20 Sentences Using the Passive Voice for B1–B2 Learners

Introduction

If you have ever wondered why some sentences sound more formal or focus on the action rather than who did it, you are probably dealing with the passive voice. Understanding the passive voice is a key step for B1–B2 learners because it appears in news reports, academic writing, and everyday conversations. In this post, we will explore 20 practical sentences using the passive voice, along with clear rules, common mistakes, and exercises to help you use it confidently.

What Is the Passive Voice?

The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence. Instead of focusing on the person or thing performing the action (the agent), the passive voice highlights the action itself or the receiver of the action. For example, in the active sentence “The chef cooked the meal,” the focus is on the chef. In the passive version, “The meal was cooked by the chef,” the focus shifts to the meal.

The passive voice is formed using the verb to be (in the correct tense) + the past participle of the main verb. You can include the agent with the word by, but it is often omitted if the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

Rules for Using the Passive Voice

1. Use the correct form of “to be.” The verb “to be” must match the tense of the original active sentence. For example, present simple uses “is/are,” past simple uses “was/were,” and present perfect uses “has been/have been.”
2. Add the past participle. The main verb changes to its past participle form (e.g., “write” becomes “written,” “eat” becomes “eaten”).
3. Include the agent only when necessary. Use “by + agent” if you need to specify who performed the action. Otherwise, leave it out.
4. Only transitive verbs work. The passive voice requires a verb that takes a direct object. Intransitive verbs (e.g., “sleep,” “arrive”) cannot be used in the passive.
5. Keep the tense consistent. When changing from active to passive, the time reference must remain the same. For example, “She writes a letter” (present simple) becomes “A letter is written by her.”

How to Use the Passive Voice

Follow these simple steps to transform an active sentence into the passive voice:

1. Identify the object. Find the direct object in the active sentence. Example: “The team finished the project.” The object is “the project.”
2. Move the object to the subject position. “The project” becomes the new subject.
3. Add the correct form of “to be.” Match the tense of the original verb. “Finished” is past simple, so you use “was.”
4. Change the main verb to the past participle. “Finished” remains “finished” because it is already a past participle.
5. Place the original subject after “by.” “The team” becomes “by the team.” The final sentence: “The project was finished by the team.”

Here is another example with a different tense: Active: “Someone has stolen my phone.” Object: “my phone.” Tense: present perfect. Passive: “My phone has been stolen (by someone).”

Examples in Sentences

Below are 20 sentences using the passive voice across different tenses. The passive structure is bolded for easy identification.

• The homework is checked every Monday.
• This bridge was built in 1999.
• The package will be delivered tomorrow.
• All tickets have been sold already.
• The car was being repaired when I arrived.
• English is spoken in many countries.
• The letter was written by my grandmother.
• The new law has been passed by the government.
• The cake was eaten before the party started.
• The report is being prepared right now.
• The windows were cleaned yesterday.
• The movie will be shown next week.
• The documents had been signed before the meeting.
• The lost dog was found by a neighbor.
• The exam results are announced every June.
• The house was painted last summer.
• The song is being played on the radio.
• The problem can be solved easily.
• The project must be finished by Friday.
• The truth was finally revealed to everyone.

Common Mistakes

Here are five frequent errors learners make with the passive voice, along with corrections:

• Mistake: ❌ The book was wrote by Mark Twain.
  Correct: ✅ The book was written by Mark Twain. (Use the past participle, not the past simple.)
• Mistake: ❌ The dinner is cook by my mother.
  Correct: ✅ The dinner is cooked by my mother. (Add -ed or use the correct participle form.)
• Mistake: ❌ The window was breaked by the ball.
  Correct: ✅ The window was broken by the ball. (Irregular verbs have special past participles.)
• Mistake: ❌ The letter has been send by email.
  Correct: ✅ The letter has been sent by email. (Again, use the correct past participle “sent.”)
• Mistake: ❌ The meeting is been held in Room 3.
  Correct: ✅ The meeting is being held in Room 3. (Use “being” after “is/are/am” for continuous forms.)

Quick Summary

• The passive voice shifts focus from the doer to the action or receiver.
• Form it with the correct tense of “to be” + past participle.
• Only transitive verbs can become passive.
• The agent (with “by”) is optional.
• Common mistakes include using the wrong verb form or forgetting the past participle.
• Practice with different tenses to build confidence.

Practice Exercises

Complete these five sentences by changing the verb in brackets into the correct passive form. Write your answers down or say them aloud.

1. The letters ________ (deliver) every morning.
2. The window ________ (break) by a strong wind last night.
3. The new shopping center ________ (open) next month.
4. The homework ________ (finish) already by the students.
5. The cake ________ (eat) when I came home.

Answers:

1. are delivered
2. was broken
3. will be opened
4. has been finished
5. was being eaten

Conclusion

Using the passive voice correctly makes your English more flexible and natural, especially in formal or written contexts. By practicing the 20 example sentences and the exercises above, you will start to notice the passive voice in reading and use it more comfortably in your own writing. Remember: focus on the action, use the right verb form, and keep practicing!

FAQ

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

Use the passive voice when the action or the receiver is more important than the doer. For example, in scientific reports (“The experiment was conducted”), news (“The bank was robbed”), or when the doer is unknown (“My bike was stolen”). Avoid overusing it in everyday speech, as the active voice is usually more direct.

2. Can I always leave out the agent (the “by” phrase)?

Yes, you can often omit the agent if it is obvious, unknown, or unimportant. For example, “The window was broken” is fine without saying who broke it. However, include the agent when you need to clarify who performed the action, such as in “The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.”

3. What is the difference between passive voice and past tense?

The passive voice is a structure that uses “to be” + past participle, while past tense simply describes an action that happened in the past. For example, “I walked” (past tense, active) vs. “The walk was completed” (past tense, passive). The passive voice always involves a form of “to be” and a past participle, regardless of the tense.

4. How can I practice the passive voice every day?

Try rewriting a few active sentences from news articles or your own writing into the passive voice. Keep a notebook of 3–5 passive sentences each day, focusing on different tenses. You can also listen for passive structures in podcasts or TV shows and repeat them aloud. Consistent short practice works better than long, irregular sessions.