Overview
Master complex passive constructions across all tenses and modal forms.
All-Tense Passive
- Perf. Cont.has been being discussed (rare — prefer 'has been under discussion')
- Past Perf.had been completed before the audit began.
- Future Perf.By Friday, all contracts will have been signed.
- Modal Perf.It should have been submitted last week.
Get-Passive
- Get + past participle: informal/spoken passive.
- She got promoted last month. (informal = was promoted)
- He got fired for misconduct.
- Avoid get-passive in formal academic writing; use be-passive instead.
Advanced Usage Notes
- Impersonal passive: It is understood / It has been noted that…
- Double passive (avoid): ❌ The report was expected to be submitted to be reviewed
- ❌ The problem was being discussed being resolved → restructure entirely.
When to use
Business reports
The budget will have been approved by the time we meet.
Legal language
The evidence had been withheld from the prosecution.
News reporting
Three arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Casual speech
He got sacked last week — totally unexpected.