B1 — Intermediate+50 XP available

Interactive Grammar: Passive Voice

Learn to form and use the passive voice across all tenses to shift focus from the doer to the action or result.

Grammar Explanation · Authentic Examples · Practice Exercises

Lesson progressNot started

Duration

~75 min

Exercises

Level

Intermediate

Overview

Learn to form and use the passive voice across all tenses to shift focus from the doer to the action or result.

Form: be + past participle

Presentis/are + past participle → is built
Pastwas/were + past participle → was built
Present Pf.has/have been + past participle → has been built
Futurewill be + past participle → will be built

When to Use

Focus on the action/result, not the doer
Doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant
Formal writing: reports, news, science
Use by + agent to add the doer back

Common Mistakes

❌ The house build in 1990 → ✅ was built
❌ It was written by she → ✅ written by her
❌ The car is fixing → ✅ The car is being fixed

When to use

Industrial/Formal

The bridge was completed in 2018.

News & Reporting

Two people were arrested last night.

Science Writing

The samples were analysed in a lab.

Unknown Doer

My wallet was stolen on the bus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on active and passive voice cover?

Learn to form and use the passive voice across all tenses to shift focus from the doer to the action or result.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Intermediate (B1) learners and forms part of the Active and Passive Voice section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying this grammar topic?

Start with the definition, then study the examples carefully to understand how the pattern works in context. Practise identifying the structure in authentic sentences before producing your own — this recognition-first approach builds a strong foundation for accurate, confident use.