Passive Voice
The passive voice shifts focus from the doer to the action or the receiver, and it appears in two main forms: the by-phrase passive and the more neutral agentless passive.
By-Phrase Passive
The by-phrase passive uses a form of to be plus the past participle, and optionally adds by + agent to name who did the action. It works well when the doer matters.
Formation
To form the passive voice, use the appropriate tense of to be + past participle, and add by + agent if needed.
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 📝 The artist was praised by the critics. | The artist received praise from the critics. |
| 📸 The photo was shared by thousands. | Thousands shared the photo. |
| 🎨 The mural was admired by the passersby. | Passersby admired the mural. |
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Usage
Use the passive voice to highlight the action or recipient, to hide the agent, or to sound more formal and objective.
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 📰 The story was written by a well-known reporter. | A well-known reporter wrote the story. |
| 🎤 The speech was recorded by several journalists. | Several journalists recorded the speech. |
| 🗺️ The event was promoted by local influencers. | Local influencers promoted the event. |
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Agentless Passive
The agentless passive leaves out the doer, focusing solely on the action or result; it is common in reports, signs, and when the agent is irrelevant or unknown.
Formation
Form the agentless passive the same way: to be + past participle; simply omit the by-phrase.
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🖼️ The gallery was filled with colorful works. | Colorful works filled the gallery. |
| 🚧 The street was decorated with banners. | Banners decorated the street. |
| 💡 The idea was accepted enthusiastically. | People accepted the idea enthusiastically. |
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Usage
Use the agentless passive for general truths, instructions, and when the agent adds no value.
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌧️ The outdoor concert was canceled. | Someone canceled the concert (unknown or unimportant). |
| 🔒 The venue was closed for renovations. | The venue closed temporarily (agent not specified). |
| ⚠️ The warning was issued to all attendees. | Attendees received a warning notice. |
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Get Passive
The get passive uses get + past participle to sound more informal and to emphasize that something happened to someone; it often appears in spoken English.
Formation
Form the get passive with get in the appropriate tense + past participle; you can also add an agent with by if desired.
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ She got tickets to the sold-out show. | She received tickets to the show. |
| 🐕 He got his dog photographed at the event. | His dog was photographed at the event. |
| 📬 They got invited to the gallery opening. | They received invitations to the opening. |
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Usage
Use the get passive for real-life events, news, and when you want a more vivid or personal tone.
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🛎️ I got asked to help with the setup. | Someone asked me to help. |
| 📸 She got photographed while speaking on stage. | She was photographed during her speech. |
| 🧹 They got hired to clean up after the event. | They were hired for the cleanup. |
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Differences Between Get and Be Passive
The be passive is neutral and widely used in writing, while the get passive is more casual and dynamic; choosing between them depends on tone and emphasis.
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Summary
The passive voice turns attention to the action or recipient: use the by-phrase passive when the agent matters, the agentless passive for neutrality or irrelevance of the doer, and the get passive for informal, vivid situations.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025