28b. Passive voice

28bTo write a verb in the passive voice, use a form of be with the past participle.

When a sentence is written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action instead of doing it. (See 47c.)

The solution was measured by the lab assistant.

Melissa was taken to the theater.

To form the passive voice, use a form of be—am, is, are, was, were, being, be, or been—followed by the past participle of the main verb: was chosen, are remembered. (Sometimes a form of be follows another helping verb: will be considered, could have been broken.)

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In the passive voice, the past participle written, not the present participle writing, must follow was (the past tense of be).

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The past participle tested, not the base form test, must be used with is being to form the passive voice.

For details on forming the passive in various tenses, consult the following chart. (The active voice is generally stronger and more direct than the passive voice. The passive voice does have appropriate uses; see 8a and 47c.)

note: Only transitive verbs, those that take direct objects, may be used in the passive voice. Intransitive verbs such as occur, happen, sleep, die, become, and fall are not used in the passive. (See 47b.)

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Verb tenses commonly used in the passive voice

For details about verb tenses in the active voice, see 28a.

Simple tenses (passive voice)

Simple present am, is, are + past participle
  • general facts
 Breakfast is served daily.
  • habitual, repetitive actions
 The receipts are counted every night.
Simple past was, were + past participle
  • completed past actions
 He was punished for being late.
Simple future will be + past participle
  • future actions, promises, or predictions
 The decision will be made by the committee next week.

Simple progressive forms (passive voice)

Present progressive am, is, are + being + past participle
  • actions in progress at the present time
 The new stadium is being built with private money.
  • future actions (with leave, go, come, move, etc.)
 Jo is being moved to a new class next month.
Past progressive was, were + being + past participle
  • actions in progress at a specific time in the past
 We thought we were being followed.

Perfect tenses (passive voice)

Present perfect has, have + been + past participle
  • actions that began in the past and continue to the present
 The flight has been delayed because of storms in the Midwest.
  • actions that happened at an unknown or un-specific time in the past
 Wars have been fought throughout history.
Past perfect had + been + past participle
  • actions that began or occurred before another time in the past
 He had been given all the hints he needed to complete the puzzle.

note: Future progressive, future perfect, and perfect progressive forms are not used in the passive voice.