sentence, the chef performs the action. In the passive sentence, the soup receives the action and becomes the subject.

When do we use the passive voice?

Use the passive voice when the agent is unknown, obvious, or less important than the action or result.

_{*Subject that receives the action.
*Verb to be.
*Past participle.}

Active and passive structures

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Verb to be.
*Optional agent.}

The by + agent phrase is optional. Include it only when the identity of the agent is useful or important.

Past participles

Every passive verb contains a past participle. Regular past participles normally end in -ed. Irregular forms must be learned.

_{*Base verb.
*Past participle.}

Passive voice in common tenses

The past participle stays the same. The auxiliary verbs change to show the tense.

Simple Present

Use this form for routines, processes, and general facts.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Simple Past

Use this form for completed actions in the past.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Present Progressive

Use this form for actions happening now.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Past Progressive

Use this form for actions in progress at a specific past time.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Future with Will

Use this form for future actions and predictions.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Future with Going To

Use this form for future plans and predictions.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Present Perfect

Use this form for completed actions connected to the present.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Past Perfect

Use this form for actions completed before another past action or time.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Modals

Use this form for rules, advice, ability, and possibility.

_{*Subject.
*Main verb or past participle.
*Object.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.}

Summary of passive forms

_{*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.
*Past participle.}

Common mistakes

Remember to include be and use the past participle of the main verb.

_{*Subject that receives the action.
*Passive auxiliary verb or verbs.
*Main verb or past participle.}

Conclusion

In the active voice, the subject performs the action. In the passive voice, the subject receives it. To form the passive voice correctly, use the appropriate form of be followed by the past participle. Focus on the action or result, and include by + agent only when the person or thing performing the action is important.