Passive Sentences (Structure & Examples) | Active Voice Vs. Passive Voice

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What Is a Passive Sentence?

A passive sentence is a sentence in which the grammatical subject receives the action rather than performing it. This sentence structure informs who performed an action or focuses directly on the person or thing affected by that action.

Active vs. Passive Focus

Compare how the grammatical focus shifts between these two sentences describing the exact same event:

Active: The technician repaired the computer.
Passive: The computer was repaired by the technician.

Both sentences describe the same event, but their focus is completely different. The active sentence puts the technician first, while the passive sentence places the computer first. This change in focus is the core concept behind passive constructions.

Where Are Passive Sentences Used?

Passive constructions are widely used across various types of written and spoken English:

News Reports Scientific Writing Official Documents Instructions & Manuals Academic Papers Everyday Conversation

They are especially useful when the person who performed an action is unknown, obvious, unimportant, or less important than the result of the action itself.

Structural Breakdown of a Passive Sentence

Look closely at the structure below:

“The window was broken by the boy.”
  • The window → Grammatical subject (receives the action).
  • was broken → Passive verb phrase.
  • by the boy → Agent (the person who performed the action).
Key Takeaway: The window did not break the boy; the boy broke the window. However, because the sentence is structurally organized around the window rather than the boy, the construction is passive.

✨ Quick Challenge

Which of the following sentences is in the passive voice (where the subject receives the action rather than performing it)? Tap your answer.

See the full answer

Answer: “A new compound was discovered by the scientist in the laboratory.”

Structural breakdown of the passive sentence:

  • Subject (Receiver): A new compound (does not perform the action).
  • Passive Verb: was discovered (be + past participle).
  • Agent: by the scientist (the entity that performed the discovery).

What Is Passive Voice?

Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence receives the action expressed by the verb. The term voice describes the relationship between the subject and the action itself.

English relies on two grammatical voices:

Voice Relationship of Subject to Action Example
Active voice Subject performs the action The manager approved the request.
Passive voice Subject receives the action The request was approved by the manager.
Key Insight: Passive voice is not a tense. A sentence can be structured passively in the present, past, future, perfect, or continuous forms without changing its voice.

Notice how the tense shifts across these passive sentences while the passive voice remains constant:

  • The letters are delivered every morning. (Present)
  • The letters were delivered yesterday. (Past)
  • The letters will be delivered tomorrow. (Future)
  • The letters have been delivered already. (Present Perfect)

What Is the Basic Structure of a Passive Sentence?

The standard structural pattern for building a passive sentence is:

Subject + form of “be” + past participle + optional “by” phrase
Example: The house + was + painted + by the workers.

Three essential elements form this pattern:

  1. The receiver of the action shifts into the subject position.
  2. A appropriate form of the auxiliary verb be is selected.
  3. The main verb converts to its past participle form.

The agent (person or thing performing the action) can be added using a “by” phrase, though this element is completely optional.

Passive Sentence Formula Breakdown

Element Grammatical Function Example Component
Subject Receives the action The bridge
Form of be Shows tense & structure was
Past participle Main action repaired
Agent phrase Identifies the doer by the engineers
Complete Sentence The bridge was repaired by the engineers.

What Is a Past Participle?

The past participle is the specific verb form used in passive constructions and various compound tenses. For regular verbs, it is formed by adding -ed to the base verb.

Regular Verbs (-ed)

Base Verb Past Participle
clean cleaned
open opened
repair repaired
wash washed

Irregular Verbs (Vary)

Base Verb Past Participle
write written
break broken
choose chosen
build built
take taken
make made

Every passive sentence requires the correct past participle form of the main verb:

✅ Correct: The letter was written yesterday.
❌ Incorrect: The letter was wrote yesterday.

Active Sentence vs. Passive Sentence

The clearest way to understand the passive voice is by placing it directly alongside the active voice:

Active: The nurse checked the patient. (Subject “nurse” performs the action)
Passive: The patient was checked by the nurse. (Receiver “patient” becomes the subject)

Active and Passive Compared

Active Sentence Passive Sentence
The company launched the product. The product was launched by the company.
The police arrested the suspect. The suspect was arrested by the police.
The students completed the project. The project was completed by the students.
Someone cleaned the room. The room was cleaned.
The storm damaged several houses. Several houses were damaged by the storm.
Key Observation: A passive sentence does not always need to state the original subject. For instance, “Someone cleaned the room” transforms neatly into “The room was cleaned.” Omitting “by someone” keeps the focus on the completed action without adding unnecessary information.

How to Change an Active Sentence Into a Passive Sentence

Converting an active sentence into a passive sentence follows a logical, step-by-step grammatical process.

Consider the active sentence: “The gardener watered the plants.”

1
Find the Object: Locate the noun receiving the action. Here, the plants is the object.
2
Move the Object to the Subject Position: The plants becomes the new grammatical subject.
3
Choose the Correct Form of “Be”: The original active verb is simple past, so we use were to match the plural subject.
4
Change the Main Verb to Its Past Participle: watered remains watered (regular verb form).
5
Add the Original Subject With “By” (if necessary): Include by the gardener to specify the agent.

Final Passive Result: “The plants were watered by the gardener.”

Active-to-Passive Pattern Breakdown

Active: Subject + verb + object
Passive: Object + be + past participle + by + subject
Active Component Example Element Passive Component Converted Element
Subject The gardener New Subject The plants
Verb watered Be + Participle were watered
Object the plants Agent Phrase by the gardener

Passive Sentences in Different Tenses

The passive voice can be formed across many English tenses. When changing tenses, the auxiliary form of be changes according to time and aspect, while the main verb always remains in its past participle form.

Simple Present Passive
Formula: Subject + am/is/are + past participle
  • English is spoken in many countries.
  • The rooms are cleaned every morning.
  • The report is checked before publication.
Present Continuous Passive
Formula: Subject + am/is/are + being + past participle
  • The road is being repaired.
  • New houses are being built.
  • The documents are being examined.

Note: The word being is essential in present continuous passive constructions.

Present Perfect Passive
Formula: Subject + has/have + been + past participle
  • The work has been completed.
  • Several changes have been made.
  • The documents have been signed.
Simple Past Passive
Formula: Subject + was/were + past participle
  • The car was repaired yesterday.
  • The invitations were sent last week.
  • The building was damaged by the storm.
Past Continuous Passive
Formula: Subject + was/were + being + past participle
  • The bridge was being repaired.
  • The students were being tested.
  • The equipment was being inspected.
Past Perfect Passive
Formula: Subject + had + been + past participle
  • The room had been cleaned before the guests arrived.
  • The decision had been announced earlier.
  • The documents had been prepared in advance.
Simple Future Passive
Formula: Subject + will + be + past participle
  • The results will be announced tomorrow.
  • The building will be opened next month.
  • The package will be delivered soon.
Future Perfect Passive
Formula: Subject + will + have been + past participle
  • The project will have been completed by June.
  • The repairs will have been finished by Friday.

Passive Voice Tense Chart

Use this reference chart for a quick structural comparison of passive forms across all major tenses:

Tense Passive Structure Example
Simple Present am/is/are + past participle The room is cleaned.
Present Continuous am/is/are being + past participle The room is being cleaned.
Present Perfect has/have been + past participle The room has been cleaned.
Simple Past was/were + past participle The room was cleaned.
Past Continuous was/were being + past participle The room was being cleaned.
Past Perfect had been + past participle The room had been cleaned.
Simple Future will be + past participle The room will be cleaned.
Future Perfect will have been + past participle The room will have been cleaned.
Writing Advice: Some passive forms—especially perfect continuous constructions (such as “would have been being cleaned”)—are grammatically possible but often sound extremely heavy and unnatural. Good writing is not simply about producing every valid grammatical combination; it is about selecting constructions that communicate clearly and comfortably.

Passive Sentences With Modal Verbs

Modal verbs—such as can, could, may, might, must, should, and will—integrate smoothly into passive constructions.

General Pattern: Modal + be + past participle

Here are several examples of passive sentences formed with common modal verbs:

  • The problem can be solved.
  • The form must be completed.
  • The rules should be followed.
  • The package may be delivered today.
  • The equipment could be repaired.

Modal Passive Transformations

Active Voice Passive Voice
You must follow the instructions. The instructions must be followed.
We can solve the problem. The problem can be solved.
They should complete the form. The form should be completed.
Someone may change the schedule. The schedule may be changed.

When Should You Use a Passive Sentence?

The passive voice is a valuable writing tool, not a construction you should automatically avoid. It serves several clear grammatical and stylistic purposes:

1. When the Doer Is Unknown

Used when we know what happened but do not know who performed the action.

“My bicycle was stolen.” (Thief is unknown)
2. When the Doer Is Unimportant

Used when the completed action matters far more than the person doing it.

“The streets are cleaned every morning.”
3. When the Doer Is Obvious

Used when everyone already understands who performs the action.

“The suspect was arrested.” (Clearly by police)
4. To Emphasize the Receiver

Places the most important piece of information right at the beginning.

“The ancient manuscript was discovered in a small village.”
5. Scientific & Technical Writing

Keeps the focus entirely on objective processes and results rather than researchers.

“The samples were stored at a low temperature.”
6. Formal or Official Documents

Ideal for outlining official procedures, guidelines, or regulations objectively.

“All applications must be submitted before the deadline.”

When Is the Active Voice Better?

While the passive voice has important uses, the active voice is generally preferred when you want your sentence to be:

✔ Direct ✔ Concise ✔ Energetic ✔ Easy to Understand ✔ Clear About Responsibility

Compare these pairs to see how active voice creates stronger, more immediate statements:

Passive: The mistake was discovered by the accountant.
Active: The accountant discovered the mistake. (Shorter & directly identifies who acted)
Passive: The decision was made by the committee.
Active: The committee made the decision.

Note: Neither sentence in these pairs is grammatically incorrect. The ideal choice depends entirely on what you want the reader to focus on!

Passive Voice Does Not Mean Bad Writing

Common Misconception:

One common misconception is that passive voice always equates to poor writing. That is simply not true. A passive sentence only becomes problematic when used unnecessarily, repeatedly, or when it obscures meaning.

Consider this natural passive sentence:

Natural Passive: “The patient was taken to the hospital.”

Here, the focus is rightfully on the patient and what happened to them. Changing this sentence to active voice—“The ambulance drivers took the patient to the hospital”—is only useful if the drivers themselves are important to your story. Otherwise, the passive version is clearly the better choice. Good writers use both voices intentionally according to purpose.

When Should You Avoid the Passive Voice?

Avoid unnecessary passive constructions when they hide critical responsibility or make a sentence needlessly complicated.

Passive: A decision was made to postpone the meeting.
Active: The committee decided to postpone the meeting. (Provides clear responsibility)
Vague Passive: The report was reviewed and changes were recommended. (Leaves reader wondering who reviewed it)
Clear Active: The legal team reviewed the report and recommended several changes.
Writing Strategy: The goal is not to eliminate every passive sentence from your writing. The goal is to choose whichever voice communicates your intended meaning most effectively.

What Is an Agent in a Passive Sentence?

The agent is the person, group, or thing that actually performs the action in a passive sentence. In passive constructions, the agent is introduced using the preposition by.

For example, in “The painting was created by the artist,” the phrase the artist is the agent.

Examples of Agents in Passive Sentences

Passive Sentence Agent (The Doer)
The letter was written by Maria. Maria
The bridge was designed by engineers. engineers
The window was broken by the ball. the ball
The decision was announced by the manager. the manager

When Should You Omit the Agent?

An agent does not have to appear for a passive sentence to be complete. For instance, “The window was broken” is a perfectly valid sentence.

You can omit the agent when:

  • You do not know who performed the action.
  • The identity of the doer is obvious.
  • The identity of the doer is not important.
  • Mentioning the agent would distract from the main point.
  • You deliberately want to focus on the result rather than the doer.

Compare how removing an unnecessary agent improves clarity:

Concise: “The computer was stolen.”
Redundant: “The computer was stolen by an unknown person.” (Adds no useful information)

✨ Quick Challenge

In which of the following scenarios is it best to omit the agent from a passive sentence? Tap your answer.

See the full answer

Answer: Reporting a criminal arrest: “The suspect was arrested late last night.”

The agent (by the police) is completely obvious from the context of an arrest. Omitting redundant agents keeps passive sentences concise, direct, and focused on the outcome.

Passive Sentences With Two Objects

Some active sentences contain both a direct object and an indirect object. When transforming these into passive sentences, you can create two distinct passive constructions.

Active: The teacher gave the student a certificate.
Passive 1 (Indirect Object Focus): The student was given a certificate by the teacher.
Passive 2 (Direct Object Focus): A certificate was given to the student by the teacher.

The first version (focusing on the person/recipient) usually sounds more natural in spoken and written English.

Examples of Two-Object Passive Conversions

Active Sentence Passive Version 1 Passive Version 2
The manager gave Sara a promotion. Sara was given a promotion. A promotion was given to Sara.
They sent us an invitation. We were sent an invitation. An invitation was sent to us.
The company offered him a job. He was offered a job. A job was offered to him.
Grammar Note: Not every verb taking two objects behaves identically. Always test the passive output to ensure it sounds natural in context!

Passive Sentences With Questions

Passive voice can be used to construct both Yes/No and WH-questions, as well as questions inquiring about the agent:

Yes/No Questions
  • Was the report completed?
  • Were the documents signed?
  • Has the package been delivered?
WH-Questions
  • When was the building constructed?
  • Why was the meeting canceled?
  • Where was the painting discovered?

Questions About the Agent

When asking who performed the action, English allows two forms depending on register:

Everyday English: “Who was the letter written by?”
Formal English: “By whom was the letter written?”

The formal version is grammatically precise but often feels stiff in casual conversation.

Negative Passive Sentences

In negative passive constructions, the word not is placed directly after the auxiliary verb.

Formula: Subject + auxiliary + not + past participle

For example: The application + was + not + approved.

  • The door was not locked.
  • The report was not completed.
  • The documents have not been signed.
  • The package will not be delivered today.
  • The road is not being repaired.

Passive Sentences With Infinitives

Passive structures frequently occur with infinitives following the structure to be + past participle.

  • The work needs to be completed.
  • The machine needs to be repaired.
  • The forms are ready to be submitted.
  • The problem is difficult to be solved.

Some infinitive-passive constructions sound more natural than others. If a simpler active or descriptive alternative is available, English speakers generally prefer it.

Passive Sentences With Reporting Verbs

In formal and journalistic writing, passive constructions are paired with reporting verbs such as say, believe, expect, report, consider, and know to present information objectively without naming specific sources in the primary clause.

  • The company is expected to announce the results soon.
  • The building is believed to be more than a century old.
  • The scientist is reported to have discovered a new method.
  • The plan is considered to be practical.

Can an Intransitive Verb Be Made Passive?

Usually, no. A standard passive construction requires a direct object in the active sentence, because that object must “become” the new subject of the passive sentence.

Active: The mechanic repaired the car. (Object: “the car”)
Passive: The car was repaired by the mechanic. (Valid)

However, intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take a direct object) cannot be converted:

Active: The baby slept. (No object)
❌ Incorrect: The bed was slept by the baby.

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

Verb Type Has Direct Object? Normal Passive Possible?
Transitive Yes Yes
Intransitive No No

• Transitive examples: build, write, repair, clean, open, invite.
• Intransitive examples: arrive, sleep, laugh, disappear, occur.

Passive Sentence vs. Adjective

Not every structure using be + past participle is a passive verb; sometimes, it describes a state rather than an action.

Action (Passive): The door was closed by the guard. (Focus on who performed the action)
State (Adjective): The door was closed all day. (Focus on the condition of the door)
Quick Test: Ask yourself: “Is this sentence describing an action performed on something, or is it merely describing a condition or state?” Context is your best guide.

Common Mistakes With Passive Sentences

Mistake 1: Wrong Form of “Be”
❌ The car repaired yesterday.
✅ The car was repaired yesterday.
Mistake 2: Incorrect Participle
❌ The letter was wrote by Sara.
✅ The letter was written by Sara.
Mistake 3: Missing “Being” in Continuous
❌ The road is repaired now.
✅ The road is being repaired now.
Mistake 4: Unnecessary “By” Agent
❌ The thief was arrested by the police officers who arrested the thief.
✅ The thief was arrested.
Mistake 5: Passivizing Intransitive Verbs
❌ The accident was occurred yesterday.
✅ The accident occurred yesterday.
Mistake 6: Changing the Tense
❌ The company launched the product. (Active) → The product is launched by the company. (Passive)
✅ The product will be launched by the company. (Keep tense consistent)
Mistake 7: Subject-Verb Agreement
❌ The documents was signed.
✅ The documents were signed.

Passive Voice Quick Reference Chart

Active Pattern Passive Pattern
Subject + verb + objectObject + be + past participle
Subject + is/are + verb-ing + objectObject + is/are + being + past participle
Subject + has/have + past participle + objectObject + has/have + been + past participle
Subject + was/were + verb-ing + objectObject + was/were + being + past participle
Subject + had + past participle + objectObject + had + been + past participle
Subject + will + verb + objectObject + will + be + past participle
Subject + modal + verb + objectObject + modal + be + past participle

Passive Sentence Examples in Everyday English

The passive voice is highly functional when you need to highlight the action itself rather than the person performing it. Here is how it appears across different settings:

At Home
  • The dishes were washed after dinner.
  • The windows are cleaned every month.
  • The door was left open.
At School
  • The homework was collected by the teacher.
  • The test papers were distributed.
  • The results will be announced tomorrow.
At Work
  • The report has been completed.
  • The meeting was postponed.
  • The documents must be signed.
News & Science
  • Several roads were closed after the storm.
  • The samples were stored at a low temperature.
  • The results were compared with previous data.

Active or Passive? A Quick Decision Guide

When choosing between voices, ask these four questions to ensure your writing remains clear and effective:

1. What is more important—the doer or the receiver?
If the doer matters: The engineer designed the bridge.
If the result matters: The bridge was designed in 2025.
2. Do I know who performed the action?
If not, the passive is the natural choice: “My documents were stolen.”
3. Would naming the doer make the sentence clearer?
If yes: Use active (The security team discovered the problem).
If no: Use passive (The problem was discovered during inspection).

Passive Sentence Practice

Exercise 1: Change Active Sentences to Passive

  1. The chef prepared the dinner.
  2. The workers repaired the road.
  3. The company will publish the report.
  4. The students have completed the assignment.
  5. The storm damaged several buildings.
  6. The manager approved the request.
  7. The police arrested the suspect.
  8. The technician is repairing the printer.
  9. The committee had rejected the proposal.
  10. The school will announce the results tomorrow.

Exercise 2: Identify the Voice

SentenceAnswer
The dog chased the cat.Active
The cat was chased by the dog.Passive
The letter was delivered this morning.Passive
Maria opened the window.Active
The windows are cleaned every week.Passive
The students completed the project.Active
The project has been completed.Passive
Someone damaged the fence.Active
The fence was damaged during the night.Passive
The company will release the product next month.Active

Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

  1. The house was build last year. → The house was built last year.
  2. The documents is being checked. → The documents are being checked.
  3. The letter was wrote by Ali. → The letter was written by Ali.
  4. The road is repair at the moment. → The road is being repaired at the moment.
  5. The results will announced tomorrow. → The results will be announced tomorrow.
  6. The package has delivered. → The package has been delivered.
  7. The accident was occurred yesterday. → The accident occurred yesterday.
  8. The books was placed on the table. → The books were placed on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions About Passive Sentences

What is a passive sentence?
A passive sentence is a sentence in which the grammatical subject receives the action rather than performing it. It commonly uses a form of the auxiliary verb be followed by a past participle.
What is the formula for a passive sentence?
The basic formula is:
Subject + form of be + past participle + optional agent
Example: The car was repaired by the mechanic.
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
The distinction centers on subject focus:
Active Voice: Subject performs the action → The mechanic repaired the car.
Passive Voice: Receiver of action becomes subject → The car was repaired by the mechanic.
Does every passive sentence use “by”?
No. The agent (introduced by by) can be omitted whenever it is unknown, obvious, unimportant, or irrelevant.
“The window was broken.” (This is a complete, fully valid passive sentence.)
What tense is used in a passive sentence?
Passive sentences can be formed in almost every English tense. The form of be changes according to the desired tense, while the main verb always remains in its past participle form.
Can all verbs be used in the passive voice?
No. A standard passive construction requires a suitable transitive verb with a direct object that can shift into the subject position. Intransitive verbs (like sleep, arrive, happen) generally cannot be made passive.
Is passive voice grammatically wrong?
No. Passive voice is a completely standard and useful part of English grammar. It becomes problematic only when used unnecessarily, excessively, or when it obscures clear meaning.
Why do writers use passive sentences?
Writers intentionally choose passive voice when the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant, when the outcome or result matters more than the actor, or when maintaining a formal, scientific, or objective tone.
How do I convert an active sentence into a passive sentence?
First, identify the direct object of the active sentence. Move it into the subject position, select the appropriate tense form of be, convert the main verb into its past participle, and attach the original subject using by if that detail is important to include.
What is the passive voice of “They cleaned the room”?
The full passive version is:
“The room was cleaned by them.”

However, if the specific identity of the cleaners is unimportant, the cleaner and more natural phrasing is simply: “The room was cleaned.”

Passive Voice Sentences (Structure & Examples)

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