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The passive in all tenses
B2 B2 grammar · lesson 6 of 21
You already know the present and past simple passive. Here you learn the passive in every tense and with modal verbs, so you can write formal and news-style English.
Rule
The passive is always be + past participle. To change the tense, we only change the form of be. The past participle stays the same. We use the passive when the action is more important than the person who does it.
Form
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | They clean the room. | The room is cleaned. |
| Present continuous | They are cleaning the room. | The room is being cleaned. |
| Past simple | They cleaned the room. | The room was cleaned. |
| Past continuous | They were cleaning the room. | The room was being cleaned. |
| Present perfect | They have cleaned the room. | The room has been cleaned. |
| Past perfect | They had cleaned the room. | The room had been cleaned. |
| Future (will) | They will clean the room. | The room will be cleaned. |
| Going to | They are going to clean it. | It is going to be cleaned. |
| Future perfect | They will have cleaned it. | It will have been cleaned. |
| Modal | They must clean it. | It must be cleaned. |
With modals in the past, use modal + have been + past participle: It should have been cleaned yesterday. The continuous forms of the perfect tenses (has been being done) are very rare; avoid them.
A new bridge is being built over the river.
When I arrived, the car was being repaired.
Your order has been sent.
The tickets had already been sold when we got there.
The results will be announced tomorrow.
The work will have been finished by June.
This form must be signed by a parent.
The letter should have been posted last week.
Using by
Add by + agent only when the agent is important or new information: The song was written by Omar. Leave it out when it is obvious, unknown or not important: My bike has been stolen.
Common mistakes
✗ The house is building at the moment.
✓ The house is being built at the moment.
✗ The report has finished by Ken.
✓ The report has been finished by Ken.
✗ The parcel will deliver tomorrow.
✓ The parcel will be delivered tomorrow.
✗ The window must be clean today.
✓ The window must be cleaned today.