Introduction
Many English learners avoid the passive voice because it feels confusing or unnatural. But using it correctly can make your writing more formal, objective, and sophisticated. In this guide, you will learn exactly when and how to use the passive voice, with clear rules, real examples, and common mistakes to avoid.
What Is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice is a sentence structure where the object of an action becomes the subject. Instead of focusing on who did the action, we focus on what received the action.
Compare these two sentences:
- Active: The chef cooked the meal. (Subject = chef; object = meal)
- Passive: The meal was cooked by the chef. (Subject = meal; focus on the meal)
The passive voice is formed with: be + past participle (V3). The “be” verb changes to match the tense (is, am, are, was, were, been, being).
Rules
- Use passive voice when the doer is unknown or unimportant. Example: “My phone was stolen.” (We don’t know who stole it.)
- Use passive voice to emphasise the action or the receiver. Example: “The bridge was built in 1920.” (The bridge is more important than the builder.)
- Use passive voice in formal or scientific writing. Example: “The experiment was conducted three times.”
- Always include the agent (by + person/thing) if it is important. Example: “The painting was painted by Van Gogh.” (Agent = Van Gogh)
- Do not overuse passive voice. Active voice is usually clearer and more direct. Use passive only when it serves a purpose.
How to Use It
Follow these steps to change an active sentence into passive:
- Identify the object. In an active sentence, the object is the receiver of the action. Example: “The dog chased the cat.” (Object = the cat)
- Move the object to the subject position. Now the subject is “The cat.”
- Change the verb to “be + past participle.” The verb “chased” becomes “was chased.” (Past tense of “be” = was; past participle of “chase” = chased.)
- Add “by + original subject” if needed. Example: “The cat was chased by the dog.” (Agent = the dog)
- Adjust the tense of “be.” Keep the same tense as the original active sentence. For example, present simple: “is written”; past simple: “was written”; future: “will be written”.
Quick formula: Active: Subject + verb + object → Passive: Object + be (in correct tense) + past participle + (by subject).
Examples in Sentences
- The cake was eaten by the children.
- The report is being written right now.
- English is spoken all over the world.
- The window was broken during the storm.
- The homework must be finished by Friday.
- The movie was directed by a famous filmmaker.
- The letters have been sent to all employees.
- The car was repaired yesterday.
- The book will be published next month.
- The room is being cleaned at the moment.
- The problem was solved by the team.
- The flowers are watered every morning.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting to change the verb to past participle.
❌ The letter was write yesterday.
✅ The letter was written yesterday.
Mistake 2: Using the wrong tense of “be.”
❌ The house is built in 1999. (Present tense, but past needed.)
✅ The house was built in 1999.
Mistake 3: Adding “by” when the agent is unknown or unnecessary.
❌ My wallet was stolen by someone.
✅ My wallet was stolen. (Better without “by someone.”)
Mistake 4: Using passive voice too often in informal speech.
❌ A mistake was made by me. (Too formal and awkward.)
✅ I made a mistake. (Clearer and natural.)
Mistake 5: Forgetting to include the agent when it is important.
❌ The painting was painted. (By whom? Important information missing.)
✅ The painting was painted by Picasso.
Quick Summary
- Structure: Subject + be (tense) + past participle + (by agent).
- Use when: doer is unknown/unimportant, or action/receiver is more important.
- Avoid when: active voice is clearer or more natural.
- Always check: correct tense of “be” and correct past participle.
- Remember: passive voice is a tool, not a rule—use it wisely.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form. Use the verb in parentheses.
- The emails _______________ (send) by the assistant yesterday.
- The new hospital _______________ (build) next year.
- The windows _______________ (clean) every week.
- The song _______________ (sing) by a famous artist right now.
- The homework _______________ (must / finish) before the deadline.
Answers:
- were sent
- will be built
- are cleaned
- is being sung
- must be finished
Conclusion
The passive voice is a valuable part of English grammar when used correctly. Focus on the rules, practice with the examples, and avoid the common mistakes we covered. With time, you will know exactly when to use passive voice for clearer and more professional communication.
FAQ
1. When should I use passive voice instead of active voice?
Use passive voice when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, or when you want to emphasise the action or the receiver. For example: “The window was broken.” (Doer unknown) or “The vaccine was developed quickly.” (Focus on the vaccine, not the scientists).
2. Can I use passive voice in all tenses?
Yes, you can use passive voice in all major tenses. The “be” verb changes to match the tense. For example: present simple (is/are + V3), past simple (was/were + V3), present perfect (has/have been + V3), future (will be + V3). Just remember to keep the correct tense of “be.”
3. Is it always wrong to use passive voice?
No, it is not wrong. Many teachers advise against overusing it because active voice is usually more direct and energetic. However, passive voice is perfectly correct and useful in many situations, especially in scientific writing, news reports, and when the doer is not important.
4. What is the difference between “by” and “with” in passive sentences?
Use “by” to introduce the agent (the person or thing that does the action). Use “with” to introduce the instrument or tool used. Example: “The cake was baked by my mother.” (Agent = mother) vs. “The cake was cut with a knife.” (Instrument = knife).