Voz pasiva en inglés: guía completa para el TOEIC®
Domina la voz pasiva para el TOEIC®: formación en todos los tiempos, comparación activa/pasiva y errores comunes en inglés de negocios.
What Is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice emphasizes the action or its result rather than who performs it. In professional English and on the TOEIC®, it is everywhere in reports, announcements, company policies, and formal emails.
Active: The manager approved the budget.
Passive: The budget was approved (by the manager).
Formation: be + Past Participle
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | They deliver the goods. | The goods are delivered. |
| Past simple | They delivered the goods. | The goods were delivered. |
| Present perfect | They have delivered the goods. | The goods have been delivered. |
| Future (will) | They will deliver the goods. | The goods will be delivered. |
| Present continuous | They are delivering the goods. | The goods are being delivered. |
| Past continuous | They were delivering the goods. | The goods were being delivered. |
Passive with Modals
Structure: modal + be + past participle. Very common on the TOEIC® in instructions and professional obligations.
| Modal | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| can | You can download the file. | The file can be downloaded. |
| must | You must submit the form. | The form must be submitted. |
| should | You should review the report. | The report should be reviewed. |
| will | They will send the invoice. | The invoice will be sent. |
| may | They may cancel the event. | The event may be cancelled. |
Passive Infinitive and Passive Gerund
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Passive infinitive | to be + past participle | The report needs to be finished by Friday. |
| Passive gerund | being + past participle | She doesn't like being interrupted. |
| Perfect passive | having been + past participle | Having been promoted, she moved to a new office. |
When to Use or Omit "by"
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| Important agent → include by | The contract was signed by the CEO. |
| Obvious agent → omit by | The suspect was arrested. (by the police, obviously) |
| Unknown agent → omit by | My car was stolen last night. |
| General agent → omit by | English is spoken worldwide. |
Common TOEIC® Traps
Choosing between active and passive voice is one of the most tested points in TOEIC Part 5. Here are the most common mistakes.
- Active/passive confusion: does the subject do the action (active) or receive it (passive)? The report was written (passive) vs She wrote the report (active)
- Wrong tense in passive: the tense of be must match the time context of the sentence
- Missing past participle: do not say *The report was submit. Use The report was submitted
- Passive with intransitives: intransitive verbs (happen, arrive, exist) cannot be made passive
- Being vs been: is being done (continuous) vs has been done (perfect). Do not confuse them
- By vs with: by for the agent (person), with for the instrument: written by the manager with a pen
Preparation Tips
- Identify the subject: does it do the action or receive it? This is the key to choosing active or passive
- Memorize irregular past participles: written, sent, made, given, taken, etc.
- Spot formal contexts: announcements, memos, and policies often use the passive
- Train on Parts 5 and 6: the active/passive choice is very common there. Try our free TOEIC practice exercises to test your skills
For a complete study method, check out our TOEIC preparation guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Master the Passive Voice with 990prep
The passive voice is everywhere on the TOEIC®, especially in business contexts. Practice with 990prep exercises to recognize and use it correctly.
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