Grammar Reference

 

10.1 ■ The passive

The passive is formed with be + past participle of the main verb.

We use the passive:

• when we are more interested in the action than in the person or thing that performs the action.
  English is spoken by over 1.8 billion people around the world.
  America was discovered in 1492.
• when we don't know who performs the action, or when it is clear from the context who performs the action.
  These cars are made in Japan.
  My camera was stolen.

When we want to say who performs an action in a passive sentence, we use the preposition by.

active: John Logie Baird invented the television.

passive: The television was invented by John Logie Baird.

Passive verbs have the same tenses as active verbs, and the rules for tense usage are the same.

Present simple passive

present simple of be + past participle

Affirmative
This bag is made of real leather.
The children are paid very little.
Negative
The boy isn't paid a good wage.
The clothes aren't sold directly to shops.
Questions and short answers
Is this bag made of leather?
		Yes, it is. No, it isn't.
Are lemons grown in Greece?
		Yes, they are. No, they aren't.

The present simple passive is often used to describe a general process.

The clothes are washed and ironed. Then they are hung up in the shop.

Past simple passive

past simple of be + past participle

Affirmative
A lot of money was donated.
The clothes were made in China.
Negative
The price wasn't reduced.
We weren't given anything to eat.
Questions and short answers
Was all the money donated?
		Yes, it was. No, it wasn't.
Were the clothes washed?
		Yes, they were. No, they weren't.

We use the past simple passive to talk about specific actions.

On Thursday, the clothes were washed and ironed.

Note that some verbs in English, such as give, send and tell, can have two objects. Usually the first object is a person and the second is a thing.

John gave Mary some flowers.

They sent me a long letter.

Elsa told the children a story.

In the passive, we often make the person subject of the sentence, not the thing.

Mary was given some flowers.

I was sent a long letter.

The children were told a story.

10.2 ■ Present perfect passive

present perfect of be + past participle

Affirmative
A petition has been signed.
Comments have been posted.
Negative
The mine hasn't been closed.
The clothes haven't been worn.
Questions and short answers
Has the tag been removed?
		Yes, it has. No, it hasn't.
Have the coats been hung up?
		Yes, they have. No, they haven't.

10.3 ■ Future passive

will + be + past participle

Affirmative
The clothes will be cleaned tomorrow.
Negative
The environment won't be protected.
Questions and short answers
Will the clothes be sold here?
		Yes, they will. No, they won't.