How to Use the Passive Voice Properly

Passive voice is one of the most discussed topics in English. Often, you hear that your writing is “too passive” or that an active voice should be used instead. This can be confusing if you don’t know the difference between the two.

In this reference, you will find clear explanations of what the passive voice is. You will also learn the key differences between active and passive voice. Practical advice on when to use or avoid the passive voice is provided, along with common examples and rules.

Passive Voice

What Is Passive Voice?

The passive voice is when the object of a sentence performs the action instead of the subject. Normally, the subject does the verb. In the passive voice, the object does the verb. For example, ‘John threw the ball’ becomes ‘The ball was thrown by John.’

When using passive voice, the subject is acted upon. English professionals often prefer active voice, but passive voice has its uses.

Examples of Passive Voice

• The snake might have killed him. (Active) –> He might have been killed by the snake. (Passive)
• My father had Tom wash his car. (Active) –> My father had his car washed by Tom. (Passive)

The Difference Between Active and Passive Voice

Active voice is the opposite of passive voice. In active voice, the subject does the action. In passive voice, the object performs the action.

Active Voice Example:

• Dave completed his homework.
  • Subject: Dave
  • Verb: completed
  • Object: homework

Passive Voice Example:

• The homework was completed by Dave.
  • Object: homework
  • Verb: completed
  • Subject: Dave

Another Active Voice Example:

• Kelly reached for the soap.
  • Subject: Kelly
  • Verb: reached
  • Object: soap

Converted to Passive Voice:

• The soap was reached for by Kelly.
  • Object: soap
  • Verb: reached
  • Subject: Kelly

Remember, in active voice, the subject acts. In passive voice, the object acts on the subject.

When to Use the Passive Voice

When to Use the Passive Voice

The passive is used:

(1) When the agent (the person who does the action) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context.

Examples:

• Jane was shot. (We don’t know who shot her.)
• This house was built in 1815. (Unimportant agent.)

(2) To make more polite or formal statements.

Examples:

• The trees haven’t been watered. (More polite)
• You haven’t watered the trees. (Less polite)

(3) When the action is more important than the agent, as in processes, instructions, events, reports, headlines, news items, and advertisements.

Example:

• 60 people were killed in shootings across Chicago between Friday and Monday morning.

(4) To put emphasis on the agent.

Example:

• The new bar will be opened by Sean.

When Not to Use the Passive Voice

In most cases, the active voice is preferred because it is clearer and more direct. Active voice is brief and easy to understand, making it ideal for speech and writing. The passive voice can cause confusion and make your message less clear.

Using the Passive Voice in Writing

The passive voice can add suspense and keep your readers guessing. It’s useful for creating an impartial tone in your writing, which is important in academic works. For instance, A relationship was found between the amount of chocolate that children ate, and whether or not they had been active that day by numerous studies (Jones and Jones 2020; Johnson and Johnson 2021). This usage can help distance yourself from the content.

Passive Voice Misuse

You shouldn’t use the passive voice when the subject should be doing the action because it weakens the impact. For example, He defeated me is more powerful than I was defeated by him. Avoid passive voice when you need clarity to ensure your message is easily understood.

Passive Voice vs. Active Voice | Rules & Examples

In English, sentences can be written in either passive or active voice. The difference between the two lies in who is performing the action and who is receiving it.

Present Simple Tense

Active voice: S + V1
Passive voice: S + am/ is/ are + V3

I make a cake. (Active)
A cake is made by me. (Passive)

Present Continuous Tense

Active voice: S + am/is/are + V-ing
Passive voice: S + am/ is/ are + being + V3

They are planting some trees. (Active)
Some trees are being planted. (Passive)

Present Perfect Tense

Active voice: S + have/ has + V3
Passive voice: S + have/ has + been + V3

Someone has eaten my muffin. (Active)
My muffin has been eaten. (Passive)

Present Perfect Continuous

Active voice: S + have/ has + been + V-ing
Passive voice: S + have/ has + been + being + V3

Lisa has not been practicing English. (Active)
English has not been being practiced by Lisa. (Passive)

Future with WILL

Active voice: S + will/ shall + V1
Passive voice: S + will be + V3

My parents will take us to the park. (Active)
We will be taken to the park by our parents. (Passive)

Future with BE GOING TO

Active voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to + V1
Passive voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to be + V3

I am going to read the book. (Active)
The book is going to be read by me. (Passive)

Future Continuous with WILL

Active voice: S + will/ shall + be + V-ing
Passive voice: S + will/ shall + be + being + V3

She will be taking care of her children at this time tomorrow. (Active)
Her children will be being taken care of at this time tomorrow. (Passive)

Future Continuous with BE GOING TO

Active voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to + be + V-ing
Passive voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to + be + being + V3

Linda is going to be preparing dinner. (Active)
Dinner is going to be being prepared by Linda. (Passive)

Future Perfect with WILL

Active voice: S + will + have + V3
Passive voice: S + will have been + V3

I will have finished my report by the end of this month. (Active)
My report will have been finished by the end of this month. (Passive)

Future Perfect with BE GOING TO

Active voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + V3
Passive voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + V3

I am going to have finished my report by the end of this month. (Active)
My report is going to have been finished by the end of this month. (Passive)

Future Perfect Continuous with WILL

Active voice: S + will + have + been + V-ing
Passive voice: S + will + have + been + being + V3

I will have been teaching English for 5 years by next week. (Active)
English will have been being taught by me for 5 years by next week. (Passive)

Future Perfect Continuous with BE GOING TO

Active voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + V-ing
Passive voice: S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + being + V3

He is going to have been watching TV. (Active)
TV is going to have been being watched by him. (Passive)

Past Simple

Active voice: S + V2
Passive voice: S + was/ were + V3

I visited my uncle last week. (Active)
My uncle was visited by me last week. (Passive)

Past Continuous

Active voice: S + was/ were + V-ing
Passive voice: S + was/ were + being + V3

Sam was delivering the letters to the department. (Active)
The letters were being delivered to the department by Sam. (Passive)

Past Perfect

Active voice: S + had + V3
Passive voice: S + had been + V3

He had read the book before Nick came. (Active)
The book had been read before Nick came. (Passive)

Past Perfect Continuous

Active voice: S + had + been + V-ing
Passive voice: S + had + been + being + V3

I had been typing the essay for 3 hours before you came yesterday. (Active)
The essay had been being typed for 3 hours before you came yesterday. (Passive)

Future in the Past (Would)

Active voice: S + would + V1
Passive voice: S + would + be + V3

She would type the letters. (Active)
The letters would be typed by her. (Passive)

Causative Form

Active voice:

• S + have/ has somebody + V1 + something
• S + get(s) somebody + to + V1 + something

Passive voice: S + have/ has/ get(s) something + V3 +(by + someone)

My father had Tom wash his car. (Active)
My father had his car washed by Tom. (Passive)

Modal Verbs (Present)

Active voice: S + modal verb + V1
Passive voice: S + modal verb + be + V3

You can solve the problem. (Active)
The problem can be solved. (Passive)

Modal Verbs (Present Perfect)

Active voice: S + modal verb + have + V3
Passive voice: S + modal verb + have + been + V3

The snake might have killed him. (Active)
He might have been killed by the snake. (Passive)

Here’s a useful table to summarize:

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Present Simple	S + V1	S + am/ is/ are + V3
Present Continuous	S + am/ is/ are + V-ing	S + am/ is/ are + being + V3
Present Perfect	S + have/ has + V3	S + have/ has + been + V3
Present Perfect Continuous	S + have/ has + been + V-ing	S + have/ has + been + being + V3
Future with WILL	S + will/ shall + V1	S + will be + V3
Future with BE GOING TO	S + am/ is/ are + going to + V1	S + am/ is/ are + going to be + V3
Future Continuous with WILL	S + will/ shall + be + V-ing	S + will/ shall + be + being + V3
Future Continuous with BE GOING TO	S + am/ is/ are + going to + be + V-ing	S + am/ is/ are + going to + be + being + V3
Future Perfect with WILL	S + will + have + V3	S + will have been + V3
Future Perfect with BE GOING TO	S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + V3	S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + V3
Future Perfect Continuous with WILL	S + will + have + been + V-ing	S + will + have + been + being + V3
Future Perfect Continuous with BE GOING TO	S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + V-ing	S + am/ is/ are + going to + have + been + being + V3
Past Simple	S + V2	S + was/ were + V3
Past Continuous	S + was/ were + V-ing	S + was/ were + being + V3
Past Perfect	S + had + V3	S + had been + V3
Past Perfect Continuous	S + had + been + V-ing	S + had + been + being + V3
Future in the Past (Would)	S + would + V1	S + would + be + V3
Causative Form	S + have/ has somebody + V1 + something	S + have/ has/ get(s) something + V3 +(by + someone)
Modal Verbs (Present)	S + modal verb + V1	S + modal verb + be + V3
Modal Verbs (Present Perfect)	S + modal verb + have + V3	S + modal verb + have + been + V3