Passive Voice – Rules, Usage, Common Errors

📘 Rule Summary

In passive voice, the focus shifts from the doer of the action (subject) to the receiver of the action (object). Structure: Object + be (in correct tense) + past participle (+ by + doer) Example: Active: The chef cooked the meal. Passive: The meal was cooked (by the chef).

📝 Examples

The song was sung by her.

A letter is being written.

The house will be built next year.

📖 Explanation

🧠 Day 20: Passive Voice – Focus on the Action

✍️ Passive voice is not wrong, but it’s used in specific situations where the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

🌱 Level 1 – Beginner (A1–A2): Understanding Voice

🔄 What is the difference between active and passive voice?

Voice	Example	Explanation
Active	The dog chased the cat.	Subject (dog) is doing the action.
Passive	The cat was chased by the dog.	Focus is on the cat (receiver of the action).

🔧 Passive Voice = Object + Correct “be” + Past Participle

be changes with tense.
Here’s a cheat sheet:

Tense	Passive Structure	Example
Present Simple	is/am/are + V3	A car is washed.
Past Simple	was/were + V3	The letter was sent.
Future Simple	will be + V3	The work will be done.
Present Continuous	is/am/are being + V3	The wall is being painted.
Past Continuous	was/were being + V3	The game was being played.
Present Perfect	has/have been + V3	A song has been sung.
Past Perfect	had been + V3	The plan had been made.
Future Perfect	will have been + V3	The house will have been built.

🌿 Level 2 – Intermediate (B1–B2): When and Why We Use Passive Voice

✅ Use Passive Voice when:

The doer is unknown or unimportant

The window was broken. (We don’t know who broke it.)

The doer is obvious

The thief was arrested. (Of course, by the police.)

The action matters more than the subject

English is spoken in 80+ countries.

To sound formal or polite

Your feedback is appreciated.
The error has been corrected.

💬 Common Passive Sentences

The email was sent yesterday.
The cake is being decorated.
The roads have been repaired.
The assignment will be submitted tomorrow.

⚠️ Be Careful With These

You can’t make all verbs passive (only transitive verbs – those with objects).
✅ Active: I made a cake. → Passive: A cake was made.
❌ Active: He sleeps early. → Passive: (✖ Not possible)

📘 Mini Story – A Stolen Painting

A famous painting was stolen last night from the museum. The theft was discovered by a guard. Police say the painting had been removed from its frame without triggering any alarms.
Cameras were checked, and suspects are being questioned. The case will be handled by the city’s top detective.

🧠 Passive voice adds mystery and focus on what happened, not who did it.

🎯 Common Errors in Passive Voice

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Why
The book is write by her.	The book is written by her.	Use past participle (V3)
The work was do on time.	The work was done on time.	“Do” → “done”
He is being invite.	He is being invited.	V3 form missing
A movie watched by us.	A movie was watched by us.	Missing helping verb
The dinner is cook.	The dinner is being cooked.	Wrong tense or missing “being”

🧪 Practice Sentences (Convert to Passive)

They clean the room every day.
→ The room is cleaned every day.
She will deliver the package.
→ The package will be delivered.
He was painting the wall.
→ The wall was being painted.
We have finished the task.
→ The task has been finished.
The police caught the thief.
→ The thief was caught (by the police).

🧠 When NOT to Use Passive Voice

To describe strong emotions or opinions
❌ It is believed that…
✅ I believe that…
In creative writing or storytelling
❌ The book was read by me.
✅ I read the book.
When it slows down clarity
❌ The report was written and submitted by John.
✅ John wrote and submitted the report.

💡 Tips to Identify Passive Voice Quickly

Look for a form of “be” + past participle (V3)
Ask: Is the subject doing the action?
If not — it’s passive.

🔁 Recap Chart

Voice	Structure	Example
Active	Subject + Verb + Object	She wrote a poem.
Passive	Object + be + V3 + (by Subject)	A poem was written (by her).