What does passive voice mean?
In passive voice, the receiver of the action becomes the subject. We use be + past participle. Present passive uses am/is/are + past participle. Past passive uses was/were + past participle.
The room is cleaned.
The cakes are made here.
The window was broken.
The letters were sent.
Ask: who receives the action?
ActiveThe chef makes the cake.The doer is first.
PassiveThe cake is made by the chef.The receiver is first.
Why use passive?The action or result is more important.The doer may be unknown.
Move the object to the front.
ActivePeople speak Arabic in Oman.Object: Arabic.
PassiveArabic is spoken in Oman.Arabic becomes the subject.
Patternreceiver + be + past participleThen add by + doer if needed.
Use am / is / are + past participle.
SingularThe door is opened every morning.is + opened.
PluralThe books are sold online.are + sold.
II am invited to the party.am + invited.
Use was / were + past participle.
SingularThe window was broken yesterday.was + broken.
PluralThe letters were sent last week.were + sent.
Past actionThe museum was built in 1990.Past passive.
Use the past participle, not the simple past.
Regularclean -> cleaned
paint -> paintedSame as past simple.
paint -> paintedSame as past simple.
Irregularwrite -> written
make -> madeLearn the third form.
make -> madeLearn the third form.
CarefulThe story was written.
Not: was wrote.Use past participle.
Not: was wrote.Use past participle.
Negative passive adds not after be.
Present negativeThe door is not locked.is not + locked.
Past negativeThe bags were not checked.were not + checked.
Short formsisn't, aren't, wasn't, weren'tUseful in speech.
Passive questions move be first.
Present questionIs the room cleaned every day?Is + subject + participle?
Past questionWere the tickets sold yesterday?Were + subject + participle?
Wh-questionWhere are these shoes made?Question word + be.
Use by only when the doer matters.
Doer importantThe Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.Famous doer.
Doer unknownMy bike was stolen.We don't know who.
Doer obviousThe road was repaired.No need to say by workers.
Choose the correct form.
The classroom ___ every day.
Choose the correct form.
These houses ___ in 2010.
Choose the correct form.
The book was written ___ a famous writer.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the best sentence.
Which sentence is a passive question?
Choose the best sentence.
Fill five blanks.
Choose the correct form. Think about present passive, past passive, negatives, questions, and by.
This bread every morning.
Dates in hot countries.
The new shop last month.
We to the party.
The picture was painted my sister.
Mixed question types of 5
Answer all five. Then tap Finish test to see your result sheet.
1. Sentence completion
English ___ in many countries.
2. MCQ
Change to passive: The children ate the cake.
3. Type the answer
These toys ___ made in Japan.
4. Type the answer
The old bridge ___ built in 1950.
5. MCQ
Which past passive question is correct?
Great work!
Your learning comment will appear here.
Total score0 / 0
Percentage0%
Learning levelLearning
| Part | Result | Comment |
|---|