Mastering English Passive Voice: Rules and Examples

English Passive Voice Structures

The passive voice is formed using the structure: Subject + Verb to be + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form).

Present Simple

Structure: Subject + (am/is/are) + Past Participle

Example: The dog broke my tennis shoes → My tennis shoes are broken by the dog.

Present Perfect

Structure: Subject + have/has been + Past Participle

Example: Luis has caught the pencil → The pencil has been caught by Luis.

Present Continuous

Structure: Subject + (am/is/are) being + Past Participle

Past Simple

Structure: Subject + was/were + Past Participle

Example: My brother studied the lesson → The lesson was studied by my brother.

Past Perfect

Structure: Subject + had been + Past Participle

Example: My dad had built a house → The house had been built by my dad.

Past Continuous

Structure: Subject + was/were being + Past Participle

Future Simple

Structure: Subject + will be + Past Participle

Example: My mom will choose the color → The color will be chosen by my mom.

Future Conditional

Structure: Subject + would be + Past Participle

Example: We would blow the candles of my cake → The candles of the cake would be blown.

Quick Reference Key

• Have/Has: Tener
• Had: Tenía
• Was/Were: Fue
• Will be: Será
• Would be: Sería

Passive Voice Exercises

1. Chinese is spoken in Singapore.
2. The Taj Mahal was built around 1640.
3. She is being interviewed now.
4. I realized I was being followed.
5. The new hospital will be opened next year.
6. Are you invited to Andrea’s party?
7. He found that all his money had been stolen.
8. These computers are made in Korea.
9. Passengers are asked not to speak to the driver.
10. Sorry about the noise; the road is being mended.

Active to Passive Conversion

1. Shakespeare wrote Hamlet → Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
2. They are repairing your car now → Your car is being repaired now.
3. People in Chile speak Spanish → Spanish is spoken in Chile.
4. Has anybody asked Peter? → Has Peter been asked?
5. My mother made this ring → The ring was made by my mother.
6. Electricity drives this car → The car is driven by electricity.
7. Somebody will tell you where to go → You will be told where to go.
8. A drunken motorist knocked her down → She was knocked down by a drunken motorist.

Text Completion Answers

• 1. Had been told
• 2. Had been given
• 3. Was shown
• 4. Was given
• 5. Was given
• 6. Has never been taught
• 7. Was sent
• 8. Was offered
• 9. Was promised