Passive Voice: The Doer-Free Sentence
The sentence that hides the doer: this house was built in 1990. When the doer is unknown, obvious, or simply not the point — be + V3 takes the stage.
Passive Voice
The doer-free sentence
In the passive, the action is the star and the doer disappears. Who built the house? No one you know. What matters is the house — and what was done to it.
The action is the star
who did it? not the pointThis house was built in 1990
The doer is unknown
or deliberately hiddenMy bike has been stolen
By + the doer (optional)
when the doer deserves a nameDinner was cooked by the chef
The engine: be + V3
be changes, V3 never doesThe letters are posted every day
⚠️ be + V3: the doer hides, the action stays.
The Formula
active → passive: the doer steps aside
The object of the active sentence becomes the new subject. Be takes the tense, and the V3 participle carries the action.
Someone built this house in 1990.
This house in 1990. was built
They make these phones in China.
These phones in China. are made
The chef will cook dinner.
Dinner by the chef. will be cooked
Someone has stolen my bike.
My bike. has been stolen
⚠️ Be carries the tense; V3 never changes; the doer rides in with by.
Common Mistakes
Four doer-free slips
The passive breaks when the V3 forgets its shape, when be goes missing, or when by abandons the doer.
This house was build in 1990.
This house was built in 1990.
💡 be + V3: build → built.
These phones are make in China.
These phones are made in China.
💡 After be, the participle: make → made.
Dinner was cooked the chef.
Dinner was cooked by the chef.
💡 The doer arrives with by.
My bike has stole.
My bike has been stolen.
💡 The perfect passive: has been + V3.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
This house ___ in 1990.
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Active or Passive?
One question picks the voice
The doer decides the voice: if the doer is the point, go active. If the doer is a shadow, go passive.
The Passive Tenses
Match the tense with its passive
Every tense has a passive twin: be changes, V3 stays. Learn the twins by pair.
⚠️ be + V3 in every tense — be travels, V3 stands still.