Passive Voice | Definition, Examples & Use

Sentences can be in the passive voice (e.g., “The window was cleaned”) or the active voice (e.g., “He cleaned the window”). In the active voice, the “doer” of the action described by the verb is the grammatical subject of the sentence (“He cleaned…”), but in the passive voice, the subject is the “recipient” of this action (“The window was cleaned…”).

Choosing the passive voice allows us to make the sentence or clause “about” the recipient rather than the doer (or “agent”).

You construct the passive by using a form of the auxiliary verb be (e.g., “was”) and the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “cleaned”). If you want to mention the agent in the passive voice, it comes after the preposition by (e.g., “…was cleaned by him”).

Passive voice examples in a sentence
All the ingredients are cooled before mixing.

These ones are made by a different company.

It is scheduled for release next week.

They said the delivery had already been made.

When were these windows last cleaned?

The event is going to be held in New York, but the date has yet to be announced.

The movie has been slammed on social media.

What is passive voice?

The passive voice is a grammatical construction that allows us to make the “recipient” of the action described by the verb the grammatical subject of a sentence or clause. It is constructed using a form the verb be and the past participle of the main verb. The passive voice can be used in all verb tenses and aspects (but it is uncommon in the present perfect progressive, past perfect progressive, and future perfect progressive).

The passive voice
Examples in a sentence Subject (typically the recipient) Form of be Past participle Tense/aspect
She is driven to work every day. She is driven Simple present
All of the documents were damaged. The documents were damaged Simple past
She is being driven to work today. She is being driven Present progressive
It was being repaired yesterday. It was being repaired Past progressive
The parcel has already been picked up. The parcel has been picked up Present perfect
The doors had already been scratched. The doors had been scratched Past perfect
Note
With ditranstive verbs (verbs with two objects), the passive voice allows us to make the subject either the “recipient” or the thing being transferred or acted upon (e.g., “I was shown the documents” or “The documents were shown to me”).

Active vs passive voice

The passive voice enables us to reorder information in an active sentence like “Universal released the movie in 1985” to “The movie was released in 1985.” This means we can make the sentence about the “recipient” of the action described by the verb (the movie) rather than the “doer” or “agent” (Universal). If the agent is mentioned, it follows the preposition by (e.g., “…was released by Universal).

Active vs passive voice examples
Active voice in a sentence Passive voice in a sentence Possible reason for using the passive
However, the committee eventually awarded her the scholarship. However, she was eventually awarded the scholarship. The important information is what happened to the “recipient” (i.e., that she got the scholarship, not that the committee awarded it).
You always arrange the flowers so beautifully. The flowers are always arranged so beautifully. The important information is how it is done (i.e., not who does it).
In fact, Morgan scored the goal. In fact, the goal was scored by Morgan. The important information is who did it (perhaps emphasizing that Morgan and not someone else scored).

Causative verbs

We can also use the causative verbs “have” and “get” to avoid mentioning the “doer” in order to make a sentence or clause about the person or thing that causes something to happen (e.g., “I had my phone repaired”).

These passive constructions, which also feature the past participle form of the main verb, are typically used in informal contexts to describe things we ask someone else to do for us. Using “get” has a more informal effect than using “have.”

Causative verbs examples
It’s too big for the car so we’ll have/get it delivered.

Did you have/get your hair cut there too?

I’m having/getting some dental work done next week.

Passive voice misuse

The active and passive voices are not interchangeable alternatives. Choosing the passive rather than the active voice changes the emphasis of a sentence by altering the order of the information presented or allowing the “agent” of the action to be omitted.

When using the passive, make sure you are directing the reader’s attention to the intended information so your writing flows logically.

Passive voice change of emphasis
Passive voice Emphasis Active voice Emphasis
However, a solution to the problem was discussed by the organizing committee. Important information is who discussed the solution However, the organizing committee discussed a solution to the problem. Important information is what this committee discussed
In fact, the project was completed in two months. Important information is how long it took to complete this project In fact, the team completed the project in two months. Important information is how long it took this team to complete the project (this emphasis could be confusing if “who did it” is not important)

How to fix passive voice

The passive voice is inherently more difficult for a reader to process, so using it when it isn’t necessary can make ideas difficult to unpack and disrupt the flow of a text.

It is often appropriate to use the passive in certain impersonal styles of writing such as academic writing or scientific writing because it allows you to leave out the “doer.” But even in these contexts, it’s important not to overuse it.

How to fix passive voice examples
Passive voice Possible alternative in active voice Comments
It was found that customers preferred email to telephone support. We found that customers preferred email to telephone support. Modern style guides encourage the use of the first person like this in academic writing (but check the style guide you’ve been asked to follow).
The equipment is all specially made for the company. The company only uses specially made equipment. Using a different main verb and reformulating the sentence is often the most effective way of avoiding the passive.
Late submissions will not be accepted. We will not accept your submission if it is late. The active voice is easier for the reader to process and makes warnings and instructions clearer.
It is argued that this action was unnecessary. Many commentators argue that this action was unnecessary. You can reformulate passive sentences like this (with “it” as the subject) by using alternative subjects such as “critics,” “observers,” etc. or by specifying the name of these critics etc.

Frequently asked questions about passive voice

What is the difference between active and passive voice?

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence is the “doer” of the action (e.g., “He cooked the food”), but in the passive voice the subject is the “recipient” of this action (e.g., “The food was cooked by him”).

You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to identify uses of the passive voice in your writing.

How do you change passive voice to active voice?

To change a sentence from the passive voice into the active voice, identify the “doer” of the action and then make it the subject of the sentence.

For instance, in this passive sentence, “The play was written by Shakespeare,” the verb is “write” and the “doer” is Shakespeare. So, the sentence with Shakespeare as the subject will begin “Shakespeare wrote…” If we add the rest of the information, the full sentence in the active voice is “Shakespeare wrote the play.”

You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to rephrase sentences that are in the passive voice.

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Tom Challenger, BA

Tom holds a teaching diploma and is an experienced English language teacher, teacher trainer, and translator. He has taught university courses and worked as a teacher trainer on Cambridge CELTA courses.