Look at these examples to see how the passive voice is used.
A lot of olive oil is produced in Italy.
This book was written by Angela Davis.
The suspect will be released tomorrow.
This product has not been tested on animals.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We use the passive voice to change the focus of the sentence.
My bike was stolen. (passive – focus on my bike)
Someone stole my bike. (active – focus on someone)
We often use the passive:
- when we prefer not to mention who or what does the action (for example, it's not known, it's obvious or we don't want to say)
- so that we can start a sentence with the most important or most logical information
- in more formal or scientific writing.
How we make the passive
We make the passive using the verb be + past participle. We start the sentence with the object.
| Avatar | was | directed by James Cameron. |
| ↓ | ↓ | ↓ |
| Object | + be + | past participle |
It is not always necessary to add who or what did the action.
| My flight | is | cancelled. |
| ↓ | ↓ | ↓ |
| Object | + be + | past participle |
Only the form of be changes to make the tense. The past participle stays the same. Here are examples of the passive in its most common tenses.
| Tense | Example | Structure |
| Present simple | Alioli is made from oil, garlic and salt. | is/are + past participle |
| Present continuous | The hall is being painted this week. | is/are being + past participle |
| Past simple | John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. | was/were + past participle |
| Past continuous | The signs were being put up last week. | was/were being + past participle |
| Present perfect | Oranges have been grown here for centuries. | has/have been + past participle |
| Past perfect | When he got home, he found that his flat had been burgled. | had been + past participle |
| Future simple | The work will be finished next week. | will be + past participle |
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello,
I was trying to come up with the passive form of "Someone has proposed improvements to the developers" and apparently "Improvements have been proposed to the teachers." is correct but "The developers have been proposed improvements." isn't. Why is it incorrect?
Thank you very much for your attention.
Hello Skyville,
It's because the verb 'propose' isn't used this way -- it's not a double object verb. Instead of having a 'straight' indirect object, that is, an indirect object that is not a prepositional phrase, a prepositional phrase is required. As you can see in the original sentence, the indirect object takes the form of a prepositional phrase with the preposition 'to'.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello teacher
this sentence (I am focused)
could be adjective or passive voice for simple present
my question about passive voice
I am focused by myself
object: me
subject: myself
Hello hesham ali,
The phrase 'by myself' here does not describe an agent (the doer of the action) but rather has the meaning 'alone'. I would read the sentence as 'I am focused (when I am) by myself'.
'Focused' is an adjective. You could replace it with other adjectives such as 'happy', 'bored', 'productive' etc.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello, I appreciate for all, it's a really useful website. I have a problem with a passive statement : "In order to be accepted, all applicants must make a pledge to not let the information (to be taken/being taken/is taken/be taken) out of the company " which one is correct?
Hello Leilaa,
All of the options are passive forms here, so what you need to consider to choose the right answer is what comes before the option. In the phrase 'a pledge to not let the information ...', the word that determines the form of 'be take' is the verb 'let'.
'let' is followed by a bare infinitive form, that is, an infinitive form without 'to'. You can read more about this on our Verbs followed by the infinitive page (see the section on make and do).
In this case, that is 'be taken'.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks a lot Mr. Kirk
I'll read the mentioned page, surely.
First of all thank you for your tremendous job. My question is about the phrase: "my talk". In the section "Grammar test 2", question 7, it says: Someone [saw] my talk at the conference and recommended me as a speaker.
Can we consider "my talking" a better grammar, because of the formal structure which is: [possessive adjective + Gerund]?
Would you explain which one [My talk or My talking] is correct (or more correct) and why?
Hi Emad.E2022,
I'm glad to hear you find the site useful!
Talk is a noun. It means a conversation, discussion or speech. It's the best word choice in this sentence because the context is a conference, which has speeches or presentations.
My talking is grammatically possible, but less preferred in this sentence since the gerund means the general doing of the activity (while talk is a particular unit of talking).
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Good explanation. It is well understood.