🎯 Objective
To help learners master the present perfect passive voice - understanding when, why, and how to use "has/have been + past participle" to focus on actions and results rather than who performed them.
📖 What is Present Perfect Passive?
The present perfect passive voice emphasizes the action or result rather than who performed it. It connects past actions with present relevance and is commonly used in formal writing, reports, and news.
🔧 Formation Structure
Example: "The report has been completed by the team."
| Function | When to Use | Active Form | Passive Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus on result | Result is more important than doer | Someone has fixed the car | The car has been fixed |
| Unknown agent | Don't know who did the action | Someone has stolen my bike | My bike has been stolen |
| Unimportant agent | Who did it doesn't matter | They have built new houses | New houses have been built |
| Formal/Academic | Professional writing | Researchers have conducted studies | Studies have been conducted |
📚 Step-by-Step Guide: Mastering Present Perfect Passive
Understanding the Timeline
Present Perfect Passive shows:
- 🕐 Actions completed at an unspecified time in the past
- 🔄 Actions that started in the past and continue to now
- ✨ Recent actions with present relevance
PAST ←――――――――――――――――――→ PRESENT
Formation Rules
🔹 Positive Statements
Structure: Subject + has/have + been + past participle
Rules:
- Singular subjects: has been + past participle
- Plural subjects: have been + past participle
- I/You/We/They: have been + past participle
- He/She/It: has been + past participle
🔹 Negative Statements
Structure: Subject + has/have + not + been + past participle
- "The problem has not been solved yet."
- "The results have not been published yet."
- "The meeting hasn't been cancelled." (contraction)
🔹 Questions
Yes/No Questions: Has/Have + subject + been + past participle?
- "Has the report been finished?"
- "Have the invitations been sent?"
Wh-Questions: Wh-word + has/have + subject + been + past participle?
- "Where has the meeting been scheduled?"
- "How many applications have been received?"
Time Expressions with Present Perfect Passive
⏰ Unfinished Time Periods
Common expressions: today, this week, this month, this year, recently, lately
- "Three reports have been submitted today."
- "The office has been renovated recently."
- "New policies have been introduced this year."
⌛ Duration from Past to Present
Common expressions: for + period, since + starting point
- "The project has been developed for two years."
- "The website has been updated since January."
- "These methods have been used for decades."
🆕 Recent Completion
Common expressions: just, already, yet (in questions/negatives)
- "The documents have just been signed."
- "The email has already been sent."
- "Has the package been delivered yet?"
🔢 Frequency and Repetition
Common expressions: once, twice, three times, many times, never, ever
- "This book has been reprinted three times."
- "The record has never been broken."
- "Have you ever been promoted?"
When to Use Present Perfect Passive
🎯 Focus on Results Rather Than Agent
Use when: The result or outcome is more important than who did the action
❓ Unknown or Unimportant Agent
Use when: We don't know who did the action or it doesn't matter
📰 News and Reports
Use when: Writing formal reports, news articles, or academic papers
🎖️ Achievements and Accomplishments
Use when: Describing what has been achieved or accomplished
Common Mistakes and Corrections
✅ Correct Usage:
Auxiliary Agreement:
- "The report has been written." (singular)
- "The reports have been written." (plural)
Past Participle Forms:
- "The house has been built." (not "builded")
- "The story has been told." (not "telled")
Word Order:
- "The work has already been finished." (adverb before main verb)
- "Has the project been completed yet?" (yet at end)
❌ Common Errors:
Wrong Auxiliary:
- ❌ "The book have been read."
- ✅ "The book has been read."
Missing "been":
- ❌ "The letter has sent."
- ✅ "The letter has been sent."
Wrong Participle:
- ❌ "The problem has been solve."
- ✅ "The problem has been solved."
Mixing Tenses:
- ❌ "The work has been finishing."
- ✅ "The work has been finished."
Converting Active to Passive
🔄 Transformation Steps:
- Identify the object in the active sentence (becomes the subject)
- Change the verb to has/have been + past participle
- Move the subject to the end with "by" (optional)
- Check agreement between new subject and auxiliary verb
Active: "Scientists have discovered a new species."
1. Object: "a new species" → Subject
2. Verb: "have discovered" → "has been discovered"
3. Agent: "scientists" → "by scientists"
Passive: "A new species has been discovered (by scientists)."
🧩 Interactive Exercise: Present Perfect Passive Mastery
Read this news report and complete the tasks below. Pay attention to passive constructions and their usage.
📰 News Report: Tech Innovation Update
In recent months, significant technological advances (1)__________ (make) in artificial intelligence. A revolutionary AI system (2)__________ (develop) by researchers at Global Tech University. The system (3)__________ (test) extensively and remarkable results (4)__________ (achieve). Three major companies (5)__________ already __________ (contact) about potential partnerships. The technology (6)__________ (present) at several international conferences this year, and it (7)__________ (receive) widespread recognition from experts. However, some concerns (8)__________ (raise) about ethical implications. A committee (9)__________ (establish) to address these issues, and new guidelines (10)__________ (draft) for responsible AI development. The public (11)__________ (inform) about these developments through various media channels, and community meetings (12)__________ (organize) to gather feedback.
1. 📝 Complete the passive forms (Present Perfect)
Fill in the gaps with the correct present perfect passive forms of the verbs in brackets:
2. 🔄 Transform Active to Passive
Convert these active sentences to present perfect passive:
a) "Experts have praised the new technology."
b) "The company has implemented new security measures."
c) "Scientists have conducted numerous experiments."
3. ❌ Error Correction Challenge
Find and correct the errors in these present perfect passive sentences:
a) "The project have been completed successfully."
b) "Several reports has been written by the team."
c) "The problem has solve by the engineers."
d) "The new software has been testing for weeks."
4. 🎯 Choose the Best Option
Select the most appropriate present perfect passive form for each context:
Context: A news reporter discussing recent events
"The new law _______ and will take effect next month."
Context: Discussing multiple research studies
"Several studies _______ on this topic recently."
5. 📝 Creative Application
Write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) about recent changes in your school/workplace using at least 3 present perfect passive constructions. Include time expressions like "recently," "this year," or "since..."
✅ Answer Key & Detailed Explanations
1. 📝 Gap Fill Answers:
1. have been made
Reason: "advances" (plural) → "have"
2. has been developed
Reason: "system" (singular) → "has"
3. has been tested
Reason: "system" (singular) → "has"
4. have been achieved
Reason: "results" (plural) → "have"
5. have been contacted
Reason: "companies" (plural) → "have"
6. has been presented
Reason: "technology" (singular) → "has"
2. 🔄 Active to Passive Transformations:
a) The new technology has been praised by experts.
Process: "Experts" (subject) → "by experts" (agent), "the new technology" (object) → subject
b) New security measures have been implemented (by the company).
Process: "measures" (plural) → "have", agent optional in this context
c) Numerous experiments have been conducted (by scientists).
Process: "experiments" (plural) → "have", agent optional (obvious from context)
3. ❌ Error Corrections:
a) The project has been completed successfully.
Error: Subject-verb disagreement (project = singular → has)
b) Several reports have been written by the team.
Error: Subject-verb disagreement (reports = plural → have)
c) The problem has been solved by the engineers.
Error: Missing "been" + wrong participle form (solve → solved)
d) The new software has been tested for weeks.
Error: Wrong form (testing → tested for passive)
4. 🎯 Multiple Choice Answers:
1. has been passed
Reason: "law" (singular) + focus on completion of legislative process
2. have been conducted
Reason: "studies" (plural) + passive voice appropriate for formal/academic context
5. 📝 Model Creative Response:
Recently, several significant improvements have been made to our school's technology infrastructure. A new high-speed internet system has been installed throughout the building, and all classrooms have been equipped with smart boards. The computer lab has been upgraded with the latest software, and new security measures have been implemented to protect student data. These changes have been welcomed enthusiastically by both students and faculty since the beginning of this academic year.
Analysis: Uses 6 present perfect passive constructions with appropriate time expressions and maintains formal tone suitable for academic context.
📚 Key Learning Points:
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Always match has/have with singular/plural subjects
- Past Participle Forms: Use correct irregular forms (made, written, conducted, etc.)
- Agent Inclusion: Use "by + agent" only when necessary or important
- Time Expressions: Position adverbs correctly (already, just, yet, recently)
- Context Appropriateness: Passive voice suits formal/academic writing
- Focus: Passive emphasizes result/action rather than doer
🏆 Complete News Report with Perfect Passive Forms
In recent months, significant technological advances have been made in artificial intelligence. A revolutionary AI system has been developed by researchers at Global Tech University. The system has been tested extensively and remarkable results have been achieved.
Three major companies have already been contacted about potential partnerships. The technology has been presented at several international conferences this year, and it has been received widespread recognition from experts.
However, some concerns have been raised about ethical implications. A committee has been established to address these issues, and new guidelines have been drafted for responsible AI development. The public has been informed about these developments through various media channels, and community meetings have been organized to gather feedback.
🔍 Passive Voice Analysis:
- ✅ Focus on Results: "advances have been made" - emphasizes progress, not who made it
- ✅ Academic Tone: "system has been developed" - formal research context
- ✅ Unknown/Unimportant Agent: "concerns have been raised" - by various people
- ✅ Recent Completion: "have already been contacted" - recent action with present relevance
- ✅ Process Description: "guidelines have been drafted" - focus on completion
- ✅ Public Information: "public has been informed" - formal announcement style
⏰ Time Expression Usage:
Duration: "in recent months" - unfinished time period
Frequency: "already" - emphasizes completion before expected time
Specific timeframe: "this year" - unfinished period connecting past to present
Process completion: Various forms show different stages of completion and ongoing relevance
🎯 Why Passive is Appropriate Here:
News reporting style: Focuses on events and facts rather than specific individuals
Formal academic context: Appropriate for discussing research and institutional activities
Unknown/multiple agents: Many actions involve unnamed or obvious agents
Result-oriented: Emphasizes what has been accomplished rather than who did it
Professional tone: Creates objective, authoritative voice suitable for news reporting
📈 Progression of Present Perfect Passive:
Research Phase: "has been developed, has been tested" (completed research)
Recognition Phase: "has been presented, has been received" (public acknowledgment)
Response Phase: "have been raised, has been established" (addressing concerns)
Communication Phase: "has been informed, have been organized" (public engagement)