20 Passive Voice Sentences: B1-B2 Grammar Guide

Introduction

Have you ever noticed that native speakers sometimes say “The window was broken” instead of “Someone broke the window”? That difference is the passive voice, and it is one of the most useful tools in English. In this post, you will learn exactly what the passive voice is, how to form it correctly, and see 20 real examples you can use today. By the end, you will feel confident using it in your own writing and speaking.

What Is the Passive Voice?

The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence. We use it when we want to focus on what happens to someone or something, rather than who or what does the action.

Compare these two sentences:

• Active: The chef cooks the pasta. (focus on the chef)
• Passive: The pasta is cooked by the chef. (focus on the pasta)

The passive voice is very common in formal writing, news reports, scientific texts, and when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.

Rules for Forming the Passive Voice

Follow these simple rules to build any passive sentence correctly:

1. Identify the object of the active sentence. This becomes your new subject.
2. Use the correct form of the verb to be. The tense of to be must match the tense of the original active verb.
3. Add the past participle (V3) of the main verb. For regular verbs, add -ed. For irregular verbs, use the third column of your verb list.
4. Optional: add by + agent. Include the doer only if it is important or necessary.
5. Do not change the meaning. The passive voice simply changes the focus, not the fact.

Remember the formula: Subject + be (conjugated) + past participle + (by agent)

How to Use the Passive Voice

Follow these steps to convert an active sentence into a passive one:

1. Find the object. In “The cat chased the mouse,” the object is the mouse.
2. Move the object to the subject position. Now you have “The mouse…”
3. Add the correct form of be. Since the active verb “chased” is past simple, use was (singular) or were (plural). Here, “The mouse was…”
4. Add the past participle of the main verb. “Chased” becomes “chased” (regular). So: “The mouse was chased…”
5. Add the agent if needed. “The mouse was chased by the cat.”

Here is a quick tense conversion table:

• Present simple: is/are + V3 — “The book is read every day.”
• Past simple: was/were + V3 — “The book was read yesterday.”
• Present perfect: has/have been + V3 — “The book has been read.”
• Future simple: will be + V3 — “The book will be read tomorrow.”

Examples in Sentences

Here are 20 sentences using the passive voice, each with the passive structure in bold. Notice how the focus changes to the object in every case.

• The cake was eaten by the children before dinner.
• English is spoken in many countries around the world.
• The letter has been sent to the wrong address.
• All tickets will be sold online next month.
• The window was broken during the storm.
• This bridge was built in 1920.
• The homework must be finished by Friday.
• My car is being repaired at the garage right now.
• The suspect was arrested by the police last night.
• Dinner is served at seven o’clock every evening.
• The report has been completed by the team.
• These shirts are made in Italy.
• The movie was directed by a famous filmmaker.
• Your package will be delivered tomorrow morning.
• The rules were explained clearly at the beginning.
• Mistakes are sometimes made even by experts.
• The old building is being renovated this year.
• The answer could be found in chapter three.
• All flights have been cancelled due to the snow.
• The problem was solved by a young engineer.

Common Mistakes

Learners often make these errors when using the passive voice. Study them carefully to avoid them.

• Mistake 1: Forgetting the verb to be
  ❌ The cake eaten by the children.
  ✅ The cake was eaten by the children.
• Mistake 2: Using the wrong past participle
  ❌ The window was breaked.
  ✅ The window was broken.
• Mistake 3: Using the passive when the active is clearer
  ❌ The meeting was attended by John. (unnecessary passive)
  ✅ John attended the meeting.
• Mistake 4: Forgetting the agent preposition
  ❌ The letter was sent the manager.
  ✅ The letter was sent by the manager.
• Mistake 5: Using the passive with intransitive verbs
  ❌ The accident was happened yesterday. (happen has no object)
  ✅ The accident happened yesterday.

Quick Summary

• The passive voice focuses on the object or the receiver of the action.
• Form it with: subject + be + past participle + (by agent).
• Use it when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
• Common in formal, scientific, and news writing.
• Always match the tense of to be to the original active verb.
• Only use the passive with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object).

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form of the verb in parentheses.

1. The report __________ (write) by the assistant last week.
2. English __________ (teach) in this school for twenty years.
3. The new hospital __________ (open) next month.
4. All the cookies __________ (eat) by the children.
5. The package __________ (deliver) right now.

Answers:

1. was written
2. has been taught
3. will be opened
4. were eaten
5. is being delivered

Conclusion

The passive voice is a powerful tool that makes your English more flexible and natural. By practicing the 20 example sentences and following the rules in this guide, you can use it correctly in your writing and speaking. Remember, the key is to focus on the object or receiver of the action, not the doer. Keep practicing, and soon the passive voice will feel like second nature.

FAQ

1. When should I use the passive voice instead of the active voice?

Use the passive voice when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. For example, in “The window was broken,” we do not know who broke it. Also use it in formal writing, such as scientific reports (“The experiment was conducted three times”) or news (“The president was elected”). Avoid overusing it in everyday conversation because the active voice is usually more direct.

2. Can I use the passive voice in all tenses?

Yes, you can use the passive voice in all tenses, but you must change the form of the verb to be accordingly. For example: present simple (is/are + V3), past simple (was/were + V3), present perfect (has/have been + V3), future simple (will be + V3), and continuous tenses (is being + V3, was being + V3). The only tense that is very rare in the passive is the present perfect continuous (e.g., “has been being written” is grammatically possible but almost never used).

3. What is the difference between the passive voice and the past participle as an adjective?

This is a common point of confusion. In the passive voice, the past participle is part of a verb phrase that describes an action. For example: “The door was closed by the guard” (action). When the past participle is used as an adjective, it describes a state. For example: “The door was closed” (state, meaning it was not open). To test the difference, ask yourself if you can add “by someone” naturally. If yes, it is likely passive voice.

4. Is it always wrong to use the passive voice?

No, it is not always wrong. The passive voice is a legitimate grammatical structure. However, some writing guides (especially for business or creative writing) recommend using it sparingly because the active voice is usually more direct and engaging. The key is to use the passive voice deliberately, not as a default. In scientific and technical writing, the passive voice is often preferred because it keeps the focus on the process or result, not the researcher.