The puts the action or the receiver of the action first: The bridge was built in 1890. Form it with be + . Use it when the doer is unknown or unimportant, and for processes in IELTS Writing Task 1, where the steps matter more than who does them.
Active and passive: what changes
In an active sentence the subject does the action: Workers cut the trees. In a sentence the object of the active sentence becomes the subject: The trees are cut. The doer (workers) can be added with by, or left out.
The passive changes the focus. It says what happens to something, not who does it. This is why it is common in science, news and academic writing.
How to form the passive
The pattern is be + . The verb be changes to match the tense; the main verb stays as a past participle (made, built, collected).
- present simple: Glass is recycled in many countries.
- past simple: The museum was opened in 2010.
- present perfect: Several new roads have been built.
- will: The results will be announced on Friday.
- modals: Waste can be reused. Plastic should be banned.
When to use the passive
Use the in four main situations. First, when the doer is unknown: My bike was stolen. Second, when the doer is not important: English is spoken in many countries. Third, when the doer is obvious: The thief was arrested (by the police is not needed). Fourth, when you want a formal, impersonal tone: It is believed that young people spend more time online.
Use the active when you want to name the doer clearly or sound direct: Governments must reduce emissions is stronger than Emissions must be reduced by governments.
The passive in Task 1 process diagrams
In IELTS Writing Task 1, a process diagram shows steps in the production of something such as cement, glass or electricity. The steps are important, and the workers or machines are not, so the is the natural choice.
Use sequence words to organise the steps: First, the raw materials are collected. Next, they are crushed and mixed with water. After that, the mixture is heated. Finally, the product is cooled and packaged. Use by + a machine or a tool only if it adds information: The liquid is filtered by a membrane.
Choosing the tense in a process description
Most process diagrams show a regular, repeated process, so use the present simple throughout: The grapes are picked and then they are pressed. If the diagram shows a process that took place at a particular time in the past, use the past simple passive instead. Keep the same tense from beginning to end, because a change halfway makes the answer harder to follow.
To avoid a long run of sentences that all start with the same word, join stages with a time word: Once the glass has been melted, it is shaped in a mould. Here the present perfect passive (has been melted) shows that one stage is complete before the next begins. This is a simple way to show range without making the grammar too difficult.
The passive in Task 2 and academic writing
In an essay, the helps you sound objective: It is often argued that tourism is harmed by cheap flights. Studies have been carried out in several countries. Use it for general statements, but do not use it for every sentence. A long chain of passives is hard to read. Mix active and passive for clear, varied writing.
Verbs that cannot be passive
Only verbs that can take an object can be . Verbs without an object, such as happen, occur, arrive, die, appear and exist, have no passive. Say The accident happened, never The accident was happened.
Be careful with stative verbs such as have, fit and cost. You can say The house has three bedrooms, but not Three bedrooms are had by the house.
Common mistakes
Check for these errors in your writing:
- The water heated to boiling point. Say: The water is heated to boiling point. Do not forget be.
- The library was build last year. Say: The library was built last year. Use the .
- The accident was happened yesterday. Say: The accident happened yesterday.
- The glass is crushed and then wash. Say: The glass is crushed and then washed.
Who finds this hard?
- Chinese speakers: The Chinese with bei has traditionally been used mostly for unwelcome events. English uses the passive far more widely, including for neutral processes, so use it confidently in Task 1.
- Japanese speakers: The Japanese passive often shows that something affected a person, usually in a bad way. The English passive is more about focus and tone, and it is common for neutral processes.
- Turkish speakers: Turkish forms the passive with a verb ending. English needs be plus the , so remember both words.
IELTS tip
Task 1 process diagrams are a gift for the . Describe each stage with a clear passive verb, link them with sequence words, and keep the same tense throughout. In Task 2, use the passive for general statements, such as It is widely believed that, and keep the active for your own opinion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passive voice?
It is a structure in which the subject receives the action: The letter was sent. It is formed with be + .
When should I use the passive in IELTS?
Use it for process diagrams in Task 1, for general or objective statements in Task 2, and whenever the doer is unknown or unimportant.
Should I always add by + the doer?
No. Add it only when the doer is new or important information. In most sentences it is left out.
Can all verbs be passive?
No. Only verbs that take an object can. Verbs like happen, arrive and die cannot be passive.
Sources
- Swan, M. (2016). Practical English Usage, 4th edition. Oxford University Press.
- Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S. and Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Longman.