The grass is cut every day at the stadium.
We can often make English sentences in both the active and passive voice:
Someone opens the store every day at 9 AM. (active)
The store is opened every day at 9 AM. (passive)
We walk our dog in the evenings after dinner. (active)
Our dog is walked in the evenings after dinner. (passive)
To make sentences in the passive voice, use be and the past participle form of a verb.
The past participle form of regular verbs is ...ed:
- called
- looked
- talked
- played
- studied
- kissed
- washed
Use this list to find the past participle of irregular verbs. Use this list to find the past participle of irregular verbs.
Passive Voice: Present Simple
| am / is / are | (not) | made eaten used washed taken |
The offices are cleaned every evening.
This room is used all the time.
I'm paid every two weeks.
Passive Voice: Present Continuous
| am / is / are | (not) | being | made eaten used washed taken |
Their photo is being taken.
The meat is being cooked.
I think we're being watched.
By...
We can use by with the passive voice:
Pierre cooks all of the food in the restaurant. (active)
All of the food in the restaurant is cooked by Pierre. (passive)
My mother is making the birthday cake. (active)
The cake is being made by my mother. (passive)
My wife drives me to work every day. (active)
I'm driven by my wife to work every day. (passive)
Wendel is showing me how to use the program. (active)
I'm being shown how to use the program by Wendel. (passive)
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.