Passive
In passive sentences, the thing or person receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the person doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence.
You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.
[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]
Examples:
| Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
| Simple Present | Active: | Maria | writes | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | is written | by Maria. | |
| Simple Past | Active: | Maria | wrote | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | was written | by Maria. | |
| Present Perfect | Active: | Maria | has written | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | has been written | by Maria. | |
| Future | Active: | Maria | will write | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | will be written | by Maria. | |
| Modal | Active: | Maria | can write | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | can be written | by Maria. | |
| Present Continuous | Active: | Maria | is writing | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | is being written | by Maria. | |
| Past Continuous | Active: | Maria | was writing | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | was being written | by Maria. | |
| Past Perfect | Active: | Maria | had written | a letter. |
| Passive: | A letter | had been written | by Maria. | |
When and why do we use passive voice?
There are several times when the passive voice is useful, and usually the decision has to do with the “doer” (agent) or the “receiver” of the action. For example, we use the passive when:
1. We want to emphasize the receiver of the action:
- Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
Active: Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
2. We don’t know who did the action (the agent):
- My bike has been stolen.
Active: Somebody has stolen my bike.
3. We think the agent is not important or interesting:
- The apartment building is being renovated.
Active: R&L Company is painting the apartment building.
4. The agent is obvious:
- I am paid weekly.
Active: My company pays me weekly.
5. We are making general statements or announcements:
- Passengers are reminded to fasten their seat belts.
Active: The Captain reminds passengers to fasten their seat belts.
6. The agent is everyone:
- The emergency services can be called by dialing 999.
Active: The public can call the emergency services by dialing 999.
7. We are writing formal or scientific texts:
- Potassium was added and mixed in. The solution was heated to 80°C and then allowed to cool.
Active: The technician added potassium and mixed it in. The technician heated the solution to 80°C and then allowed it to cool.
8. We want to avoid responsibility for our own actions (typically found in government reports) :
- Mistakes were made and unfortunately never rectified.
Active: The President made mistakes and unfortunately never rectified them.