30 Passive Voice English Flashcards
Learn and practice the passive voice in English with these colorful, interactive flashcards. Each card explains a key passive structure, use, or example.
Simple Present Passive
Structure: am/is/are + past participle
Example: “The food is cooked by the chef.”
Example: “The food is cooked by the chef.”
Simple Past Passive
Structure: was/were + past participle
Example: “The window was broken yesterday.”
Example: “The window was broken yesterday.”
Present Continuous Passive
Structure: am/is/are being + past participle
Example: “The house is being painted now.”
Example: “The house is being painted now.”
Past Continuous Passive
Structure: was/were being + past participle
Example: “The car was being repaired all day.”
Example: “The car was being repaired all day.”
Present Perfect Passive
Structure: has/have been + past participle
Example: “The letters have been sent.”
Example: “The letters have been sent.”
Past Perfect Passive
Structure: had been + past participle
Example: “The work had been finished before noon.”
Example: “The work had been finished before noon.”
Future Simple Passive
Structure: will be + past participle
Example: “The project will be completed next week.”
Example: “The project will be completed next week.”
Modal Verbs Passive
Structure: modal + be + past participle
Example: “The report must be submitted by Friday.”
Example: “The report must be submitted by Friday.”
Passive with “Get”
Structure: get + past participle (informal)
Example: “He got injured in the game.”
Example: “He got injured in the game.”
Passive Voice Use
Use: Focus on the action or receiver, not the doer.
Example: “The cake was eaten (by someone).”
Example: “The cake was eaten (by someone).”
Passive Voice with By
Use: To mention the doer.
Example: “The book was written by the author.”
Example: “The book was written by the author.”
Passive Questions
Structure: Be + subject + past participle?
Example: “Was the letter sent?”
Example: “Was the letter sent?”
Passive Negative
Structure: Be + not + past participle
Example: “The door was not closed.”
Example: “The door was not closed.”
Passive with Imperatives
Use: Instructions or commands.
Example: “The form must be filled out.”
Example: “The form must be filled out.”
Passive with Infinitive
Structure: to be + past participle
Example: “The report is expected to be finished soon.”
Example: “The report is expected to be finished soon.”
Passive with Perfect Infinitive
Structure: to have been + past participle
Example: “He is believed to have been at the scene.”
Example: “He is believed to have been at the scene.”
Passive with Modals
Structure: modal + be + past participle
Example: “The documents must be signed.”
Example: “The documents must be signed.”
Passive with Causative
Structure: have/get + object + past participle
Example: “I had my car repaired.”
Example: “I had my car repaired.”
Passive with Reported Speech
Use: To report information.
Example: “He said the work was done.”
Example: “He said the work was done.”
Passive with “It”
Use: “It is said that…”
Example: “It is believed that he is honest.”
Example: “It is believed that he is honest.”
Passive in Questions
Example: “Who was the book written by?”
Passive with “By” Omission
Use: When the doer is unknown or unimportant.
Example: “The window was broken.”
Example: “The window was broken.”
Passive with “Get” (Informal)
Use: Informal passive voice.
Example: “He got promoted last year.”
Example: “He got promoted last year.”
Passive Voice Summary
Remember: Focus on the action or receiver, not the doer.
Example: “The cake was eaten.”
Example: “The cake was eaten.”
Passive Voice in Formal Writing
Use: Common in reports, scientific writing.
Example: “The experiment was conducted carefully.”
Example: “The experiment was conducted carefully.”
Passive Voice in Instructions
Use: For manuals and instructions.
Example: “The button should be pressed to start.”
Example: “The button should be pressed to start.”
Passive with Present Perfect
Structure: has/have been + past participle
Example: “The letters have been sent.”
Example: “The letters have been sent.”
Passive with Future Perfect
Structure: will have been + past participle
Example: “The work will have been completed by then.”
Example: “The work will have been completed by then.”
Passive Voice with Modal Perfect
Structure: modal + have been + past participle
Example: “The package should have been delivered.”
Example: “The package should have been delivered.”
Passive Voice Practice Tip
Practice changing active sentences to passive to improve fluency and understanding!
