Passive Voice Presentation

How it works

When the action matters more than who did it: English is spoken here. The bridge was built in 1890. The form, when to use it, and when to add by.

• What happened? Happen has no object, so it has no passive. Learners who have just met the passive often add was to every past event.
• Spanish is spoken in Spain. Spanish puts the verb first in «se habla español». English needs the subject before the verb: what is spoken comes first.
• This house was built in 1990. Russian «дом построен в 1990 году» needs no form of be. English always needs it: was built.
• The book was written by my aunt. The passive takes the past participle (written), not the past simple (wrote). Check the third column of the irregular verb table.

The form

Examples (1/2)

• 🌍English is spoken in many countries.
• 🚲My bike was stolen last night.
• 📱These days most phones are made in Asia.
• 📅The meeting was cancelled at the last minute.
• 🌉When was this bridge built?

Examples (2/2)

• 📊The results are published every Friday.
• 🙊We weren't told about the changes.
• 📲The first iPhone was released in 2007.
• 🍳Is breakfast included in the price?
• 🎵The song was written by two students.

Which is right?

1. What happened?
2. What was happened?

Happen has no object, so it has no passive. Learners who have just met the passive often add was to every past event.

Which is right?

1. In Spain is spoken Spanish.
2. Spanish is spoken in Spain.

Spanish puts the verb first in «se habla español». English needs the subject before the verb: what is spoken comes first.

Which is right?

1. This house was built in 1990.
2. This house built in 1990.

Russian «дом построен в 1990 году» needs no form of be. English always needs it: was built.

Which is right?

1. The book was wrote by my aunt.
2. The book was written by my aunt.

The passive takes the past participle (written), not the past simple (wrote). Check the third column of the irregular verb table.

Summary