English learners often feel frustrated with the Passive Voice because it has so many forms. Rather than looking at each form, we suggest learning the forms based on context: what can we use each type of the Passive Voice to express? Today on the CISL Blog, we are looking at three forms of the Passive that we can use to talk about plans: Passive Modals, the Simple Past Passive, and Perfect Modals.

Quick Review: The Passive Voice

Do you need a quick reminder of what the Passive Voice is? Here is a quick overview.

Active Voice

In an Active sentence, we say:

John washes the windows.

This sentence is in the Simple Present. and uses the following form:

subject + simple present verb + object

Passive Voice

To create the Present Passive, we add the BE verb to the sentence and use the form:

object + simple present BE verb + past participle + by subject

The simple present verb from the Active sentence is now in its past participle form with the Passive sentence.

The windows are washed by John.

We can do this again and again with different English tenses:

“John washed the windows” becomes “The windows were washed by John” (Simple Past and Passive Simple Past.)
“John has washed the windows” becomes “The windows have been washed by John.” (Present Perfect and Passive Present Perfect.)

With the Passive, we can also add Modals.

“John needs to wash the windows” becomes “The windows need to be washed by John.”

Confusing? For many, yes! But not if you look at how to apply these Passive sentences to real life. By doing so, you will remember their form and function.

Using the Passive for Planning

One of the best ways to aproach some Passive tenses is to look at planning something, like a party. The Passive Voice can be used to talk about things that need to be done, things that were done by a specific point in time, and things that were recently done.

Passive Modals

We can use the Passive with Modals–like need(s) to, has to, and must–to talk about the things on our list that need to be done. We use the construction modal + be + past participle.

The invitations must be sent.
The house needs to be cleaned.
The RSVPs must be counted.
The shopping must be done.
The food must be prepared.
The table has to be set up.
The room has to be decorated.

Note: we use TO with “needs” and “has” but not with “must.”

Simple Past Passive

We can use the Simple Past Passive to talk about things that were done before a specific point in time in the past. We use the construction was/were +past participle.

By February, invitations were sent.
By last night, the house was cleaned.
RSVPs were counted by Wednesday.
The shopping was done by last week.
By yesterday, the food was prepared.
The room was decorated by 5 pm.

Perfect Modal Verbs

We can use Perfect Modals (has/have + been + pp) to talk about things that were recently finished.

The invitations have been sent.
The house has been cleaned.
The RSVPs have been counted.
The shopping has been done.
The food has been prepared.
The table has been set up.
The room has been decorated.

Practicing the Passive: Planning a Beach BBQ

The following paragraph includes tips on how to plan the perfect beach BBQ party. How many examples of the Passive Voice can you find?

To throw the perfect BBQ party, you need to be prepared. First, you have to choose your beach: do you want a fun party atmosphere, like Pacific Beach, or a place that provides you with beautiful scenery, like La Jolla? Then, a date and invitation list need to be decided on. Next, the menu must be chosen. Hot dogs, tri-tip, and hamburgers are meats that are simply asking to be barbecued! On the day of the BBQ, the food must be purchased. Make sure that your drinks are packed into a cooler and are surrounded by lots of ice. When packing, don’t forget that towels, sunscreen, and blanket all need to be packed. Finally, make sure that your smart phone has plenty of room on its memory card: plenty of pictures will be taken during your BBQ party.

Did you find all of the Passive Voice? Read the article again. The Passive Voice is in bold.

To throw the perfect BBQ party, you need to be prepared. First, you have to choose your beach: do you want a fun party atmosphere, like Pacific Beach, or a place that provides you with beautiful scenery, like La Jolla? Then, a date and invitation list need to be decided. Next, the menu must be chosen. Hot dogs, tri-tip, and hamburgers are meats that are simply asking to be barbecued! On the day of the BBQ, the food must be purchased. Make sure that your drinks are packed into a cooler and are surrounded by lots of ice. When packing, don’t forget that towels, sunscreen, and blanket all need to be packed. Finally, make sure that your smart phone has plenty of room on its memory card: plenty of pictures will be taken during your BBQ party.

Did you notice the Passive in one form we didn’t look at in this article: the Simple Future? (The phrase “plenty of pictures will be taken during your BBQ party” uses this form.)

Using the Passive Voice to plan a beach BBQ