Passive Voice
Use the passive voice (be + past participle) to focus on the action or result, not the actor. Common in formal and academic English.
Examples
- The report was written by the team.
- English is spoken worldwide.
- The bridge was built in 1900.
Practice prompts
- Describe how a product you use is made.
- Tell me about a famous building and when it was built.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I avoid passive voice?
- Avoid it in casual conversation — active voice is shorter and clearer.