M1-b: Passive voice
When a sentence is written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action instead of doing it. (See B1-c.)
The solution was measured by the lab assistant.
Melissa was taken to the theater.
The picnic has been rescheduled twice because of rain.
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.)
In the passive voice, the past participle written, not the present participle writing, must follow was (the past tense of be).
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 voice in various tenses, consult the chart below. (The active voice is generally stronger and more direct than the passive. The passive voice does have appropriate uses; see W3-a and B2-b.)
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 B2-b.)
Verb tenses commonly used in the passive voice
For details about verb tenses in the active voice, see the chart in M1-a.
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 unspecific 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.