Lesson 15: Passive

Voice
In the active voice, the subject of the sentence ​DOES the
action:

​ rote ​a ​letter.
• ​Jakew
subject ​/ ​verb ​/ ​object

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence ​is acted

upon:

l​ etter ​was written ​(by ​Jake​).

• ​A
subject ​/ ​verb

Notice that the ​object ​of the active sentence (letter) became the ​subject ​of
the passive sentence.

If we want, we can include "by Jake" to say who did the

action.

We do not include "by..."

when:

• The doer of the action is ​unknown:

The money was stolen.
• The doer of the action is ​"people in
general": ​Black cats are believed to bring bad
luck.
• The doer of the action is ​completely unimportant: ​This bridge
was built in 1889. (probably by a construction company)

Click here ​for more explanation and

examples).

The passive voice is formed by ​a form of the verb TO BE + past participle of

the main verb.

The form of the verb “to be” is the same as the form of the original main
verb:

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014

Structure of the passive voice

Let's see if you can guess how to form the passive voice for each tense. I'll show
you the active voice sentence, and you'll have 7 seconds to try to complete the
passive sentence before the answer appears.
Tense Active / Passive When to use it?
Simple Present
Factory workers ​test ​the products. General procedures &
processes; general The products ​are tested. ​thoughts & opinions Simple past
Actions
An interior design company ​renovated o ​ ur facilities last month. ​
completed at a

specific time in the

Our facilities ​were renovated ​last past.

​ month.
Simple future
Everyone ​will exchange ​gifts at Christmas. The company ​is going to
implement ​the policy next month. Actions to be
completed in the Gifts ​will be exchanged ​at future Christmas. The policy ​is
going to be implemented ​next month.
Present continuous

Teachers ​are using ​the new book in their classrooms. ​Actions currently in

The new book ​is being used ​in progress

​ classrooms.
www.espressoenglish.net ​© Shayna Oliveira 2014
I spoke up when I saw that my manager ​was ignoring ​the safety Past
regulations. Actions in progress at continuous
a time in the past I spoke up when I saw that the safety regulations ​were being
ignored.
Present perfect
Somebody ​has eaten ​the last piece of cake. Actions completed at
an unspecified time in The last piece of cake ​has been ​the past. ​eaten.
Past perfect
An action that
I discovered that someone ​had copied ​my brilliant idea. ​
happened before
I discovered that my brilliant ​
idea ​had been copied.
another action in the past. Future perfect
The store ​will have delivered ​the furniture by Friday. An action that will
happen before a date The furniture ​will have been ​in the future ​delivered ​by
Friday.
Note that the form of the verb "to be" is singular or plural depending on the new
subject of the sentence:
Teachers ​are using ​the new book in their classrooms. ​(teachers = plural, so we
use "are")
The new book ​is being used ​in classrooms. ​(the new book = singular, so we use
"is")
www.espressoenglish.net ​© Shayna Oliveira 2014
My manager ​was ignoring ​the safety
regulations. ​(my manager = singular, so we use
"was")

The safety regulations ​were being

ignored. ​(regulations = plural, so we use
"were")
Modal Verbs + Passive
Voice

We can also add modal verbs to passive structures -

typically:

​ resent ​(modal + be + past participle)

• ​thep
To talk about things in the present or future
​ resent perfect ​(modal + have been + past participle)
• ​thep
To talk about things in the past

Possibility
:

• ​Present: This recipe ​can be made ​with margarine instead of butter.

• ​Past: He's very upset. He ​might have been fired f​ rom his
job.
• ​Past: That was very dangerous. You ​could have been
killed!

Impossibility
:

• ​Present: Crops ​can't be grown ​here because the soil is too

rocky.
The work ​couldn't have been finished ​in a day. It was at least a
• ​Past:
week's worth of work.

Permission
:

• ​Positive: Photos ​may be taken ​during the performance.

• ​Negative: Cell phones ​may not be used ​in the
classroom.

Requirement
:

• ​Positive: The shipment ​must be delivered ​before the

deadline.
These samples ​must not be exposed ​to
• ​Negative:
contamination.

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
Advice
:

• ​Present: Something ​should be done ​about the

problem.
• ​Past: Something ​should have been done ​about the problem a long time
ago.
Criminals ​ought to be punished. ​(we don't usually use "ought to
• ​Present:
have been" in the past; we prefer "should have been")

When can/can't we use the passive

voice?

Some teachers and writers say that the passive voice should always be
avoided, but this is not true. Of course it is not good to use the passive voice ​too
much, ​but it is perfectly acceptable to use it - especially in these four situations:
1. When we don't know who did the
action

A laptop ​was stolen ​from the

classroom.

Three people ​have been killed ​in the park. Police are looking for clues to
the identity of the murderer.

2. When the person who does the action is "people in

general"

Tino's ​is considered ​the city's best

pizzeria.

Chinese ​is seen ​as a very difficult language to

learn.

It ​was ​once ​believed ​that the sun revolved around the

earth.

3. When the person who does the action is obvious or

unimportant

She ​is being treated ​for

cancer. ​(by doctors and nurses,
obviously)

Bill Clinton ​was elected ​president in

1993. ​(by the country's population,
obviously)

All articles ​are proofread ​before publication. (​ who proofreads

them is not important... probably a team of editors)
 www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
4. When we want to give MORE emphasis to the receiver of the
action than to the doer

Sometimes we ​do w ​ ant to mention who did the action, because it is interesting
or important in some way... but we still want to keep the ​primary f​ ocus of
attention on the object of the action:

The Taj Mahal ​was built ​by the emperor

Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. ​(we
are learning primarily about the Taj
Mahal, so we keep the attention on it)

My mother ​is being treated ​for cancer by one of the best doctors in
the country. ​(the most important person in this sentence is my
mother, not the doctor)

This software ​has been used ​by more than 50,000 small businesses.
(we want to emphasize how great the software is; the small businesses
are a secondary detail)

We can't use the passive voice with ​intransitive verbs ​(verbs that have no
object):

He ​fixed ​the clock. ​(fixed = transitive;

the clock = the object) T ​ he clock ​was
fixed.

He ​laughed. ​They're ​coming ​over. ​An accident ​has happened. ​(laugh,

come, happen = intransitive. There are no objects; therefore there is no
possibility of making these sentences into the passive voice)

With state verbs, some of them can be used in the passive voice and others
cannot.

Verbs that can be used in the passive voice include ​need, know, include,
involve, love, hate, see, hear, feel.

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
We ​need ​new tools.
New tools ​are
needed.

Everyone ​in the country ​knows ​her name.

Her name ​is known ​throughout the
country.

The price ​includes ​tax.

Tax ​is included ​in the
price.

This job ​involves ​manual labor.

Manual labor ​is involved ​in this
job.

People ​love/hate ​the band's

music. The band's music ​is
loved/hated.

People ​often ​see ​birds ​in the

forest. ​Birds ​are ​often ​seen ​in the
forest.

Verbs that cannot be used in the passive voice include ​have ​(for possession),
belong to, lack, resemble, appear, seem, look, be.

I ​have ​a cat. ​A
cat is had by me.

The team ​lacked ​a leader. ​A

leader was lacked by the team.

That cloud ​resembles ​a dragon.

A dragon is resembled by that
cloud.

This task ​seems ​difficult.

(no passive sentence is
possible)

You can use the passive voice with transitive phrasal

verbs:

He ​took ​the files ​out ​of the archives.

The files ​were taken out ​of the
archives.

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
Someone ​has put away ​the
tools. The tools ​have been put
away.

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. It is not possible to create sentences in

the passive voice with these, because there is no object:

The car ​slowed

 down. ​He ​is running
away.

Summar
y

• ​In
the active voice, the subject of the sentence DOES the action. In the
passive voice, the subject of the sentence ​is acted upon.
• ​Thepassive voice is formed by ​a form of the verb TO BE + past
participle of the main verb. ​The verb TO BE can be conjugated in various
tenses.
can use a ​modal verb + be + past participle ​(for things in the
• ​You
present/future) - Ex) Something should be done about this problem.
• ​Youcan use a ​modal verb + have been + past participle ​(for things in the
past) - Ex) Something should have been done about this problem a long
time ago.
• ​The
passive voice is used when the person who did the action is
unknown, obvious/unimportant, "people in general," ​or ​less important
than the object.
• ​We
can include “by... (the doer)” if we know who did the action and want to
mention it because it is somewhat important.
• ​We​ an't use ​the passive voice with intransitive verbs and some state
c
verbs.
• ​We​ an use ​the passive voice with transitive phrasal
c
verbs.

You’ve finished Lesson 15! Now continue to the exercises to get more practice
with the passive voice.
 www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014

Quiz – Lesson 15 –
Passives
Exercise 1: Passive voice – various verb
tenses

Change these sentences to the passive voice, using ​a form of the verb be +
past participle of the main verb​. Warning – three of them can’t be made
passive.

Ex) Somebody gave me a form to fill

out. Passive: ​I was given a form to
fill out.

1. Some people are having trouble understanding the

instructions.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

2. Someone will announce the winner of the contest

tomorrow.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

3. People report that the damage from the earthquake is

extensive.

___________________________________________________________
 ______________________________

4. Hopefully, scientists will have cured cancer by the year

2050.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

5. I was surprised when I heard that they had approved my

scholarship

application
.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

6. People are debating this issue around the

world.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

7. Journalists were bombarding the actor with

questions.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

8. Nobody has painted these walls

yet.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

9. Somebody finally took down the office Christmas decorations in

February.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

10. The government has passed a new

law.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
11. The course consists of 40
classes.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

12. We held the event in a conference

center.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

13. Farm workers harvest the crops in

October.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

14. This club has existed for the past five

years.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________

15. I'm not very athletic. Other kids always chose me last for sports
teams.

___________________________________________________________
______________________________
Exercise 2: Passives with Modal
Verbs

Complete each sentence with ​a modal verb + be / have been + past

participle.

The modal verbs you can use are ​must, might, may, can, could, ​and
should

Ex) The laws _________________________ ​(obey) ​by everyone, regardless of

social status.
(obligation –
present)

Answer: The laws ​must be obeyed ​by everyone, regardless of social

status.

1. Karen hasn't come to work for the past week. She

__________________________

(fire) ​- I'm not sure. ​(uncertainty –

past)

2. This watch is so strong, it _______________________ ​(drop) f​ rom a

height of 40 feet

without breaking. ​(possibility –

present)

3. Cameras with flash ___________________ ​(use) ​during the

performance.

(prohibited –
present)

4. Papers ________________________________ ​(turn) i​ n by April 15. No

assignments will

be accepted after the deadline. ​(obligation –

present)

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
5. Some people _______________________ ​(offend) ​by the strong
language in the

movie. ​(possibility –
present)

6. My air conditioner is broken. ___________ it __________________, or

will I have to

buy a new one? ​(ability –

present)

7. I think that new immigrants ________________________ ​(give)

more help and

support. ​(recommendation –
present)

8. I can't believe he got away with the crime!

He

_____________________________________ ​(punish)​.
(recommendation – past)

9. If we had known about this problem earlier, it

_______________________________

(resolve)​. ​(possibility –
past)

10. Some mysteries just ________________________ ​(solve).

 (impossibility – present)

11. Why is my trash can still full? It ______________________________

​ y the
(empty) b

cleaning crew. ​(expectation –

past)

12. If you talk too fast, some of your words

_____________________________

(misunderstand).​ (​ possibility –
present)

Writing
Task
Write about one significant historical or cultural event in your country.
When appropriate, you can use the passive voice. Send me your text at
shayna@espressoenglish.net ​for feedback!

Advanced English Grammar Course

45 Lessons - $45

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
Answers – Quiz 15 -
Passives
Exercise
1:

1. Cannot be
passive

2. The winner of the contest will be announced

tomorrow.

3. It is reported that the damage from the earthquake is

extensive.

Or: The damage from the earthquake is reported to be

extensive.

4. Hopefully, cancer will have been cured by the year

2050.

5. I was surprised when I heard that my scholarship application had

been

approved
.

6. This issue is being debated around the

world.

7. The actor was being bombarded with

questions.

8. These walls haven't been painted

yet.

9. The Christmas decorations were finally taken down in

February.
 10. A new law has been
passed.

11. Cannot be
passive

12. The event was held in a conference

center.

13. The crops are harvested in

October.

14. Cannot be
passive

15. I'm not very athletic. I was always chosen last for team
sports.

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014
Exercise
2:

1. Karen hasn't come to work for the past week. She ​might/may have
been

fired ​- I'm not

 sure.

2. This watch is so strong, it ​can be dropped ​from a height of 40 feet

without

breaking
.

3. Cameras with flash ​may not / can’t be used d

​ uring the
performance.

4. Papers ​must be turned ​in by April 15. No assignments will be accepted

after

the
deadline.

5. Some people ​might/could/may be offended ​by the strong language in

the

movie
.

6. My air conditioner is broken. ​Can it be fixed​, or will I have to buy a new

one?

7. I think that new immigrants ​should be given m

​ ore help and
support.

8. I can't believe he got away with the crime! He ​should have been
punished.

9. If we had known about this problem earlier, it ​could have been

resolved.

10. Some mysteries just ​can’t be

solved.

11. Why is my trash can still full? It ​should have been emptied ​by the
cleaning

crew. ​(expectation –
 past)

12. ​If you talk too fast, some of your words ​might/could/may be

misunderstood
.

www.espressoenglish.
net ​© Shayna Oliveira
2014