Use the passive (be + past participle) to say what happens to the subject rather than what the subject does. This unit covers the present simple passive (is done) and the past simple passive (was done).
A Active and passive
This bridge was built in 1932. The verb was built is passive.
Compare:
| Sentence | Subject | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Somebody built this bridge in 1932. | somebody (the builder) | built (active) |
| This bridge was built in 1932. | this bridge (the thing built) | was built (passive) |
With an active verb, we say what the subject does.
With a passive verb, we say what happens to the subject.
- My great-grandad was an engineer. He designed this bridge.
- It's a big hospital. It employs three thousand people.
- "How old is this bridge?" "It was built in 1932."
- Three thousand people are employed by the hospital.
B Who did it? Often unknown, often unimportant
When we use the passive, who or what causes the action is often unknown or does not matter.
If we do want to say who or what causes the action, we use by.
- Two bikes were stolen from outside the library. (somebody stole them, but we do not know who)
- Are the windows cleaned every month? (it does not matter who cleans them)
- This bridge was designed by my great-grandad.
- Three thousand people are employed by the hospital.
C The form: be + past participle
The passive is be (is/was and so on) + past participle (done, cleaned, seen and so on).
The past participle often ends in -ed (cleaned, damaged), but many common verbs are irregular (built, done, stolen). The irregular ones are, regrettably, the ones people use most.
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | Somebody cleans this office every day. | This office is cleaned every day. (am/is/are + participle) |
| Past simple | Somebody cleaned this office yesterday. | This office was cleaned yesterday. (was/were + participle) |
- A lot of injuries are caused by falls at home.
- I'm not asked for my opinion very often.
- How is "Worcester" pronounced?
- We were kept awake by the neighbours' party.
- "Did you go to the reunion?" "No, I wasn't invited."
- How many people were hurt in the crash?
Exercises
42.1 Complete the sentences. Use these verbs in the correct form, present or past passive. Each verb is used once.
causedamagedelivergrowholdinjureinvitemakeovertakeownshowsurround
A lot of house fires are caused by cigarettes.
A lot of house fires are caused by cigarettes.
Paper from wood.
Paper is made from wood.
Several cars when a tree came down in the storm last night.
Several cars were damaged when a tree came down in the storm last night.
A gallery is a place where paintings .
A gallery is a place where paintings are shown.
You to Leanne's wedding. Why didn't you go?
You were invited to Leanne's wedding. Why didn't you go?
Tea in India and Sri Lanka, among other places.
Tea is grown in India and Sri Lanka, among other places.
I was only cycling at ten miles an hour, so I by everybody.
I was only cycling at ten miles an hour, so I was overtaken by everybody.
The village show every July.
The village show is held every July.
Two people in the fire, but fortunately nobody was killed.
Two people were injured in the fire, but fortunately nobody was killed.
The castle stands on an island. It by water.
The castle stands on an island. It is surrounded by water.
My parcel never arrived. It to the wrong house.
My parcel never arrived. It was delivered to the wrong house.
The pub on the corner by a big brewery.
The pub on the corner is owned by a big brewery.
42.2 Write questions using the passive. Some are present and some are past.
Ask about chocolate. (how / make?)
How is chocolate made?
How is chocolate made?
Ask about the telephone. (when / invent?)
When was the telephone invented?
Ask about rainbows. (how / form?)
How are rainbows formed?
Ask about penicillin. (when / discover?)
When was penicillin discovered?
Ask about copper. (what / use for?)
What is copper used for?
42.3 The sentences come in pairs (1a and 1b, 2a and 2b, and so on). Put the verb into the correct form, present or past, active or passive.
1a Three hundred staff are employed (employ) at the factory.
Three hundred staff are employed at the factory.
1b The factory employs (employ) three hundred staff.
The factory employs three hundred staff.
2a Snow (cover) the hills for most of the winter.
Snow covers the hills for most of the winter.
2b How much of the country (cover) by forest?
How much of the country is covered by forest?
3a While I was in Spain, my wallet (steal) from my bag.
While I was in Spain, my wallet was stolen from my bag.
3b While I was in Spain, my wallet (disappear) from my bag.
While I was in Spain, my wallet disappeared from my bag.
4a Amira's grandad (die) when she was a baby.
Amira's grandad died when she was a baby.
4b Amira and her brother (bring up) by their aunt.
Amira and her brother were brought up by their aunt.
5a The ferry caught fire and (sink) within minutes.
The ferry caught fire and sank within minutes.
5b Luckily, all the passengers (rescue).
Luckily, all the passengers were rescued.
6a Liam (sack) from the call centre. He kept putting the phone down on customers.
Liam was sacked from the call centre. He kept putting the phone down on customers.
6b Jodie (resign) from the call centre because she found it too stressful.
Jodie resigned from the call centre because she found it too stressful.
7a Our flat is right above a nightclub, but the noise (not / bother) me.
Our flat is right above a nightclub, but the noise doesn't bother me.
7b Our flat is right above a nightclub, but I (not / bother) by the noise.
Our flat is right above a nightclub, but I'm not bothered by the noise.
8a Kemal had an accident. He (knock) off his scooter by a van.
Kemal had an accident. He was knocked off his scooter by a van.
8b Kemal had an accident. He (fall) off his scooter.
Kemal had an accident. He fell off his scooter.
9a I've never tasted this fruit before. What (it / call)?
I've never tasted this fruit before. What is it called?
9b I've never tasted this fruit before. What (you / call) it?
I've never tasted this fruit before. What do you call it?
42.4 Instead of using somebody, they, people and so on, write a passive sentence. Begin with the words in brackets.
Somebody empties the bins every Tuesday. (The bins ...)
The bins are emptied every Tuesday.
The bins are emptied every Tuesday.
They closed the motorway because of an accident. (The motorway ...)
The motorway was closed because of an accident.
Somebody blamed me for the mistake. (I ...)
I was blamed for the mistake.
How do you spell your surname? (How ...)
How is your surname spelt?
The price includes breakfast. (Breakfast ...)
Breakfast is included in the price.
People told us not to swim in the river. (We ...)
We were told not to swim in the river.
We don't use this room any more. (This room ...)
This room isn't used any more.
They invited two hundred guests to the party. (Two hundred guests ...)
Two hundred guests were invited to the party.