English Studio
Grammar B2 - Passive Voice in the Present and Past
The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action itself or the object of the action, rather than on the subject performing the action. In passive voice sentences, the object of an active sentence becomes the subject. The verb "to be" is combined with the past participle of the main verb.
Passive Voice in the Present:
Present Simple Passive:
The structure is: am/are/is + past participle.
Example: The report is written every month.
Explanation: (The report is the subject, and it receives the action of being written.)
Present Continuous Passive:
The structure is: am/are/is + being + past participle.
Example: The project is being completed now.
Explanations: (The project is the subject, and the action of completing is happening right now.)
Passive Voice in the Past:
Past Simple Passive:
The structure is: was/were + past participle.
Example: The book was read by many students last year.
Explanation: (The book is the subject, and the action of reading was completed in the past.)
Past Continuous Passive:
The structure is: was/were + being + past participle.
Example: The work was being finished when I arrived.
Explanation: (The work is the subject, and the action of finishing was happening in the past at a particular time.)