When do you use the passive voice?

You use the passive voice when the action is more important than the doer , when the doer is unknown or obvious, or in formal register. It is very common in reports, announcements, and company policies on the TOEIC®.

How do you form the passive voice?

The passive voice is formed with be + past participle . The tense of be determines the tense of the passive sentence: is done (present), was done (past), has been done (present perfect), etc.

Do you always need "by" in a passive sentence?

No. You use by only when the agent (the doer) is important or informative. If the agent is obvious, unknown, or unimportant, omit it: The report was submitted (no need to know by whom).

Is the passive voice common on the TOEIC®?

Yes, very common. It appears in Part 5 (choosing between active and passive forms), Part 6 (text completion), and Part 7 texts (announcements, memos, business emails).

Can you use the passive voice with modals?

Yes. The structure is modal + be + past participle : can be done , must be submitted , should be reviewed , will be sent . This is very common on the TOEIC®.

अंग्रेज़ी कर्मवाच्य (Passive Voice): TOEIC® के लिए पूर्ण गाइड

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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