Lesson

Forming passive sentences (1) - advanced

Complex passive structures

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Forming passive sentences (1) - advanced

The passive voice shifts the focus from the doer (agent) to the action or the recipient of the action. In English, passives are formed with a form of "be" + past participle. Advanced passive usage involves preserving tense/aspect, using modals, perfect and continuous forms, and choosing whether to mention the agent.

  • Use passive to emphasize the action or result rather than the agent.
  • Form: appropriate form of "be" + past participle; include "by" + agent optionally.
  • Retain tense and aspect: e.g., Present perfect → "has been completed"; Modals → "must be reviewed".
  • Some verbs cannot form a passive because they are intransitive (no direct object).

Table

Passive Forms — Examples

Active Passive Use/Note
The team completes the audit. The audit is completed by the team. Present simple → is/are + past participle
They are implementing a new CRM system. A new CRM system is being implemented (by the IT department). Present continuous → is/are being + past participle
Management has approved the budget. The budget has been approved by management. Present perfect → has/have been + past participle
The committee reviewed the proposal. The proposal was reviewed by the committee. Past simple → was/were + past participle
They had announced the merger before the press release. The merger had already been announced by them before the press release. Past perfect → had been + past participle
The company will launch the new product next month. The new product will be launched by the company next month. Future simple → will be + past participle
Someone must sign the contract today. The contract must be signed today. Modal verbs → modal + be + past participle
They expect the report to be ready by Monday. The report is expected to be ready by Monday. Passive with verbs followed by infinitive or that-clauses
Employees consider him an excellent manager. He is considered an excellent manager by employees. Passive with adjective complements

Tip

Key rule: change the subject and use the correct form of "be"

To form a passive sentence, make the active sentence's object the new subject, and use the matching tense/aspect of "be" plus the past participle of the main verb.

  • Active → Passive: Subject V object → Object + appropriate "be" + past participle (+ by subject).
  • Maintain tense and aspect: e.g., "has approved" → "has been approved".
  • For modals: modal + be + past participle (e.g., "must be delivered").
  • Omit the agent with 'by' when it is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.

Always check the verb's past participle form and the correct form of "be" for the tense.

Example

Examples in context

The monthly report was reviewed by the committee yesterday.

All invoices must be paid by Friday.

A new CRM system is being implemented across departments this quarter.

The merger had already been announced by the CEO before the press release.

Tip

Common mistakes

Watch out for these universal errors when forming the passive.

  • Forgetting to change the verb "be" to match tense/aspect (e.g., writing "was approved" when the original tense requires "has been approved").
  • Keeping the active verb form instead of using the past participle (e.g., "is approve" instead of "is approved").
  • Using the wrong past participle form (irregular verbs).
  • Trying to make intransitive verbs passive (no direct object to become subject).
  • Incorrect word order: placing the agent before the verb or inserting extra prepositions.

Always identify the object in the active sentence, choose the correct form of "be" for the tense/aspect, and use the past participle.

Quiz

Choose the correct passive sentence for: "The company will launch the new product next month."

Hint: Focus on forming future passive: 'will' + ? + past participle.

Quiz

Complete: The proposal _____ by the board last week.

Hint: Think about past simple passive: past of 'be' + past participle.

Quiz

Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect passive?

Hint: Check for 'has/have' + 'been' + past participle.

Key Points

GrammarPoint

passive voice

grammar_point CEFR B2 //ˈpæsɪv vɔɪs//

A grammatical construction where the subject receives the action: be + past participle.

The proposal was accepted by the board.

GrammarPoint

past participle

noun CEFR B2 //pɑːst ˈpɑːrtɪsɪpl//

The verb form used in perfect tenses and passive constructions (e.g., 'written', 'completed').

The report has been written by the team.

GrammarPoint

be (auxiliary)

verb CEFR A2 //biː//

Used as an auxiliary with past participles to form passive constructions ('is/are/was/were/be/been').

The documents are signed by the manager.

Vocabulary

agent (by-phrase)

noun CEFR B1 //ˈeɪdʒənt//

The performer of the action in a passive sentence, introduced with 'by' (e.g., 'by the team').

The contract was signed by the director.

GrammarPoint

modal passive

grammar_point CEFR B2 //ˈmoʊdəl ˈpæsɪv//

A passive construction with a modal verb: modal + be + past participle (e.g., 'must be delivered').

All reports must be filed by Friday.

Vocabulary

intransitive verb

noun CEFR B1 //ˌɪntrænˈzɪtɪv vɜːrb//

A verb that does not take a direct object and therefore usually cannot form a passive.

He arrived late. (This verb is intransitive; no passive form)

Expression

get passive

expression CEFR C1 //ɡet ˈpæsɪv//

An alternative informal passive form using 'get' + past participle (e.g., 'got promoted'); often less formal and different in meaning.

She got promoted last year.