Every English tense has a passive form. The rule is always the same: use the tense of the active verb for “be” and add the past participle. Learn the form of “be” for each tense and the passive becomes easy.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| present simple: is/are + V3 | The car is washed. |
| past simple: was/were + V3 | The car was washed. |
| present perfect: has/have been + V3 | The car has been washed. |
| continuous: is/are being + V3 | The car is being washed. |
| future: will be + V3 | The car will be washed. |
When to use it
- When the doer is unknown or unimportant: The window has been broken.
- In reports, instructions and news: The suspect was arrested last night.
- For processes: Cheese is made from milk.
- Use by to name the doer when it matters: The play was written by Shakespeare.
Examples
- English is spoken all over the world.
- The report was written last week.
- The bridge has been repaired.
- The road is being repaired.
- The results will be announced tomorrow.
- The room had been cleaned before we arrived.
Common mistakes
- A wrong form of “be”: The car is washing → The car is being washed.
- Missing the participle: The work is finish → The work is finished.
- Using the passive with verbs that cannot be passive: I was arrived → I arrived.