How Do Verbs Change in the Passive Voice?

What Is a Verb in the Passive Voice?

In English, the passive voice is a grammatical structure where the focus shifts from the doer (the subject) to the receiver of the action. Instead of saying who performs the action, the passive highlights what happens to the object.

● Active: He kicked the ball.

● Passive: The ball was kicked (by him).

In the passive voice, verbs change form. Instead of one single verb, the passive requires a form of “be” + past participle:

● is eaten

● was built

● has been written

● will be approved

This structure is what makes passive sentences sometimes feel confusing—learners must adjust the verb form, word order, and sometimes the subject.

Why It Matters

Understanding how verbs change in the passive voice helps you:

● Write more formal and objective sentences, especially in academic and business contexts.

● Shift focus from the performer to the action itself.

● Avoid repetition when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

● Interpret texts more accurately, since passive structures appear frequently in articles, research papers, and reports.

The passive voice is not just a stylistic choice—it affects clarity, emphasis, and tone. Mastering these verb changes will make your writing more flexible, precise, and professional.

When to Use Verbs in the Passive Voice

Below are 6 common scenarios where the passive voice is appropriate and natural, along with examples to illustrate how verbs change.

1. When the doer is unknown

Sometimes we don’t know who performed the action.

● The window was broken last night.

● My bike was stolen.

2. When the doer is unimportant

The identity of the performer doesn’t matter.

● Coffee is grown in many countries.

● This product is sold worldwide.

3. When the doer is obvious from context

You don’t need to state who did it because it’s clear.

● The suspect has been arrested.

● The medicine should be taken with meals.

4. When the focus is on the action, not the person

Passive voice intentionally emphasizes the result.

● The report was submitted on time.

● The contract was signed yesterday.

5. When writing academically or formally

Academic writing often prefers passive voice to maintain objectivity.

● Data were collected from 300 participants.

● The samples were analyzed using a microscope.

6. When describing processes or instructions

Processes emphasize steps, not the performer.

● The mixture is heated until it boils.

● First, the form must be completed.

Verb Changes in the Passive Voice (All Tenses)

Below is a clear table showing how verbs change across tenses in passive constructions:

Active Tense	Passive Form	Example (Active → Passive)
Simple Present	am/is/are + past participle	They make phones → Phones are made
Present Continuous	am/is/are being + past participle	They are cleaning the room → The room is being cleaned
Present Perfect	have/has been + past participle	They have finished the work → The work has been finished
Simple Past	was/were + past participle	They built the bridge → The bridge was built
Past Continuous	was/were being + past participle	They were repairing the road → The road was being repaired
Past Perfect	had been + past participle	They had completed the task → The task had been completed
Simple Future	will be + past participle	They will announce the results → The results will be announced
“Be going to” Future	is/are going to be + past participle	They are going to open the store → The store is going to be opened
Modal Verbs	modal + be + past participle	They must follow the rules → The rules must be followed

Verb Examples in Passive Voice

Simple Present Passive

● English is spoken in many countries.

● The door is locked at night.

Simple Past Passive

● The movie was filmed in Canada.

● The cake was baked this morning.

Present Continuous Passive

● The house is being painted.

● The files are being checked.

Present Perfect Passive

● The invitations have been sent.

● The results have been updated.

Future Passive

● The project will be completed soon.

● A new rule will be introduced next month.

Passive Voice vs. Similar Concepts

Passive Voice vs. Active Voice

Feature	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Focus	Doer of the action	Receiver of the action
Structure	Subject + verb + object	Object + be + past participle
Example	The chef cooked the meal.	The meal was cooked by the chef.

Passive Voice vs. Middle Voice

Feature	Passive	Middle-like Use
Meaning	Action done to the subject	Subject performs the action naturally
Example	The glass was broken.	This book sells well.

Passive Voice vs. Adjective + “be”

Feature	True Passive	Adjective (State)
Purpose	Describes an action	Describes a condition
Example	The door was painted.	The door was open.

Common Mistakes & Writing Tips

1. Using the wrong past participle

❌ The room was cleaning.

✔ The room was cleaned.

2. Forgetting to change the tense correctly

❌ The movie is made last year.

✔ The movie was made last year.

3. Adding the wrong “be” form

❌ The results are updated yesterday.

✔ The results were updated yesterday.

4. Overusing passive voice

❌ The decision was made by us after the options were reviewed by the team.

✔ We made the decision after the team reviewed the options.

5. Using passive voice with intransitive verbs

❌ The accident was happened.

✔ The accident happened.

Conclusion

Verbs change significantly when shifting from active to passive voice. Instead of one simple verb, passive constructions require be + past participle, and the “be” verb carries the tense. Understanding how to apply these changes helps you:

● write formal and objective sentences

● focus on important actions

● explain processes clearly

● avoid common grammatical errors

By practicing passive forms across tenses and studying examples, you will strengthen your grammar foundation and write more confidently and professionally.