Sometimes, the most important part of a sentence is the action itself, not who did it. The passive voice is a powerful tool used in news, formal writing, and everyday speech to shift the focus onto the receiver of an action. Mastering it will make your English sound more sophisticated and professional. 🕵️
Function & Usage
We use the passive voice when the person or thing doing the action (the agent) is unknown, obvious, or less important than the person or thing receiving the action (the object).
- The agent is unknown: You don’t know who did the action.
Example: My wallet was stolen yesterday. (We don’t know who stole it). - The agent is unimportant or obvious: Who did the action is not important information.
Example: The criminal was arrested. (It’s obvious the police arrested him). - The action or object is the focus: Used in news, scientific, and formal writing to be objective.
Example: This beautiful car was made in Germany. (The car is the focus, not the factory workers).
The Structure (Form)
The passive voice is always formed with the verb ‘to be’ (in the correct tense) + the past participle of the main verb. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Subject + am/is/are + Past Participle | English is spoken here. |
| Past Simple | Subject + was/were + Past Participle | The window was broken. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the verb ‘to be’: The verb ‘to be’ is essential for the passive structure. Incorrect: “The cake made yesterday.” Correct: “The cake was made yesterday.”
- Using the wrong verb form: Always use the past participle (the third form of the verb), not the past simple. Incorrect: “The email was wrote.” Correct: “The email was written.”
Let’s see it in action! 🎬
News Reporter: We’re live at the scene where a famous painting was stolen from the city museum last night. The doors were locked, but the window was broken.
Customer: Is this jacket high quality?
Shop Assistant: Yes, absolutely. It was designed in Italy and is made from the finest materials.
Friend 1: Did you hear about Tom’s new book?
Friend 2: Yes! It was published last month. I heard it is sold in bookstores everywhere now.
Check Your Understanding! ✅
1. The Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. (write – past)
2. This room every day. (clean – present)
3. My car last week. (repair – past)
4. Many movies in Hollywood. (make – present)
5. America in 1492. (discover – past)
6. The Mona Lisa ___ by Leonardo da Vinci.
7. Emails ___ to the team every Monday.
8. The thief ___ by the police last night.
9. A lot of coffee ___ in Brazil.
10. My house ___ in 1990.
