Passive Voice by Tense

B1 · IntermediatePassive Voice

is written, was written, has been written, will be written. One participle, many tenses.

What you'll learn

  • The past participle stays the same across every tense in the passive
  • Only the form of 'be' changes to match the tense: is, was, has been, will be, is being, was being, had been
  • Passive tenses follow the same time logic as their active equivalents
  • Modal verbs also combine with the passive: must be done, should be fixed, can be seen

One participle, many tenses

The passive voice isn't limited to one tense — it can express any time frame, just like the active voice. What changes from tense to tense is the form of 'be'; the past participle itself never changes.

"The office is cleaned every day. (present)"
"The office was cleaned yesterday. (past)"

Present and past passive

Present simple passive uses am/is/are + past participle. Past simple passive uses was/were + past participle. Continuous forms add 'being': is being cleaned, was being cleaned.

"The road is being repaired."
"The house was being painted when I arrived."

Perfect and future passive

Present perfect passive uses has/have been + past participle. Past perfect passive uses had been + past participle. Future simple passive uses will be + past participle.

"The documents have been signed."
"The tickets had already been sold."
"The results will be announced tomorrow."

Real English

"The new bridge is being built."
"The contract has already been signed."
"The parcel will be delivered by Friday."
"The building was being renovated all last year."

Watch out

✗The office cleaned every day.
✓The office is cleaned every day.

The correct tense of 'be' must appear before the past participle — it can't be dropped, even in the present simple.

✗The tickets had already sold.
✓The tickets had already been sold.

Past perfect passive needs 'had been' + past participle — the participle alone with 'had' changes the meaning to an active sense.

✗This form must completed by Friday.
✓This form must be completed by Friday.

A modal verb + passive still needs 'be' before the past participle: modal + be + past participle.

Real life — Checking on a project

"Any update on the office renovation?"

"Yes — the walls have already been painted, and the new furniture will be delivered next week."

"That was fast."

"I know, it's being managed really well this time."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct present simple passive.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct past simple passive.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct present continuous passive.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct present perfect passive.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct future simple passive.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct past continuous passive.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct past perfect passive.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct modal passive.

Exercise 9 · Rewrite in the passive

Rewrite in the present perfect passive: 'Someone has fixed the printer.'

Exercise 10 · Rewrite in the passive

Rewrite in the future passive: 'They will announce the winner tomorrow.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

The report is written every month.
The report was written last month.
The report is being written now.
The report has been written already.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct passive form.

You learned

  • The past participle stays fixed across every passive tense.
  • Only the form of 'be' changes to match the tense.
  • Passive tenses follow the same time logic as their active equivalents.
  • Modal verbs combine with the passive as modal + be + past participle.

Related grammar lessons

IntermediatePassive Voice

Passive Voice Basics

Learn how to form the passive voice with 'be' + past participle, and when to use it instead of the active voice.

Upper IntermediatePassive Voice

Get-Passive

Learn how 'get' + past participle works as an informal alternative to 'be' + past participle, especially for sudden or unexpected events.

Upper IntermediatePassive Voice

Have / Get Something Done

Learn the causative structure — have/get + object + past participle — for talking about services someone else does for you.

AdvancedPassive Voice

Advanced Passive Structures

Learn more advanced passive patterns — passivizing an indirect object, passive infinitives and gerunds, and needs-to-be-done structures.

View all lessons in this category