What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to describe actions with is/are + past participle when the person doing the action is unknown or not important.
When do I use it?
Use the passive voice when the receiver of the action matters more than the doer. This is common with processes, general facts, and rules: "Coffee is grown in Colombia." "The meeting is held every Monday." You also use it when nobody knows or cares who did it: "English is spoken here." The by + agent phrase (English is spoken by millions) is optional and usually skipped.
How do I form it?
am / is / are + past participle
- The room is cleaned every day. (clean → cleaned)
- These books are sold online. (sell → sold)
| I | am asked |
|---|---|
| You / We / They | are asked |
| He / She / It | is asked |
Choose am/is/are from the subject, then add the past participle (the -ed or irregular form).
subject + am/is/are + past participle (+ by + agent)
This bread is made fresh every morning.
The results are announced on Friday.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
- Trying to translate "se" with a word. Spanish says "Aquí se habla inglés"; learners sometimes search for an English "se" and produce "It speaks English here." Drop "se" and use the passive: "English is spoken here."
- Using the base form instead of the past participle. Spanish "construida" makes learners pick the dictionary form: "The house is build" is wrong; it is "The house is built." Always take the past participle.
- Choosing the wrong form of "be". "The doors is closed" is wrong. Match "be" to the subject: "The doors are closed."
Picture the passive as two boxes: first "be" (am/is/are), then the -ed or irregular past participle. If a sentence describes a process or a fact, ask: "Who does it?" If the answer is "everyone" or "I don't know", the passive is a great fit.
Practice
Multiple Choice
B1Which sentence is in the passive voice?
Fill in the Blank
B1English spoken in many countries around the world.
Hint: Use 'is' because the subject 'English' is singular.
Sentence Transformation
B1Task: Rewrite the sentence in the present passive to focus on the language.
Hint: Put the object first, then is/are + the past participle of 'speak' (spoken).
Find the Error
B1Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: B1