B2 Grammar: Passive Voice

B2 Grammar: Passive Voice
ESL Structure Curriculum

ESL Grammar Course

B2: Upper-Intermediate

An object being acted upon, highlighting the action rather than the doer

Passive Voice

The Passive Voice is used when the focus is on the action itself, or the person/object that receives the action, rather than on the person who performs it. It is common in formal, scientific, and news writing.

Structure:

`subject + form of ‘to be’ + past participle`

⚠️ Attention: Common Challenges

1. When to Use It: Use the passive when the “doer” (agent) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

  • “My wallet was stolen.” (We don’t know who stole it.)
  • “The new bridge was built last year.” (It’s not important who built it.)
  • “The suspect was arrested.” (It’s obvious the police arrested him.)

2. Changing Tenses: The verb `to be` changes to form the correct tense, but the main verb is always the past participle.

  • Present Simple: English is spoken here.
  • Past Simple: The window was broken.
  • Present Perfect: The work has been finished.
  • Future (will): The results will be announced tomorrow.

Practice Quiz

1. The Mona Lisa ____ by Leonardo da Vinci.

2. A new hospital ____ in the city center next year.

3. All the tickets for the concert ____ already ____.

4. This book ____ in 1954.

5. The office ____ every day.

6. My car ____ right now, so I have to take the bus.

7. The criminal ____ by the police yesterday.

8. I think my phone ____.

9. The Harry Potter books ____ by millions of people.

10. This problem ____ in the next meeting.