Understanding Passive Voice Constructions in English 2025

The passive voice is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, allowing speakers and writers to shift the focus of a sentence from the doer of an action to the receiver. Mastering the passive voice enhances your ability to express ideas in diverse ways, making your writing more sophisticated and adaptable.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and using passive constructions effectively. Whether you are an English language learner striving for fluency or a native speaker aiming to refine your writing skills, this guide offers insights and practical exercises to solidify your grasp of the passive voice.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Passive Voice
• Structural Breakdown of Passive Voice
• Types of Passive Voice
• Examples of Passive Voice
• Usage Rules of Passive Voice
• Common Mistakes in Passive Voice
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics in Passive Voice
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Passive Voice

The passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performs it. In other words, the subject is acted upon. This contrasts with the active voice, where the subject performs the action. The passive voice is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb “to be” (is, are, was, were, been, being) followed by the past participle of the main verb. Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is crucial for effective communication.

The primary function of the passive voice is to shift the emphasis from the actor to the action or the recipient of the action. This is particularly useful when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

Additionally, the passive voice can be employed to maintain a consistent subject throughout a paragraph or to create a more formal or objective tone. Recognizing these functions can greatly improve your writing style.

The passive voice is commonly used in various contexts, including scientific writing, news reports, and formal documents. In scientific writing, it helps to maintain objectivity by focusing on the experiment or result rather than the researcher.

In news reports, it can be used to avoid attributing blame or responsibility. In formal documents, it often contributes to a more impersonal and professional tone.

For instance, a scientific paper might state “The experiment was conducted” instead of “We conducted the experiment.”

Structural Breakdown of Passive Voice

The basic structure of a passive sentence involves the following elements:

1. Subject: The recipient of the action.
2. Auxiliary Verb “to be”: Conjugated to match the tense of the active verb (e.g., is, are, was, were, has been, have been, will be).
3. Past Participle: The third form of the main verb (e.g., eaten, written, built).
4. (Optional) “by” phrase: Indicates the actor, but is often omitted.

Here’s a breakdown with examples:

Active Voice: The dog chased the ball.

Passive Voice: The ball was chased by the dog.

In the passive sentence, “the ball” is the subject, “was” is the auxiliary verb, and “chased” is the past participle. The “by” phrase “by the dog” indicates the actor.

To transform an active sentence into a passive sentence:

1. Identify the object of the active sentence.
2. Make the object the subject of the passive sentence.
3. Change the verb into the passive form (using a form of “to be” + past participle).
4. Add a “by” phrase if you want to mention the actor.

For example:

Active: The chef cooked the meal.

Passive: The meal was cooked by the chef.

Let’s look at how the passive voice is formed in different tenses:

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Present Simple	They clean the house.	The house is cleaned.
Past Simple	She wrote a letter.	A letter was written.
Present Continuous	He is painting the wall.	The wall is being painted.
Past Continuous	They were building a bridge.	A bridge was being built.
Present Perfect	We have finished the project.	The project has been finished.
Past Perfect	She had read the book.	The book had been read.
Future Simple	They will build a new school.	A new school will be built.
Future Perfect	He will have completed the task.	The task will have been completed.

This table illustrates how the auxiliary verb “to be” changes according to the tense, while the main verb remains in its past participle form. Understanding these transformations is essential for constructing grammatically correct passive sentences.

Types of Passive Voice

The passive voice can be categorized based on the tense of the verb and the inclusion of a “by” phrase. Here are the main types:

Simple Passive

The simple passive is formed using the simple tenses (present, past, future) of the verb “to be” followed by the past participle. This is the most basic form of the passive voice.

Examples:

• The car is washed every week. (Present Simple)
• The letter was delivered yesterday. (Past Simple)
• The cake will be baked tomorrow. (Future Simple)

Continuous Passive

The continuous passive is formed using the continuous tenses (present, past) of the verb “to be” followed by “being” and the past participle. This form emphasizes that the action is ongoing.

Examples:

• The house is being cleaned right now. (Present Continuous)
• The road was being repaired when I drove by. (Past Continuous)

Perfect Passive

The perfect passive is formed using the perfect tenses (present, past, future) of the verb “to be” followed by “been” and the past participle. This form indicates that the action has been completed at some point in the past or will be completed in the future.

Examples:

• The report has been written. (Present Perfect)
• The project had been finished before the deadline. (Past Perfect)
• The work will have been completed by next week. (Future Perfect)

Passive with Modals

The passive voice can also be used with modal verbs (e.g., can, could, should, must, might, may). In this case, the structure is: modal verb + “be” + past participle.

Examples:

• The door can be opened with this key.
• The report should be submitted by Friday.
• The mistake must be corrected immediately.

Examples of Passive Voice

The following tables provide numerous examples of the passive voice in different tenses and contexts. These examples are designed to illustrate the versatility and common usage patterns of passive constructions.

Examples in Present Simple and Past Simple

The table below demonstrates the passive voice in both the present simple and past simple tenses, showing how actions are received by the subject.

Active Voice (Present Simple)	Passive Voice (Present Simple)	Active Voice (Past Simple)	Passive Voice (Past Simple)
They make cars in this factory.	Cars are made in this factory.	She wrote a book.	A book was written by her.
He cleans the room every day.	The room is cleaned every day.	The dog ate the bone.	The bone was eaten by the dog.
The postman delivers the mail.	The mail is delivered by the postman.	The teacher graded the exams.	The exams were graded by the teacher.
They sell tickets online.	Tickets are sold online.	He fixed the car.	The car was fixed by him.
She teaches English.	English is taught by her.	The cat caught the mouse.	The mouse was caught by the cat.
We grow vegetables in our garden.	Vegetables are grown in our garden.	The artist painted the picture.	The picture was painted by the artist.
The company produces software.	Software is produced by the company.	The wind blew down the tree.	The tree was blown down by the wind.
They build houses.	Houses are built.	She sang a song.	A song was sung by her.
He drives a car.	A car is driven by him.	The students answered the questions.	The questions were answered by the students.
The chef prepares the food.	The food is prepared by the chef.	The rain damaged the crops.	The crops were damaged by the rain.
The baker makes bread.	Bread is made by the baker.	He opened the door.	The door was opened by him.
She wears a dress.	A dress is worn by her.	The child broke the vase.	The vase was broken by the child.
The barber cuts hair.	Hair is cut by the barber.	The audience applauded the performance.	The performance was applauded by the audience.
The gardener waters the plants.	The plants are watered by the gardener.	The earthquake destroyed the city.	The city was destroyed by the earthquake.
The mechanic repairs cars.	Cars are repaired by the mechanic.	She sold her car.	Her car was sold by her.
The waiter serves customers.	Customers are served by the waiter.	The police arrested the thief.	The thief was arrested by the police.
The writer writes articles.	Articles are written by the writer.	The fire burned the house.	The house was burned by the fire.
The artist creates sculptures.	Sculptures are created by the artist.	He planted a tree.	A tree was planted by him.
The doctor treats patients.	Patients are treated by the doctor.	The wind closed the window.	The window was closed by the wind.

Examples in Continuous and Perfect Tenses

This table showcases examples of the passive voice in the present and past continuous, as well as the present and past perfect tenses.

Active Voice (Present Continuous)	Passive Voice (Present Continuous)	Active Voice (Past Continuous)	Passive Voice (Past Continuous)
They are building a new hospital.	A new hospital is being built.	She was writing a novel.	A novel was being written by her.
He is painting the house.	The house is being painted.	The workers were repairing the road.	The road was being repaired by the workers.
The chef is preparing the meal.	The meal is being prepared by the chef.	The children were eating the cake.	The cake was being eaten by the children.
Active Voice (Present Perfect)	Passive Voice (Present Perfect)	Active Voice (Past Perfect)	Passive Voice (Past Perfect)
They have finished the project.	The project has been finished.	She had completed the report.	The report had been completed by her.
He has read the book.	The book has been read by him.	The team had won the game.	The game had been won by the team.
The company has launched the product.	The product has been launched by the company.	The rain had stopped the match.	The match had been stopped by the rain.
They have cleaned the room.	The room has been cleaned.	He had fixed the car.	The car had been fixed by him.
She has taught English.	English has been taught by her.	The cat had caught the mouse.	The mouse had been caught by the cat.
We have grown vegetables.	Vegetables have been grown by us.	The artist had painted the picture.	The picture had been painted by the artist.
The company has produced software.	Software has been produced by the company.	The wind had blown down the tree.	The tree had been blown down by the wind.
They have built houses.	Houses have been built.	She had sung a song.	A song had been sung by her.
He has driven a car.	A car has been driven by him.	The students had answered the questions.	The questions had been answered by the students.
The chef has prepared the food.	The food has been prepared by the chef.	The rain had damaged the crops.	The crops had been damaged by the rain.
The baker has made bread.	Bread has been made by the baker.	He had opened the door.	The door had been opened by him.
She has worn a dress.	A dress has been worn by her.	The child had broken the vase.	The vase had been broken by the child.
The barber has cut hair.	Hair has been cut by the barber.	The audience had applauded the performance.	The performance had been applauded by the audience.
The gardener has watered the plants.	The plants have been watered by the gardener.	The earthquake had destroyed the city.	The city had been destroyed by the earthquake.
The mechanic has repaired cars.	Cars have been repaired by the mechanic.	She had sold her car.	Her car had been sold by her.
The waiter has served customers.	Customers have been served by the waiter.	The police had arrested the thief.	The thief had been arrested by the police.
The writer has written articles.	Articles have been written by the writer.	The fire had burned the house.	The house had been burned by the fire.
The artist has created sculptures.	Sculptures have been created by the artist.	He had planted a tree.	A tree had been planted by him.
The doctor has treated patients.	Patients have been treated by the doctor.	The wind had closed the window.	The window had been closed by the wind.

Examples with Modal Verbs

The table below presents examples of the passive voice used with modal verbs, illustrating possibilities, obligations, and permissions.

Active Voice (Modal)	Passive Voice (Modal)
You can open the door.	The door can be opened.
They should submit the report.	The report should be submitted.
We must correct the mistake.	The mistake must be corrected.
She might write a letter.	A letter might be written by her.
He may finish the work.	The work may be finished by him.
You could solve the problem.	The problem could be solved.
We can clean the room.	The room can be cleaned.
She should fix the car.	The car should be fixed by her.
The cat must catch the mouse.	The mouse must be caught by the cat.
The artist might paint the picture.	The picture might be painted by the artist.
The wind may blow down the tree.	The tree may be blown down by the wind.
She could sing a song.	A song could be sung by her.
The students can answer the questions.	The questions can be answered by the students.
The rain should damage the crops.	The crops should be damaged by the rain.
He must open the door.	The door must be opened by him.
The child might break the vase.	The vase might be broken by the child.
The audience may applaud the performance.	The performance may be applauded by the audience.
The earthquake could destroy the city.	The city could be destroyed by the earthquake.
She can sell her car.	Her car can be sold by her.
The police should arrest the thief.	The thief should be arrested by the police.
The fire must burn the house.	The house must be burned by the fire.
He may plant a tree.	A tree may be planted by him.
The wind can close the window.	The window can be closed by the wind.

Usage Rules of Passive Voice

Using the passive voice correctly involves understanding several key rules and guidelines. These rules help ensure that your sentences are grammatically sound and convey the intended meaning effectively.

When to Use Passive Voice

The passive voice is most appropriate in the following situations:

• When the actor is unknown: “The window was broken.” (We don’t know who broke it.)
• When the actor is unimportant: “Mistakes were made.” (Focus is on the fact that mistakes occurred, not who made them.)
• When you want to emphasize the action or the recipient: “The new bridge was inaugurated yesterday.” (Emphasizes the inauguration of the bridge.)
• In formal or scientific writing to maintain objectivity: “The samples were analyzed in the lab.” (Focuses on the analysis process.)

Omission of the “by” Phrase

The “by” phrase, which indicates the actor, is often omitted in passive sentences. This is especially common when the actor is obvious, irrelevant, or unknown.

For example:

• “The letter was delivered.” (It’s understood that a mail carrier delivered it.)
• “The suspect was arrested.” (It’s understood that the police arrested the suspect.)

Verbs That Cannot Be Passivized

Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take a direct object) cannot be used in the passive voice. Examples of intransitive verbs include:

• Sleep
• Die
• Arrive
• Happen
• Exist

For instance, you cannot say “The bed was slept by him” because “sleep” does not take a direct object.

Passive Voice with Reporting Verbs

Reporting verbs (such as say, believe, think, know) can also be used in the passive voice to report opinions or beliefs, often in a more formal style.

Examples:

• Active: People say that he is a good doctor.
• Passive: He is said to be a good doctor.
• Active: They believe that she is innocent.
• Passive: She is believed to be innocent.

Avoiding Overuse of Passive Voice

While the passive voice has its uses, overuse can make writing sound awkward, vague, and less engaging. It’s generally better to use the active voice when the actor is known and important.

Constantly using passive voice can also obscure responsibility and make it difficult to understand who is doing what. Strive for a balance between active and passive voice to achieve clarity and impact in your writing.

Common Mistakes in Passive Voice

Several common errors can occur when using the passive voice. Being aware of these mistakes can help you avoid them and improve the accuracy of your writing.

Incorrect Tense of “to be”

One common mistake is using the incorrect tense of the auxiliary verb “to be.” The tense of “to be” must match the tense of the active verb.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
The letter is written yesterday.	The letter was written yesterday.	“Was” indicates past tense, matching “yesterday.”
The house was build next year.	The house will be built next year.	“Will be” indicates future tense, matching “next year.”

Missing “by” Phrase When Necessary

Omitting the “by” phrase when the actor is important can lead to ambiguity or confusion.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
The painting was created.	The painting was created by Van Gogh.	Specifying the artist provides important information.
The book was written.	The book was written by J.K. Rowling.	Identifying the author gives context and clarity.

Using Passive Voice Unnecessarily

Overusing the passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect. It’s often better to use the active voice when the actor is known and relevant.

Incorrect (Passive)	Correct (Active)	Explanation
The report was written by me.	I wrote the report.	Active voice is more direct and concise.
The cake was eaten by him.	He ate the cake.	Active voice is simpler and more engaging.

Incorrect Word Order

Incorrect word order in passive sentences can lead to grammatical errors and confusion.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Written the letter was.	The letter was written.	Standard subject-verb-object order is necessary.
Being is the house painted.	The house is being painted.	Proper auxiliary verb placement is essential.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of the passive voice with the following exercises. Convert the active sentences into passive sentences, and identify any errors in the provided passive sentences.

Exercise 1: Converting Active to Passive

Convert the following active sentences into passive sentences.

No.	Active Sentence	Your Answer
1	The cat chased the mouse.
2	The students are reading the book.
3	The chef has prepared the meal.
4	They will build a new school.
5	She wrote a letter yesterday.
6	He is painting the house.
7	The company produces cars.
8	The gardener waters the plants.
9	The mechanic repaired the car.
10	The teacher graded the exams.

Answer Key:

No.	Active Sentence	Correct Answer
1	The cat chased the mouse.	The mouse was chased by the cat.
2	The students are reading the book.	The book is being read by the students.
3	The chef has prepared the meal.	The meal has been prepared by the chef.
4	They will build a new school.	A new school will be built by them.
5	She wrote a letter yesterday.	A letter was written by her yesterday.
6	He is painting the house.	The house is being painted by him.
7	The company produces cars.	Cars are produced by the company.
8	The gardener waters the plants.	The plants are watered by the gardener.
9	The mechanic repaired the car.	The car was repaired by the mechanic.
10	The teacher graded the exams.	The exams were graded by the teacher.

Exercise 2: Identifying Errors in Passive Sentences

Identify and correct any errors in the following passive sentences.

No.	Passive Sentence	Your Answer
1	The window is breaked.
2	The letter was write by her.
3	The house is being builded now.
4	The report has been wrote.
5	The car was fixing by him.
6	The book is readed by the students.
7	Mistakes was made.
8	The door is opening.
9	The thief was catch by the police.
10	The food is prepares by the chef.

Answer Key:

No.	Passive Sentence	Corrected Sentence
1	The window is breaked.	The window is broken.
2	The letter was write by her.	The letter was written by her.
3	The house is being builded now.	The house is being built now.
4	The report has been wrote.	The report has been written.
5	The car was fixing by him.	The car was being fixed by him. / The car was fixed by him.
6	The book is readed by the students.	The book is read by the students.
7	Mistakes was made.	Mistakes were made.
8	The door is opening.	The door is being opened.
9	The thief was catch by the police.	The thief was caught by the police.
10	The food is prepares by the chef.	The food is prepared by the chef.

Advanced Topics in Passive Voice

For advanced learners, there are several more complex aspects of the passive voice to explore. These topics delve into nuanced usage and less common constructions.

Causative Passive

The causative passive is used to indicate that someone has arranged for something to be done, often by someone else. It typically uses the structure “have/get + something + past participle.”

Examples:

• I had my car repaired. (I arranged for someone to repair my car.)
• She got her hair cut. (She arranged for someone to cut her hair.)
• We are having our house painted. (We are arranging for someone to paint our house.)

Passive Voice with Two Objects

Some verbs can take two objects: a direct object and an indirect object. In these cases, either object can become the subject of a passive sentence.

Active: He gave her the book.

Passive (with indirect object as subject): She was given the book by him.

Passive (with direct object as subject): The book was given to her by him.

Pseudo-Passive Verbs

Pseudo-passive verbs are verbs that look like passive constructions but function as adjectives. They often describe a state or condition resulting from a past action.

Examples:

• The door is closed. (Describes the state of the door.)
• The problem is solved. (Describes the state of the problem.)
• The food is cooked. (Describes the state of the food.)

Passive Voice in Complex Sentences

The passive voice can be used in complex sentences, including those with relative clauses or subordinate clauses. This allows for more sophisticated and nuanced expression.

Examples:

• The report that was submitted yesterday contained several errors.
• Because the road was blocked, we had to take a detour.
• The decision, which was made by the committee, has been widely criticized.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the passive voice, along with detailed answers to clarify common points of confusion.

1. What is the difference between active and passive voice?

In the active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., “The dog chased the ball”). In the passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., “The ball was chased by the dog”).

The active voice is generally more direct and engaging,

but the passive voice is useful when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

2. Why is the passive voice sometimes discouraged?

Overuse of the passive voice can make writing sound vague, indirect, and less engaging. It can also obscure responsibility and make it difficult to understand who is doing what.

However, the passive voice is appropriate in specific situations, such as when the actor is unknown or when emphasizing the action is more important than identifying the actor.

3. How can I identify passive voice in a sentence?

Look for a form of the verb “to be” (is, are, was, were, been, being) followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the sentence “The report was written by the team,” “was written” indicates the passive voice.

4. Can all active sentences be converted into passive sentences?

No, only active sentences with transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be converted into passive sentences. Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take a direct object) cannot be used in the passive voice.

5. When should I use the “by” phrase in a passive sentence?

Use the “by” phrase when it is important to identify the actor or when the actor is not obvious. If the actor is unknown, irrelevant, or understood from the context, the “by” phrase can be omitted.

6. Is it okay to use passive voice in academic writing?

Yes, the passive voice is often used in academic and scientific writing to maintain objectivity and focus on the research or findings rather than the researcher. However, it’s important to use it judiciously and avoid overuse.

7. What are some common signal words that indicate passive voice?

Common signal words include forms of “to be” (is, are, was, were, been, being) and prepositions like “by,” which often introduces the actor in a passive sentence.

8. How does the passive voice affect the tone of writing?

The passive voice can create a more formal, objective, or impersonal tone. It is often used in situations where the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action, rather than the actor.

9. Can the passive voice be used with all tenses?

Yes, the passive voice can be used with various tenses, including simple, continuous, perfect, and future tenses. The form of the auxiliary verb “to be” changes to match the tense of the active verb.

10. What is the difference between getting and being passive?

The “being” passive describes an ongoing action (e.g., “The house is being cleaned”), while the “getting” passive describes an event or change of state (e.g., “He got injured in the game”).

Conclusion

Mastering the passive voice is an essential step in developing advanced English language skills. By understanding its structure, usage rules, and common pitfalls, you can effectively use the passive voice to enhance your writing and communication.

The passive voice, when used correctly, adds depth, clarity, and versatility to your expression. Continue practicing and exploring its nuances to fully integrate it into your linguistic toolkit.

With consistent effort, you’ll be able to navigate the complexities of the passive voice with confidence and precision, enriching your ability to convey ideas effectively in a variety of contexts.