Passive 1 (is done / was done)
Forming and using the passive in present and past simple
Active vs. Passive
In an active sentence, the subject does the action. In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action.
| Subject | Verb | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Somebody | built | this office in 2005. |
| Passive | This office | was built | in 2005. |
Active — we say what the subject does:
- The company employs two hundred people.
- My grandfather built this house in 1981.
Passive — we say what happens to the subject:
- Two hundred people are employed by the company.
- “How old is this building?” “It was built in 1981.”
When to Use the Passive
Use the passive when the person who does the action is unknown or not important.
- A lot of money was stolen in the robbery. (We don’t know who stole it.)
- *Is this meeting room cleaned every day?* (It doesn’t matter who cleans it.)
If you want to say who does the action, add by:
- This report was written by the finance team.
- Two hundred people are employed by the company.
How to Form the Passive
The passive is be + past participle (done, cleaned, built, seen, etc.).
The past participle often ends in -ed (cleaned, damaged, employed), but many common verbs are irregular (built, done, stolen, seen).
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | Somebody cleans this room every day. | This room is cleaned every day. |
| Past simple | Somebody cleaned this room yesterday. | This room was cleaned yesterday. |
Present Simple Passive
The present simple passive is am/is/are + past participle.
- Many accidents are caused by careless driving.
- I’m not invited to client dinners very often.
- How is this word pronounced?
Past Simple Passive
The past simple passive is was/were + past participle.
- We were woken up by a loud noise during the night.
- “Did you go to the farewell party?” “No, I wasn’t invited.”
- How much money was stolen in the robbery?
Present Simple vs. Past Simple Passive
| Present simple passive | Past simple passive | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | am/is/are + past participle | was/were + past participle |
| Example | The office is cleaned every evening. | The office was cleaned yesterday morning. |
| Example | New staff are trained during their first week. | She was trained by the head of department last month. |
| Negative | This room isn’t used any more. | I wasn’t told about the schedule change. |
| Question | *Are expenses approved by your manager?* | *Was the order shipped on time?* |
Quick Self-Check
The office _____ every evening by the cleaning crew.
Select your answer:
All flights _____ because of the storm last night.
Select your answer:
How much of the budget _____ by the marketing department?
Select your answer:
I _____ about the meeting. Nobody told me.
Select your answer:
New employees _____ a company laptop on their first day.
Select your answer: