Overview
Every tense has both an active and a passive form. Active focuses on the doer; passive focuses on the action or receiver. The passive is formed with the appropriate form of 'be' + past participle. Example: Present simple active: writes / passive: is written. Past perfect active: had written / passive: had been written. Knowing both forms for all tenses gives full grammatical flexibility.
Tense × Voice Table
- pres. simpleActive: writes / Passive: is written
- past simpleActive: wrote / Passive: was written
- pres. perfectActive: has written / Passive: has been written
- past perfectActive: had written / Passive: had been written
- futureActive: will write / Passive: will be written
More Tenses
- pres. cont.Active: is writing / Passive: is being written
- past cont.Active: was writing / Passive: was being written
- fut. perfectActive: will have written / Passive: will have been written
- modalActive: must write / Passive: must be written
- modal pastActive: should have written / Passive: should have been written
The Formula
- Passive = correct form of 'be' + past participle.
- The form of 'be' carries the tense information.
- ❌ It has written → ✅ It has been written.
- ❌ It was being write → ✅ It was being written.
When to use
Grammar Review
The contract was signed / has been signed / will be signed.
Academic Writing
The data were collected and have been analysed.
News Reporting
Three arrests have been made. Two more are being sought.
Writing Accuracy
Knowing both forms gives you full grammatical range.