Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the rules, recognise the target forms in context, avoid common errors and apply the patterns to new sentences.
- Understand the core terms and distinctions.
- Study examples in complete sentences, not as isolated rules.
- Complete all 15 practice items before opening the answer key.
1. Active versus passive
In active voice, the subject performs the action. In passive voice, the subject receives the action. The passive is formed with the appropriate form of be + past participle; the agent can be omitted when unknown or unimportant.
2. Passive forms across tenses
Keep the tense by changing be, while the main verb stays in its past participle form: is made, is being made, was made, has been made, will be made. Only verbs that take an object can normally form a standard passive.
3. Modals and infinitives
After a modal, use modal + be + past participle: must be completed, can be seen. Perfect modal passive uses modal + have been + past participle. Infinitive passive uses to be + past participle.
4. Questions, negatives and agents
Keep the auxiliary structure when making questions or negatives: Was it delivered? It was not delivered. Use by + agent when the doer is relevant; use with for an instrument where appropriate.
5. Common limitations and errors
Do not force passive forms onto intransitive verbs with no object (arrive, sleep, happen). Avoid unnecessary passive voice when the doer matters and an active sentence is clearer. The past participle, not the past simple, follows be.
Guided practice
Try each item first. Then open the answer key and read the explanation for any answer you missed.
- Change to passive: “They clean the room.”
- Change to passive: “She wrote the letter.”
- Cars ___ in this factory. (make)
- The road ___ now. (repair)
- The work ___ already ___. (finish)
- The match ___ tomorrow. (hold)
- The form must ___ today. (sign)
- Was the email ___ yesterday? (send)
- Correct: “The accident was happened at noon.”
- Change to passive: “People speak English here.”
- The room was cleaned ___ the staff. (by/with)
- The window was broken ___ a stone. (by/with)
- The documents should ___ checked carefully. (be/been)
- Change to passive: “They are building a bridge.”
- Change to active: “The prize was won by Sara.”
Show answer key and explanations
- The room is cleaned. — Present simple passive = am/is/are + past participle.
- The letter was written by her. — Past simple passive = was/were + past participle.
- are made — Present simple passive describes a general process.
- is being repaired — Present continuous passive = is being + past participle.
- has; been finished — Present perfect passive = has/have been + past participle.
- will be held — Future passive = will be + past participle.
- be signed — Modal passive = modal + be + past participle.
- sent — Question passive uses was + past participle.
- The accident happened at noon. — Happen is intransitive and does not take a normal passive.
- English is spoken here. — The object English becomes the passive subject.
- by — By introduces the agent.
- with — With can introduce the instrument.
- be — After should, use be + past participle.
- A bridge is being built. — Present continuous active becomes is being + past participle.
- Sara won the prize. — The agent becomes the active subject.
Revision checklist
- I can explain the main rules in my own words.
- I can recognise the correct form in a complete sentence.
- I can explain why a common incorrect form is wrong.
- I can apply the rule to a new example.
If an answer was wrong, identify the rule behind the mistake and try writing two original examples.
Continue learning
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