THE

PASSIVE
We use the passive when:
We are more interested in the action than the people who do the action.

English is spoken here.

We don't know who does the action.

My things have been moved.

It is clear who did the action.

The criminal was arrested.

 be past (+ by + agent)
+ +
(any tense) participle

Passive verbs have the same tenses as active verbs.

(Including all their rules)

ACTIVE: Unemployed members of the community started the business.

PASSIVE: The business was started by unemployed members of the community.

 Present Simple Passive Present Continuous Passive

am, is, are + past participle am, is, are being + past participle

Cotton isn’t grown in the UK. The profits aren’t being passed on to the
Are farmers paid a fair price for the products? people who make the goods.
Are these measures being introduced in
every country?

ACTIVE: My father watches the news every day. ACTIVE: My father is watching the news.
PASSIVE: The news are watched (by my father). PASSIVE: The news are being watched (by my father).

ACTIVE: My parents eat an apple a day. ACTIVE: My parents are eating an apple.
PASSIVE: An apple a day is eaten (by my parents). PASSIVE: An apple is being eaten(by my parents).
 Past Simple Passive Present Perfect Passive

was/were + past participle have/ has been + past participle

The advertising campaign wasn’t considered A lot of articles have been published about this.
a success
Was the school built on time? Has the campaign been criticized?

ACTIVE: My father watched the news yesterday. ACTIVE: My father has watched the news since COVID appeared.
PASSIVE: The news were watched (by my father) PASSIVE: The news have been watched (by my father)
yesterday. since COVID appeared.

ACTIVE: My parents ate an apple last night. ACTIVE: My parents have eaten an apple a day since they met.
PASSIVE: An apple was eaten (by my parents) last night.
PASSIVE: An apple a day has been eaten(by my parents)
since they met.
 Past Continuous
Passive
was/were being + past participle
Several design were being considered at one time.
Was research being carried out a that time?
ACTIVE: My father was watching the news at lunchtime.
PASSIVE: The news were being watched (by my father)
at lunch time.
ACTIVE: My parents were eating an apple when I called them.
PASSIVE: An apple was being eaten (by my parents)
when I called them.
Past Perfect Passive
had been + past participle
Many people were angry that they hadn’t been
given the chance to give their views.
Had you been promised a refund on a
previous occasion?
ACTIVE: My father had watched the news when I called.
PASSIVE: The news had been watched (by my father) when I called.
ACTIVE: My parents had eaten an apple when I offered them pizza.
PASSIVE: An apple had been eaten (by my parents) (when
pizza was offered).
 Future Passive

will be + past participle

The report won’t be finished until November.

Will the clothes be sold here?

ACTIVE: My father will watch the news tonight.

PASSIVE: The news will be watched (by my father) tonight

ACTIVE: My parents will eat an apple after the meal.

PASSIVE: An apple will be eaten (by my parents) tonight.
 Passive Forms
Present Simple Passive Past Simple Passive
am, is, are + past participle was, were + past participle

Present Continuous Passive Past Continuous Passive

am, is, are being + past participle was, were being + past participle

Present Perfect Passive Past Perfect Passive

have / has been + past participle had been + past participle

Future Passive with will Modals in Passive

will be + past participle May /might
Must /Have to be + past participle
Future Passive with going to Can/Could
am, is, are going to be + past participle Should /Would
Etc.