What is the Present Passive Voice?
The present passive voice is a grammatical structure used to emphasize the action being performed rather than the person or thing performing the action. In this form, the subject of the sentence is acted upon, rather than doing the action.
It’s commonly used when the focus is on the result of an action, or when the doer is unknown or unimportant. For example, "The report is written" focuses on the report rather than who wrote it.
What is the Present Passive Voice?
The present passive voice is formed by combining a form of "to be" (am, is, are) with the past participle of the verb. It contrasts with the active voice, where the subject directly performs the action. For example:
Active: "The team completes the project."
Passive: "The project is completed by the team."
In the passive construction, the emphasis shifts to the object of the action, making the action itself the focal point of the sentence. Here are additional examples:
Active: "The artist paints the picture."
Passive: "The picture is painted by the artist."
Active: "The company launches a new product."
Passive: "A new product is launched by the company."
How to Form the Present Passive Voice
To form the present passive voice, follow this structure: Subject + am/is/are + past participle. The subject is what the sentence is about, "am/is/are" is the present form of the verb "to be," and the past participle is the verb form used to indicate the completed action. Here are a few examples:
Positive: "The report is submitted on time."
Negative: "The report is not submitted late."
Question: "Is the report submitted on time?"
Common verbs used in the present passive voice include "made," "done," "written," "known," "given," and "seen." These verbs are versatile and frequently appear in both spoken and written English.
Additional Rules to Remember
Using Passive with Modal Verbs: When combining the passive voice with modal verbs like "can," "should," "must," or "might," place the modal verb before "be," followed by the past participle.
Example: "The documents must be signed by the manager."
Emphasizing the Action: The passive voice is particularly useful in scientific writing or formal instructions where the action's importance outweighs the doer.
Example: "The data is analyzed thoroughly."
Omitting the Agent: In many passive sentences, the doer (agent) is not mentioned, especially when the agent is unknown, obvious, or irrelevant.
Example: "The package is delivered."
When to Use the Present Passive Voice
You should use the present passive voice when the action's importance outweighs the doer, or when the doer is irrelevant. This construction is common in news reports, instructions, formal writing, and when the action itself is the main focus. For instance:
"The decision is announced today." (The focus is on the announcement, not who made it.)
"The rules are followed by all participants." (The emphasis is on the rules, not the followers.)
"The report is expected to be ready by tomorrow." (The focus is on the report, not who is preparing it.)
In contrast, the active voice is preferred when the doer of the action is central to the meaning of the sentence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Incorrect Verb Agreement: One of the most common errors is incorrect subject-verb agreement, especially when dealing with plural subjects.
Incorrect: "The books is read by students."
Correct: "The books are read by students."
Overusing the Passive Voice: While the passive voice is useful, overusing it can make your writing seem dull or overly complicated. Aim for a balance between active and passive constructions.
Example: "The cake was baked, and the decorations were added by the team." (Could be more direct if written as: "The team baked the cake and added the decorations.")
Misplacing the Past Participle: Ensure that the past participle follows the correct form of "to be."
Incorrect: "The window is break by the ball."
Correct: "The window is broken by the ball."
Practice Exercises
Convert the following active sentences into the present passive voice:
"The chef prepares the meals."
"The engineer tests the software."
"The teacher explains the lesson."
Answers:
"The meals are prepared by the chef."
"The software is tested by the engineer."
"The lesson is explained by the teacher."
Identify the errors in these passive sentences and correct them:
"The letters is delivered by the mailman."
"The car are washed by the workers."
"The report is being write by the team."
Answers:
"The letters are delivered by the mailman."
"The car is washed by the workers."
"The report is being written by the team."
Choose the correct form of the verb for the passive voice:
"The project (is/are) completed by the deadline."
"The dishes (is/are) washed by the dishwasher."
"The homework (is/are) done by the student."
Answers:
"The project is completed by the deadline."
"The dishes are washed by the dishwasher."
"The homework is done by the student."