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Passive Voice: Explanation, Usage, and Examples

The passive voice is used to show that the action is being done to the subject of the sentence, rather than the subject performing the action. It is commonly used when the focus is on the action itself or what is affected by the action, rather than on who or what is performing the action. Understanding the passive voice is essential for expressing different meanings and styles in English.

In this article, we’ll look at how to form the passive voice, when to use it, and some common examples and mistakes.

1. What is the Passive Voice?

In a passive sentence, the object of an active sentence becomes the subject. The focus shifts from who is doing the action to who or what is receiving the action.

1.1. Active vs. Passive Sentences

  • Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
    • The chef cooked the meal.
    • (Subject = The chef, Verb = cooked, Object = the meal)
  • Passive Voice: The object receives the action.
    • The meal was cooked by the chef.
    • (Subject = The meal, Verb = was cooked, Agent = by the chef)

In the passive voice, the doer of the action (the chef) is often not the focus, and in many cases, it is omitted.

2. How to Form the Passive Voice

The passive voice is formed using the verb “to be” + past participle (V3) of the main verb. The form of the verb “to be” changes depending on the tense and subject.

2.1. Structure

  • Passive Voice: Subject + form of “to be” + past participle (V3)

Here’s how the passive voice changes according to tense:

TenseActive VoicePassive Voice
Present SimpleShe writes a letter.A letter is written (by her).
Present ContinuousShe is writing a letter.A letter is being written (by her).
Past SimpleShe wrote a letter.A letter was written (by her).
Past ContinuousShe was writing a letter.A letter was being written (by her).
Present PerfectShe has written a letter.A letter has been written (by her).
Past PerfectShe had written a letter.A letter had been written (by her).
Future SimpleShe will write a letter.A letter will be written (by her).
Future PerfectShe will have written a letter.A letter will have been written.
ModalsShe can/might/must write a letter.A letter can/might/must be written.

3. When Do We Use the Passive Voice?

  1. When the Doer of the Action is Unknown or Unimportant:
    • Use the passive voice when it’s not known who performed the action or when it’s obvious or irrelevant.
      • The window was broken. (We don’t know who broke it.)
      • A new bridge has been built. (The doer is not important.)
  2. To Emphasize the Object or Action:
    • Use the passive voice to emphasize the result of the action rather than the performer.
      • The cake was eaten by the children. (The focus is on the cake, not on who ate it.)
  3. In Formal or Academic Writing:
    • The passive voice is often used in scientific writing and formal reports.
      • The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment.
  4. When the Subject is Too Obvious:
    • Sometimes, the performer of the action is already understood and doesn’t need to be mentioned.
      • Taxes are paid annually. (It’s obvious that people pay taxes.)
  5. In Instructions or Notices:
    • Passive structures are often used in notices and instructions to create a formal tone.
      • Visitors are requested to sign in at reception.

4. Passive Voice with Modals

To form the passive voice with modal verbs like can, should, might, must, use the structure:

  • Modal + be + past participle (V3)

Examples:

  • Active: You should close the door.
  • Passive: The door should be closed.
  • Active: They might finish the project tomorrow.
  • Passive: The project might be finished tomorrow.

5. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  1. Forgetting the Correct Form of “To Be”:
    • Incorrect: The report was wrote by John.
    • Correct: The report was written by John.
  2. Using the Wrong Tense:
    • Incorrect: The room is cleaned yesterday.
    • Correct: The room was cleaned yesterday.
  3. Overusing the Passive Voice:
    • Avoid overusing the passive voice, as it can make sentences sound unclear or awkward.
    • Too many: The letter was written, the car was washed, and the house was cleaned.
    • Better: She wrote the letter, washed the car, and cleaned the house.
  4. Misplacing the “By” Phrase:
    • Incorrect: The book was read to the class by me.
    • Correct: The book was read by me to the class.

6. Changing from Active to Passive Voice

To change a sentence from active to passive, follow these steps:

  1. Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence.
  2. Move the object to the subject position.
  3. Use the appropriate form of “to be” + past participle.
  4. Optionally, add the agent (doer of the action) using “by” if it’s necessary.

Examples:

  • Active: The teacher explained the lesson.
  • Passive: The lesson was explained by the teacher.
  • Active: They built a new library.
  • Passive: A new library was built (by them).

7. Passive Voice in Questions

To form passive questions, start with the auxiliary verb, followed by the subject, and then the past participle.

Examples:

  • Active: Did the manager sign the contract?
  • Passive: Was the contract signed by the manager?
  • Active: Will they complete the work on time?
  • Passive: Will the work be completed on time?

8. Key Takeaways

  • The passive voice focuses on the action or the object affected by the action.
  • Form it using “to be” + past participle (V3).
  • Use it when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, or to create a more formal tone.
  • Avoid overusing the passive voice to maintain clarity and balance in your writing.

By mastering the passive voice, you can add variety to your writing and highlight important information more effectively.