Passive Voice

The passive voice is used when the action or result is more important than the doer. The subject of the sentence receives the action. In many contexts, speakers choose passive voice for style, especially in formal, objective, or impersonal writing. The passive is often possible, but it is not always the only correct choice.

The passive is formed with be and a past participle. The tense is shown by the form of be, and the past participle stays the same. Only transitive verbs, which can take an object, usually make a normal passive sentence.

To change an active sentence into a passive sentence, move the object of the active sentence into the subject position. Then use the correct form of be and the past participle. The original subject can be added later with by if it is needed.

The agent is the doer of the action. In passive sentences, it can be introduced with by, but it is often omitted when the doer is unknown, obvious, or not important. In some styles, especially formal writing, leaving out the agent helps keep the focus on the action or result.

Passive voice is used in many common tenses. The tense changes in be, and the main verb stays in the past participle form. Some tenses are more common in the passive than others, depending on style and context.

Passive voice can also be used with modal verbs. The pattern is modal plus be plus past participle. It is also possible after some reporting or planning structures with an infinitive, using to be plus past participle.

You can now recognize passive voice, form it with be and a past participle, and change active sentences into passive ones. You can decide whether to include the agent with by or leave it out. You can also use passive forms in common tenses, with modal verbs, and with infinitives when the action matters more than the doer.