📘 Part of the Complete English Course · Intermediate (B1), week 5
We use the passive when the action is more important than who did it: The hot water system was fixed yesterday. Form: be + past participle.
The rules
Form
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| present simple | They clean the office every day. | The office is cleaned every day. |
| past simple | Someone fixed the tap. | The tap was fixed. |
| present perfect | They have repaired the lift. | The lift has been repaired. |
| will / modal | They will send the bill. | The bill will be sent. |
Remember
- Add 'by' only if the person is important: The house was built by my grandfather.
- Passives are very common in notices and emails: Rent must be paid by Friday. Repairs will be completed next week.
- Use the passive to be polite or indirect: Mistakes were made.
Listen and repeat
- The plumber was called on Monday.
- Your request has been received.
- Rent is paid fortnightly.
- The repairs will be done by Friday.
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The tap was fixed yesterday. | Passive needs be. | |
| The bill will be sent tomorrow. | will be + participle. | |
| It was written in English. | Use the past participle. |
Check yourself
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Frequently asked questions
When do we use Passive voice in English?
We use the passive when the action is more important than who did it: The hot water system was fixed yesterday. Form: be + past participle. Add 'by' only if the person is important: The house was built by my grandfather.
What are common mistakes with Passive voice?
Say 'The tap was fixed yesterday.', not 'The tap fixed yesterday.' (Passive needs be). Say 'The bill will be sent tomorrow.', not 'The bill will sent tomorrow.' (will be + participle). Say 'It was written in English.', not 'It was wrote in English.' (Use the past participle).
What level is this Passive voice lesson?
It's a Intermediate (B1) lesson, week 5 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.