In English, a sentence can be written in the active voice (the subject performs the action) or the passive voice (the subject receives the action). Both are grammatically correct according to Cambridge Grammar; the choice depends on what information is most important and who or what you wish to emphasise. Understanding when and how to use each form is essential for accurate, effective communication. For example, the active sentence "Maria baked the cake." can be rewritten in the passive as "The cake was baked by Maria." A common learner mistake is using the wrong verb form after be, writing "The cake was baking by Maria" instead of the correct past participle: "was baked."
Active Voice
In an active sentence, the agent (the doer) comes first: Subject + Verb + Object. Active sentences are direct, clear, and common in everyday speech and informal writing. The chef prepared the meal. Scientists discovered a new species. She wrote the report.
Passive Voice
In a passive sentence, the receiver of the action becomes the subject: Subject + be + Past Participle (+ by + agent). The agent can be omitted when unknown, unimportant, or obvious. The meal was prepared (by the chef). A new species has been discovered. The report was written by her.
Passive in All Tenses
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | They make cars here. | Cars are made here. |
| Past simple | Someone stole the bag. | The bag was stolen. |
| Present perfect | They have cancelled the flight. | The flight has been cancelled. |
| Past perfect | She had submitted the form. | The form had been submitted. |
| Future (will) | They will announce the winner. | The winner will be announced. |
| Modal | You must complete the form. | The form must be completed. |
When to Use the Passive
- Agent unknown or unimportant: My wallet was stolen. (We do not know who did it.)
- Focus on the receiver: The bridge was built in 1895. (The bridge, not the builders, is the topic.)
- Formal/academic writing: The experiment was conducted at 20°C. (Passive is preferred in scientific reports.)
- Describing processes: The ore is mined, crushed, and refined before export.
Common Mistakes
- Wrong: The letter was wrote by her. Correct: The letter was written by her. (use past participle, not past simple)
- Wrong: The problem has been solve. Correct: The problem has been solved. (past participle required after been)
- Wrong: The car was being repaired by him yesterday. (awkward) Better: He repaired the car yesterday. (use active when the agent is clear and important)
Practice Exercises
Grammar Quiz
Choose active or passive to complete each sentence correctly.
Cloze Dropdown
Select the correct passive form across different tenses.
Complete the Sentence
Transform active sentences into the passive voice.
Match-Up
Match active and passive versions of the same sentence.
Flash Cards
Drill passive forms in every tense with instant feedback.
Practice What You’ve Learned
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action: The dog bit the man. In passive voice, the subject receives the action: The man was bitten by the dog. Active voice is more direct; passive voice shifts focus to the receiver of the action or omits the agent entirely.
How do I form the passive voice?
The passive is formed with the correct form of the verb 'be' plus the past participle of the main verb: is/are/was/were/has been/have been/will be + past participle. Example: The letter is written. The letters were sent. The results will be announced.
When should I use the passive voice?
Use the passive when the agent (doer) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious; when you want to emphasise the receiver of the action; or in formal, academic, and scientific writing where the passive is stylistically preferred. Example: The sample was heated to 100 degrees.
Do I always need 'by + agent' in a passive sentence?
No. The 'by + agent' phrase is optional and is included only when the agent adds useful information. The bag was stolen (no 'by' needed — agent unknown). The novel was written by Dickens (agent is important and identifying). In most passive sentences, the agent is omitted.
Can the passive be used with all tenses?
Yes. The passive can be formed in all tenses: present simple (is made), past simple (was made), present perfect (has been made), past perfect (had been made), future (will be made), and with modals (must be made, should be submitted). The structure is always: correct form of 'be' + past participle.
What is the difference between 'was done' and 'has been done'?
'Was done' is past simple passive — the action is completed and seen as finished at a specific past time: The report was submitted last week. 'Has been done' is present perfect passive — the action is complete but relevant to now: The report has been submitted (so we can proceed). The choice follows the same logic as active tense selection.
Can I use the passive with intransitive verbs?
No. Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be made passive, because the object becomes the subject. Intransitive verbs like 'arrive', 'sleep', 'die', or 'happen' have no object, so they cannot form a passive: you cannot say 'The meeting was happened'. Use active with intransitive verbs.
Is the passive voice acceptable in academic writing?
Yes, very much so. The passive is widely used in academic and scientific writing to describe processes, methods, and results without referring to the researcher: The data were collected over six months. The passive creates an objective, impersonal tone that is valued in academic contexts, though overuse can make writing feel distant.
What is the passive infinitive?
The passive infinitive is 'to be + past participle': to be done, to be seen, to be cancelled. It follows modal verbs and other verbs that take an infinitive: The work needs to be checked. She wants to be noticed. It ought to be finished by Friday. Use it when the infinitive refers to an action done to the subject.
What is the causative passive (have something done)?
The causative passive uses 'have + object + past participle' to describe arranging for someone else to do something: She had her hair cut. They had the roof repaired. 'Get + object + past participle' is informal: I got my phone fixed. This is different from the standard passive — the subject arranges the action rather than receiving it.