The Passive Voice

Use the passive voice when the action is more important than who or what does it, or when the doer is unknown or obvious. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject.

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Level B2 Voice

Summary

Use the passive voice when the action is more important than who or what does it, or when the doer is unknown or obvious. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject.

subject + be (in the right tense) + past participle (+ by + agent)

Examples

Common mistakes

• Use the past participle, not the base or past simple: NOT 'is speak' → 'is spoken.'
• Match the tense in the 'be' verb: 'was built' (past), 'is built' (present).

Related

Present Perfect Reported Speech

More voice

Passive of Reporting Verbs C1

To report beliefs or claims impersonally, English uses passive reporting structures. There is an impersonal 'It is said that...' form and a personal 'He is said to...' form with an infinitive.

Have / Get Something Done (Causative) B2

The causative arranges for someone else to do something for you. 'Have/get + object + past participle' shows that a service is performed rather than done by the subject personally.

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