English · B1 · grammar · 5 minutes
Passive voice
Shift attention from the doer to the affected person, process, or result.
Understand the choice
Passive is useful when the process or receiver matters more than the agent, when the agent is unknown, or in descriptions of procedures. It should serve focus, not merely sound formal.
Core rule: Passive voice is be in the required tense + past participle; a by-phrase names the agent only when useful.
Notice it in context
The application was approved within two days.
La solicitud fue aprobada en dos días.
Was carries past and agrees with application; approved is participle; the agent is omitted.
The bridge is inspected every six months.
A regular inspection of the bridge occurs twice a year.
Present passive describes routine procedure.
Your parcel has been delivered by a neighbour.
A neighbour completed delivery, and the parcel is now available.
Has been delivered is present-perfect passive; by names a relevant agent.
What to remember
- Only verbs that take an object normally form a corresponding passive.
- Get + participle is an informal passive-like pattern, often emphasizing event or impact.
Common trap: Do not omit the form of be: the form was sent, not the form sent, when a finite passive is required.