English Grammar Lab

← B1

The passive voice

You will be able to Use present and past passive forms when the action is more important than the person performing it.

Explanation

Form the passive with a suitable form of be followed by the past participle.

Examples

Detailed course

Understand the grammar point

Go to practice ↓

Detailed explanation

This lesson focuses on the passive voice. The structure helps learners organise connected speech and writing, and it should always be interpreted as part of a complete message rather than as an isolated formula. Before selecting a form, identify the subject, time reference, clause relationship, and the information that receives emphasis.

Formation is central. Use the correct form of be plus the past participle. The tense is carried by be, and by plus the agent is added only when the agent is relevant. Build the sentence in stages: identify the grammatical subject, choose the auxiliary or main verb form, and complete the clause in normal English word order. In negatives and questions, check whether the structure supplies its own auxiliary or requires another one.

The pattern can help users explain reasons and results, report experience and information, and choose between related grammar patterns. These purposes may overlap, so context decides which interpretation is natural. Time expressions, determiners, linking words, and punctuation often provide evidence for the correct choice.

A useful contrast prevents overgeneralisation. The active voice foregrounds the doer, while the passive foregrounds the affected person, thing, process, or result. Ask how the nearest alternative would change time, certainty, focus, politeness, or register. A grammatically possible sentence may still communicate the wrong relationship if that contrast is ignored.

The guided examples are complete messages. Notice how the target structure agrees with its subject and how the surrounding vocabulary makes the intended meaning clear. When producing a new example, preserve the relationship between form and meaning while changing the people, place, and lexical details.

A reliable self-check is to paraphrase the sentence in simpler language. If the paraphrase changes the time relationship, degree of certainty, or focus, review the original form. Compare the sentence with the common mistakes and explain why the corrected version is preferable.

In connected speech and writing, the structure also contributes to cohesion. It guides the reader through background information, main events, causes, qualifications, and results. Clause order and connector choice can therefore affect interpretation even when every individual word is correct.

How to form it

Use the correct form of be plus the past participle. The tense is carried by be, and by plus the agent is added only when the agent is relevant.

Use the structure to organise connected speech and writing.

Use the structure to explain reasons and results.

Use the structure to report experience and information.

Use the structure to choose between related grammar patterns.

The active voice foregrounds the doer, while the passive foregrounds the affected person, thing, process, or result.

Guided examples

The final designs are checked by two teachers.

Are checked is the present passive, formed with are plus the past participle checked.

The winning poster was created by a local student.

Was created is the past passive, showing the focus is on the poster, not the student.

All entries are displayed in the main hall.

Are displayed is present passive, and by is left out because the agent is not important here.

The results were announced on Friday afternoon.

Were announced is past passive, matching the plural subject results.

New materials are being prepared for next year.

Are being prepared is the present continuous passive, showing the action is in progress.

The best projects have been published online.

Have been published is the present perfect passive, focusing on the result now.

Common mistakes

Not: The final designs are check by two teachers.

Use: The final designs are checked by two teachers.

The passive needs the past participle checked after are, not the base form check.

Not: The winning poster were created by a local student.

Use: The winning poster was created by a local student.

Poster is singular, so the passive needs was, not were.

Not: All entries is displayed in the main hall.

Use: All entries are displayed in the main hall.

Entries is plural, so the passive needs are, not is.

Not: The results was announced on Friday afternoon.

Use: The results were announced on Friday afternoon.

Results is plural, so the passive needs were, not was.

Before you practise

  • Identify the communicative purpose.
  • Check the subject and required verb or auxiliary.
  • Confirm the time reference and clause order.
  • Compare the sentence with the nearest alternative.
  • Read the complete sentence and verify the meaning.

Reading text

Preparing the Student Exhibition

About 265 words

The exhibition team, parents, and science students gathered at the school hall to prepare a student exhibition. The main difficulty was clear: the hall has to be ready before families arrive. They spread posters, labels, models, and lights across the table and agreed to work through the facts one by one. The posters were printed on Monday. That first detail changed the mood in the room because it gave the group something concrete to discuss. The science models were carried to the hall. After that, the group compared names, times, and places instead of guessing. The entrance was decorated by parent helpers. A short disagreement followed, but it helped them notice a missing detail. All labels were checked twice before opening. When the final note was added, the plan felt realistic and easy to explain. Before they left the school hall, the result was clear: the exhibition opens with everything in place. The exhibition team, parents, and science students return to posters, labels, models, and lights because each item helps with the task. The notes show why the hall has to be ready before families arrive. The group checks the time, the place, and the next decision before moving on. No one rushes, because a small error would change the outcome. The work stays connected to the school hall, where the problem first became visible. By the end, the result is clear: the exhibition opens with everything in place. Later, the written record helps the group explain the decision without adding new claims. The strongest clue comes from the materials, not from anyone's memory alone.

Reading comprehension

  1. Who is involved in the reading?

    Show answer

    the exhibition team, parents, and science students

  2. Where does the reading take place?

    Show answer

    the school hall

  3. What task are the people trying to complete?

    Show answer

    prepare a student exhibition

  4. What problem makes the task less simple?

    Show answer

    the hall has to be ready before families arrive

  5. How does the reading end?

    Show answer

    the exhibition opens with everything in place

Grammar in the text

  1. The posters were printed on Monday.

    Were printed is the past passive, focusing on the posters rather than who printed them.

  2. The science models were carried to the hall.

    Were carried is past passive, matching the plural subject models.

  3. The entrance was decorated by parent helpers.

    Was decorated is past passive, with by naming the agent because it adds useful information.

  4. All labels were checked twice before opening.

    Were checked is past passive, matching the plural subject labels.

Key point

Use this pattern when the meaning needs it in the reading: be + past participle. In short, the passive focuses on the action or result more than the doer. Example: "The posters were printed on Monday."

Practice

  1. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "The posters ____ printed on Monday."

    Show answer

    The posters were printed on Monday.

  2. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "The science models ____ carried to the hall."

    Show answer

    The science models were carried to the hall.

  3. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "The entrance ____ decorated by parent helpers."

    Show answer

    The entrance was decorated by parent helpers.

  4. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "All labels ____ checked twice before opening."

    Show answer

    All labels were checked twice before opening.

Listening practice

Watch a TEDx talk

“How great leaders inspire action” — Simon Sinek (TEDxPugetSound). Listen for clear, natural English and pick up new vocabulary while you review this grammar point.

Check your understanding

According to Sinek's “Golden Circle,” what do truly inspiring leaders and organizations communicate first?

Check your understanding

Which example does Sinek use to contrast a team that succeeded because of a clear “why” against a much better-funded rival who failed?

Practice

Choose the correct answer. English ___ in many countries.

Practice

Choose the correct answer. The bridge ___ in 1998.

Practice

Choose the correct answer. The post ___ every morning.

Written practice

Produce the answer yourself. Capitalisation and final punctuation do not affect validation, but the grammar and word order must be correct.

Word ordering

Written practice

Put the words in the correct order.

built / the bridge / was / in 1998