Build the passive from am, is, are, was or were plus a past participle: the bins are emptied every week, the bins were emptied on Monday. Say I was born, and add by to name whoever did the action.
A Active and passive
Somebody cleans the office every day. That is active.
The office is cleaned every day. That is passive: the office is the subject, and who cleans it does not matter.
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| Somebody cleans the office every day. | The office is cleaned every day. |
| Somebody cleaned the office yesterday. | The office was cleaned yesterday. |
- The office is cleaned every day.
- The office was cleaned yesterday.
B am, is, are, was, were + past participle
| Present simple | Past simple |
|---|---|
| am, is, are (not) + cleaned, done, made | was, were (not) + cleaned, built, invented |
The past participle of regular verbs ends in -ed. For irregular ones (done, built, taken), see Appendices 2 and 3.
- Cheese is made from milk.
- Bananas are imported into Britain.
- How often are these rooms cleaned?
- I'm never invited to parties.
- This house was built a hundred years ago.
- These houses were built a hundred years ago.
- When was the telephone invented?
- We weren't invited to the barbecue last week.
- "Was anyone injured in the fire?" "Yes, three people were treated in hospital."
C was born, were born
We say I was born, not I am born.
- I was born in Sheffield in 1992. (not I am born)
- Where were you born?
D Passive + by
Use by to say who or what did it.
- We were kept awake by the neighbours' party. (the party kept us awake)
- The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
- My sister was stung by a wasp on Sunday.
Exercises
21.1 Write sentences from the words in brackets. Sentences 1 to 7 are present; 8 to 15 are past.
(the office / clean / every day)
The office is cleaned every day.
The office is cleaned every day.
(these rooms / clean / every day?)
Are these rooms cleaned every day?
Are these rooms cleaned every day?
(glass / make / from sand)
Glass is made from sand.
(stamps / sell / in a post office)
Stamps are sold in a post office.
(this room / not / use / very often)
This room isn't used very often.
(we / allow / to park here?)
Are we allowed to park here?
(how / this word / pronounce?)
How is this word pronounced?
(the office / clean / yesterday)
The office was cleaned yesterday.
The office was cleaned yesterday.
(the house / paint / last month)
The house was painted last month.
(three people / injure / in the crash)
Three people were injured in the crash.
(my bike / steal / a few days ago)
My bike was stolen a few days ago.
(when / this bridge / build?)
When was this bridge built?
(you / ask / to the meeting yesterday?)
Were you asked to the meeting yesterday?
(how / these windows / break?)
How were these windows broken?
(we / not / tell / about the change)
We weren't told about the change.
21.2 Correct these sentences.
This house built a hundred years ago.
This house was built a hundred years ago.
This house was built a hundred years ago.
Cricket plays in a lot of countries.
Cricket is played in a lot of countries.
Why did the parcel send to the wrong address?
Why was the parcel sent to the wrong address?
A bakery is somewhere bread bakes and sells.
A bakery is somewhere bread is baked and sold.
Where are you born?
Where were you born?
What currency is using in Denmark?
What currency is used in Denmark?
Thieves got into the shed, but luckily nothing taken.
Thieves got into the shed, but luckily nothing was taken.
When was invented the bicycle?
When was the bicycle invented?
21.3 Complete the sentences with the passive (present or past) of these verbs: clean, damage, find, give, invite, make, make, show, steal, take.
cleandamagefindgiveinvitemakemakeshowstealtake
The room is cleaned every day.
The room is cleaned every day.
There was a crash on the motorway. Three drivers to hospital.
There was a crash on the motorway. Three drivers were taken to hospital.
Paper from wood.
Paper is made from wood.
The school flooded on Tuesday. Four classrooms .
The school flooded on Tuesday. Four classrooms were damaged.
"Where did you get this painting?" "It to me by a friend."
"Where did you get this painting?" "It was given to me by a friend."
Lots of American programmes on British television.
Lots of American programmes are shown on British television.
"Did your neighbours come to the barbecue?" "No. They , but they were away."
"Did your neighbours come to the barbecue?" "No. They were invited, but they were away."
"How old is this film?" "It in 1965."
"How old is this film?" "It was made in 1965."
Our bikes from the shed on Friday, but on Sunday they in a park.
Our bikes were stolen from the shed on Friday, but on Sunday they were found in a park.
21.4 Where were they born? Write sentences.
(Ian / Edinburgh)
Ian was born in Edinburgh.
Ian was born in Edinburgh.
(Sally / Birmingham)
Sally was born in Birmingham.
(her parents / Ireland)
Her parents were born in Ireland.
(Rhys / Swansea)
Rhys was born in Swansea.
(my grandparents / Jamaica)
My grandparents were born in Jamaica.