Passive verb forms
Learn how to focus on actions and results rather than who did them across multiple tenses.
- check_circleI can form the passive voice in present, past, present perfect, and future.
- check_circleI can use the passive voice to talk about processes, facts, and news.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
City News: The Old Library Restoration
The city’s oldest building, the downtown library, has been closed for months, but a major renovation project is finally moving forward.
Originally, the library was built in 1895. For over a century, it was used by thousands of students and researchers. However, last year, serious damage was discovered in the roof. After a thorough inspection, it was decided that the building needed urgent repairs.
Generous donations have been collected from local businesses to fund the project. Next week, the final design will be chosen by the city council, and the construction schedule will be published shortly after.
The mayor stated, “The history of this city is preserved in that library. We promise that the original architecture will be protected, and the building will be reopened to the public next spring. Our cultural heritage must not be lost.”
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
We use the passive voice when we want to focus on the action or the object of an action, rather than who or what did it.
Active: They manufacture millions of cars in that factory.
Passive: Millions of cars are manufactured in that factory.
How to Form the Passive Voice
The passive voice always follows this basic structure: Subject + form of “to be” + Past Participle (V3)
The tense of the verb “to be” tells you when the action happened.
1. Present Simple Passive
Use this for facts, routines, and processes.
- Structure: am / is / are + past participle
Coffee is grown in Brazil.
This bread is made fresh every morning.
2. Past Simple Passive
Use this for completed actions in the past (like historical events or past discoveries).
- Structure: was / were + past participle
The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
The stolen painting was recovered by the police.
Use “by” to mention who or what did the action, but only if that information is important or surprising. For example: “The window was broken by a falling tree.”
3. Present Perfect Passive
Use this for past actions that have a result or importance in the present, especially in news.
- Structure: have been / has been + past participle
A new planet has been discovered.
Five hospitals have been built this year.
4. Future with Will (Passive)
Use this for predictions, promises, or future facts.
- Structure: will be + past participle
The new rules will be announced tomorrow.
These packages will be delivered next week.
Common mistake: Don’t forget the verb “to be” in the passive! Spanish speakers sometimes translate word-for-word and leave it out.
- Incorrect: The document sent yesterday.
- Correct: The document was sent yesterday.
- Present Simple: is/are + V3 (The car is repaired)
- Past Simple: was/were + V3 (The car was repaired)
- Present Perfect: has/have been + V3 (The car has been repaired)
- Future: will be + V3 (The car will be repaired)
- Use by to show who did the action (only if important).
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?