Active and passive voice

Level: beginner

Transitive verbs have both active and passive forms:

Active	Passive
The hunter killed* the lion.*	The lion was killed* by the hunter.*
Someone has cleaned* the windows.*	The windows have been cleaned.

Passive forms are made up of the verb be with a past participle:

Subject	be	Past participle	Adverbial
English	is	*spoken*	all over the world.
The windows	*have been*	*cleaned*.
Lunch	*was being*	*served*.
The work	*will be*	*finished*	soon.
They	*might have been*	*invited*	to the party.

If we want to show the person or thing doing the action, we use by:

She was attacked by a dangerous dog.
The money was stolen by her husband.

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Level: intermediate

The passive infinitive is made up of to be with a past participle:

The doors are going to be locked at ten o'clock.
You shouldn't have done that. You ought to be punished.

We sometimes use the verb get with a past participle to form the passive:

Be careful with that glass. It might get broken.
Peter got hurt in a crash.

We can use the indirect object as the subject of a passive verb:

Active	Passive
I gave him* a book for his birthday.*	He was given a book for his birthday.
Someone sent her* a cheque for a thousand euros.*	She was sent a cheque for a thousand euros.

We can use phrasal verbs in the passive:

Active	Passive
They called off* the meeting.*	The meeting was called off.
His grandmother looked after* him.*	He was looked after* by his grandmother.*
They will send* him away to school.*	He will be sent* away to school.*

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Level: advanced

Some verbs which are very frequently used in the passive are followed by the to-infinitive:

be supposed to	be expected to	be asked to	be told to
be scheduled to	be allowed to	be invited to	be ordered to

John has been asked to make a speech at the meeting.
You are supposed to wear a uniform.
The meeting is scheduled to start at seven.

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Average

Is it grammatically correct to say: (I know who is going to be our new head of department but I've been asked not to tell anyone.) instead of (I know who our new head of department is going to be but I've been asked not to tell anyone).

Hello mousab7

Yes, that is correct, though if I were writing this, I would choose the second option over the first one.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi, Is there any refrence to show how each tense of verbs change in passive form

Hello parisaach

The passive is essentially formed of two parts: 1) the verb 'be' (used as an auxiliary verb) and 2) the past participle of the verb. It's only 1 that changes for tense or subject, so that means you could just list out all the forms of 'be' in the different tenses and then add 2 to the end to get a list.

For example, following the order of the tenses on the present tense page: it is written, it is being written, it has been written, it has been being written. The past tense page: it was written, it was being written, it had been written, it had been being written. Then there are also forms with 'will' and 'would': it will be written, it will be being written, it will have been written, it will have been being written, it would be written, it would be being written, it would have been written and it would have been being written.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi, "The cleaner has cleaned the office" --> active voice. But is "the office has been cleaned" the correct passive, or "the office has been cleaned by the cleaner". Is there a rule regrading "the cleaner"??

Hello Cleo

In the passive sentence, you can include the agent ('the cleaner') by using the word 'by': 'The office has been cleaned by the cleaner'. There is nothing wrong with this, but often we use the passive voice because we consider the agent (in this case, the cleaner) irrelevant or something that we don't want to discuss. So in many cases, people would probably leave out the agent.

But the passive can be used for other reasons, too, and in these cases people might choose to include the agent.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

"Will they not work in the banks regularly?" How to change the voice?

Hello Nidhi

Perhaps 'Will the banks not be worked in regularly?'?

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

hi i have a few questions. they dont help you (how many ways are there to make this sentence passive?) you wont be helped you are not helped you dont get helped you are not getting helped if any of these is wrong i would like to know why exactly.

Hello miladghasemiofficial

Those are all correct, except for being misspelled (won't, don't). 'they don't help you' is in the present simple, so the closest version in the passive would also be in the present simple -- the second and third versions you give are in the present simple.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

"has your letter of discharge been given to you ?" sorry

hello. i understand that the passive form of "has the doctor given you your letter of discharge ?" become "have your letter of discharge been given to you ? but i have red these following sentence in a book and i'm lost now: "Have you been given your letter of discharge ?" is it possible to use passive voice like that ? thx.

Hello rom162, This is an example of a sentence with two objects - direct and indirect - and two passive forms are possible. Take a look at this example: > She gave the ball to John. We can use the direct object ('the ball') and make a passive sentence like this: > The ball was given to John (by her). Or we can use the indirect object ('John'): > John was given the ball (by her). ~ Your example works the same way: > Has the doctor given you your letter of discharge? > Has your letter of discharge been given to you (by the doctor)? > Have you been given your letter of discharge (by the doctor)? ~ Peter The LearnEnglish Team

thank you for your answer !

n the examples you show none of them is with the present perfect continuous. So, is it incorrect to use the passive voice of the present perfect continuous? Or is it correct but not used? I can’t find this on any of the books that I have. I really would like to know. Thanks!

Hello again Aglae Please see my reply to your comment above. It can take us a day or two to reply and please note that our House Rules (https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/house-rules) prohibit flooding. It is not incorrect, but we generally avoid it. We don't provide examples of language that we wouldn't recommend people use. All the best Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

In the examples you show none of them is with the present perfect continuous. So, is it incorrect to use the passive voice of the present perfect continuous? Or is it correct but not used? I can’t find this on any of the books that I have. I really would like to know. Thanks!

Hello Aglae Using a present perfect continuous in the passive voice is grammatically correct, but people often avoid it for reasons of style. This is because, for example, 'The book has been being written' is a little difficult to process (especially 'been being') and so sounds awkward. All the best Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Hello. The lion was killed by the hunter. In this sentence: The lion: object. the hunter: subject. The act of killing has happened on the lion. Why do you say that the subject of a passive verb is 'The lion'?

Hello amirfd, In a passive sentence the grammatical subject is the thing which the action is done to. We can see this because the verb changes to agree with it: > The lion is killed by the hunter ['the lion' is singular so we have a singular verb ('is')] > The lions are killed by the hunter ['the lions' is plural so we have a plural verb ('are')] Verbs agree with their subjects, not their objects. Thus we can see that 'the lion' is the subject. ~ Peter The LearnEnglish Team

Is the passive of the sentence "He hopes that he can attain better grade", "It is hoped by him that he can attain better grade" correct? Or should it be as "It is hoped that better grade can be attained by him"? If the first (passive one) sentence is incorrect, I want to know the actual reason. I also want to know, if second one is correct, how is the second sentence correct as some of the information from the active one has lost e.g. It is not stated who is actually hoping, it could be he himself or could be his teacher or his parents or someone else. In response if it is said that it's ok to do so and the first one, in which second clause is not passive, is correct, furthermore I want to know if "by him" can be excluded. Please be kind.

Hello Shibasish, Both sentences are possible. You have two verb phrases in the sentence ('he hopes' and 'he can attain') and each can be passive. The 'by' phrase can be used with either or both of them: > It is hoped (by him) that a better grade can be attained (by him). ~ Whether the sentence represents good style is another question, of course. ~ Peter The LearnEnglish Team

Then, of course, I would very like to know which sentence will do the best that is which represents a good style. And why I was wondering about the question is because my textbook says that when I am asked to passive a sentence I have to do so to all of the clauses, of course if possible. So, I would very glad to learn about your opinion in this manner that is should I passive all the clauses or should I think of good style(which I want to be answered first)!!!

Hello Shibasish The appropriate style for language is dependent on the situation it's going to be used in, and for what purpose. So we can't really answer your question very well without knowing more about these two factors at the very least. But in general, most writers (as well as speakers) avoid the passive voice unless they want to shift the focus away from the subject for some reason. For example, a politician who doesn't consider herself responsible for a bad result could say 'mistakes were made' rather than 'my team made mistakes'. In the case you're talking about, I think the active is probably more appropriate. All the best Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

I'm not really sure the difference between "Would you like to be seated?" and "Would you like to take a seat?" What's the point to use passive voice in this case? Can anyone explain?? ( ⸝⸝•ᴗ•⸝⸝ )੭⁾⁾

Hello Rafaela1, The sentences contain different verbs, not only an active/passive difference. We generally use 'be seated' when we are given places according to a plan, such as at a wedding: 'The guests were seated with the family members on the left and friends on the right.' The phrase 'take a seat' simply means to sit down and is a polite way to say that someone does not have to stand. We might use this, for example, when someone visits our office. ~ Most often we would simply say 'Would you like to sit down?' ~ Peter The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you for your helpful explanation, Peter! Yes, I understood! Actually, I heard a waitress in a drama saying "Would you like to be seated?" for a reserved seat which was given places as you say. My question was solved! ﾟ☆,｡･:*:･ﾟ★o(´▽｀*)/♪Thanks♪＼(*´▽｀)oﾟ★,｡･:*:･☆ﾟ

Good Morning.I would like if there is difference among these phrases : 1) we are lost but we will have us told the way to get there 2) we are lost but we Will make us told the way to get there .3) we are lost but we Will have been told the way to get there. I Wish you all the best.

Hello rosario70, I'm afraid none of those sentences appear to make sense. The verb forms are confused but apart from that the phrase 'we tell us' (in various forms) suggests someone is giving themselves information, which is an odd concept. ~ Peter The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Sir This sentence is from a print out of BBC learning English / BBC world service 'He was being treated for depression when he won the lottery.' I think this a typing error ; 'lost' is the right word but not 'won' I am I correct? I am I right? Please let me know. Thank you. Best regards Lal

Hi Lal In the end, it of course depends on what they meant to say or whatever was true for that situation. Both 'won' and 'lost' are grammatically correct here, though we don't usually talk about 'losing' the lottery, as most people, however much they may hope to, don't really expect to win it. I'm not very familiar with the research on this, but several times I've read that people who win large amounts of money actually end up more depressed than they were before they had all the money. In any case, this sentence is about his state at the time he won. All the best Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Please help me clarify Which one is correct? Johnny is being interrupted because he has perpetrated heinous crime. Or Johnny is being interrogated because a heinous crime has been perpetrated by him.

Hello Akash Rathore, The verb in the first sentence should be 'interrogated' rather than 'interrupted', and both sentences should have 'a' before heinous. The choice between active and passive is really on of style as both are grammatically correct. In my view, the active version is much more likely and has a better style in most contexts. Peter The LearnEnglish Team

Thanks Peter

Dear The LearnEnglish Team Please help me. Which one is correct? 1. The car hasn't been sold by John yet. 2. The car hasn't been sold yet by John.

Hello thyngoc1985

When 'yet' is used as an adverb, it usually comes at the end of a sentence, so 1 is better.

Actually, unless it's important to mention that John is the one selling the car, it would be much more common to just say 'The car hasn't been sold yet'.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi there. What is the negative form of a passive voice sentence like: "The exercises have to be done." Is it, "The exercises don't have to be done"?

Hi AFS,

There are two possibilities:

The exercises don't have to be done.

The exercises have to be not done.

The first means there is no obligation – it's fine if they are not done.

The second, which is an unusual form but still quite correct means they must not be done. We would usually choose the form must not be rather than have to be not, but it is a correct form.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Sir, Please bear with me if my question looks long. I always ask very short questions, but this is to help my son with his exam preparation. This is the question on change of narration in one book : When they had assembled in front of him , he said ," When I asked you yesterday if you were happy with your lives, all of you said you were contented and did not need anything more. Yet, today I can see the sadness in your faces when you had to leave behind the riches you had gathered in my garden. If you were really happy with your lives, why did you gather the jewel fruits, and why are you so sad now? " The answer given in the book is : When they had assembled in front of him he said that when he asked them the previous day whether they were happy with their lives, all of them had said that they were contented and needed nothing more. He added that yet he could see that day the sadness in their faces when they had to leave behind the riches they had gathered in his garden. He further asked that if they were really happy with their lived why they had gathered the jewel fruits and why were so sad that then. I have few doubts about this answer : 1)For 'I asked you' : It should be he had asked them ... in place of he asked them. 2) for ' if you were happy ' : It should be whether they had been happy - in place of whether they were happy. 3) For ' you were contented ' : It should be they had been contented - in place of they were contented. 4) For ' if you were really happy ... ' : It should be whether they had been really happy - in place of whether they were really happy. Please share your view and bear with me if it is a long post.

Could you please help me? Scientists had ten students (move - moving) into a house with a garden. Are both of them correct? If so, Is there a difference in meaning? Thank you.

Hi Ahmed Imam,

Both are indeed possibly correct, though the second one is quite unusual. The first one is a causative structure -- follow the link to see more examples of this. The second could possibly be used to describe, for example, a stage in some kind of social science experiment, but again, this would be quite unusual and perhaps best expressed another way.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Dear LearnEnglish Team, I am confused with where to put the "by xxx" in the following sentences. 1. The circus boss pays money to the driver. A: Money is paid by the circus boss to the driver. B: Money is paid to the driver by the circus boss. 2. Helen's mum invites us to Helen's birthday party every year. A: We are invited to Helen's birthday party by Helen's mum every year. B. We are invited by Helen's mum to Helen's birthday party every year. What are the rules to follow in deciding its position? Many thanks, Siuyang

Hello Siuyang,

The most common position for the by-phrase is at the end of the sentence, so the most natural options would be as follows:

Money is paid to the driver by the circus boss.

We are invited to Helen's birthday party every year by Helen's mum.

Sometimes putting the by-phrase at the end separates it too far from the verb, and then we prefer to move it earlier. Thus the second sentence might also be:

We are invited to Helen's birthday party by Helen's mum every year.

It is possible to put the by-phrase in other positions, as in your examples, when we want to emphasise it for some reason. For example, if it were surprising or important for some reason that it is Helen's mum who invites us then we might say:

We are invited by Helen's mum to Helen's birthday party every year.

I hope that helps to clarify it for you.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello, Peter. Thanks very much for your very clear explanation. Cheers, Siuyang

When to use Passive Voice?

Hello Ataur Rahman,

You can find a summary of the uses of passive voice on these pages:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/passives

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/passive/passive

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Sir Thank you very much for giving me clear answer to my last question under active voice and passive voice. The sentence given below I have copied from a website. ' What is grown in these fields? The verb 'grown' is transitive or intransitive. I would like to know whether the above question is passive or not?. For example if I write: 1)'What is grown in these fields by farmers? Is it right to say:2) 'What do farmers grow in these fields? What I would like to know from you? Is the question one passive and the question two is the active voice of it? Please let me know. Thank you. Regards Lal

Hi Lal,

Many English verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively, and 'grow' is one of them -- this is what [I] or [T] or [I or T] means after each dictionary entry (follow the link to see what I mean).

Yes, in 1, 'grow' is transitive -- any verb in the passive must be transitive, as intransitive verbs aren't used in the passive voice. And yes, 2 is the closest version of 1 in the active voice.

Good work!

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

"What class does he read in?" - What is the passive voice of the active voice? Is it possible to transfer it into passive? Explain, please.

Hello Ataur Rahman,

Passive voice is only possible when we have a transitive verb, meaning a verb which has a direct object. Your sentence does not contain such a verb and so no passive is possible.

A more natural way to say this, I think, would be to use 'study' instead of 'read', or to simply say 'What class is he in?' Neither of these sentences have passive forms either.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Active and passive voice

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