Passive verb forms. The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made.
The idea
Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Structure & examples
The parcels are delivered every morning.
The bridge was built in 1968.
Notice the pattern
The object of an active sentence becomes the subject of the passive: Someone repaired the car → The car was repaired. Keep the past participle fixed and change be for tense and number. Add by only when the agent matters; otherwise leave it out.
The car was repaired yesterday.
These letters are delivered daily.
Important notes & common mistakes
Keep the past participle even when be changes tense.
Before you practice
First choose a form from the options. Then produce it yourself using the word or structure in the instruction. Finally, build complete sentences. Check the explanation after each answer and revisit any mistakes in your review list.
Extended topic: Passive verb forms
The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made. Keep the tense information in be or its auxiliaries. Passive does not mean past tense.
Examples in context
Notice how each form fits its sentence. Read the context before choosing a form.
The road is being repaired.
The report has been published.
The results will be announced tomorrow.
These shoes are made in Italy.
The door had been locked before we arrived.
Your progress
Ready to move on?
Mark this lesson as studied when you have finished the explanation.
Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
This bridge ___ in 1980.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: was built
Completed sentence: This bridge was built in 1980. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
The rooms ___ every day.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: are cleaned
Completed sentence: The rooms are cleaned every day. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
The invitations will ___ tomorrow.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: be sent
Completed sentence: The invitations will be sent tomorrow. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
This book ___ by a local author.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: was written
Completed sentence: This book was written by a local author. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Question 1 of 50% complete
The parcels ___ every morning.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: are delivered
Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: was built
Completed sentence: This bridge was built in 1980. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: are cleaned
Completed sentence: The rooms are cleaned every day. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: be sent
Completed sentence: The invitations will be sent tomorrow. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: was written
Completed sentence: This book was written by a local author. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: are made
Completed sentence: Use make in the present passive: These shoes are made in Italy. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: was broken
Completed sentence: Use break in the past passive: The window was broken last night. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: were opened
Completed sentence: Use open in the past passive: The gates were opened at nine. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: is served
Completed sentence: Use serve in the present passive: Breakfast is served until ten. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: will be finished
Completed sentence: Use finish with will in the passive: The work will be finished tomorrow. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: The bridge was built in 1968
Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense. Keep the past participle even when be changes tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: The car was repaired yesterday
The car was repaired yesterday. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense. Keep the past participle even when be changes tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: These letters are delivered daily
These letters are delivered daily. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense. Keep the past participle even when be changes tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: The room will be cleaned soon
The room will be cleaned soon. Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense. Keep the past participle even when be changes tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Was the meeting cancelled
Was the meeting cancelled? Use be + past participle to focus on an action or its receiver. Change be to match the tense. Keep the past participle even when be changes tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: repaired
Completed sentence: The road is being repaired. The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made. Keep the tense information in be or its auxiliaries. Passive does not mean past tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: been
Completed sentence: The report has been published. The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made. Keep the tense information in be or its auxiliaries. Passive does not mean past tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: be
Completed sentence: The results will be announced tomorrow. The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made. Keep the tense information in be or its auxiliaries. Passive does not mean past tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: are
Completed sentence: These shoes are made in Italy. The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made. Keep the tense information in be or its auxiliaries. Passive does not mean past tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: locked
Completed sentence: The door had been locked before we arrived. The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made. Keep the tense information in be or its auxiliaries. Passive does not mean past tense.
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