The passive voice

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Grammar for Band 7+ 25 minintermediate

The passive voice

Form the passive accurately in every tense, use it where examiners expect it (Task 1 processes and maps, objective Task 2 arguments, 'It is believed that…') and avoid the overuse and awkward passives that keep band 6 writers at band 6.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

Form the passive correctly in all common tenses, with modals, infinitives and -ing forms
Choose the passive for the right reasons: process diagrams, unknown or unimportant agents, information flow and an objective academic tone
Use reporting structures such as 'It is believed that…' and 'X is thought to…' accurately, including the perfect infinitive
Decide when to include an agent with 'by' and when to leave it out
Avoid the classic errors: passive intransitive verbs ('was happened'), missing 'be', wrong participles, 'is needed to be' and overuse

What the examiner is listening and looking for

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA) is one of the four criteria in Writing and Speaking, worth 25% of each score. In simple terms, the public band descriptors say:

Band 6: a mix of simple and complex sentences, but the complex ones contain more errors than the simple ones.
Band 7: a variety of complex structures used with some flexibility; error-free sentences are frequent.
Band 8: a wide range of structures used flexibly and accurately; the majority of sentences are error-free.

Examiners do not count passives or tick a box marked 'passive used'. They notice whether you choose the right structure for the meaning and whether you form it correctly. A correct passive in the right place shows range and control. Ten passives in a row show neither.

The core idea

An active sentence starts with the doer. A passive sentence starts with the thing that receives the action.

Active: Farmers harvest the jute in July.
Passive: The jute is harvested in July.

Three things happen: the object (the jute) becomes the subject; the verb becomes be + past participle; and the doer either disappears or moves to the end after by. The tense is carried by be, so be must change while the participle (harvested) never does.

Forming the passive: be (in the right tense) + past participle

Tense / form	Structure	IELTS example
Present simple	am / is / are + p.p.	Most of the country's rice is grown in the monsoon season.
Present continuous	am / is / are being + p.p.	A new metro line is being built between the airport and the city centre.
Present perfect	has / have been + p.p.	Since 2010, more than a million trees have been planted along the coast.
Past simple	was / were + p.p.	The bridge was opened to traffic in 2022.
Past continuous	was / were being + p.p.	The road was being repaired when the floods arrived.
Past perfect	had been + p.p.	By 1990, most of the original forest had been cleared for farming.
Future (will)	will be + p.p.	In the final stage, the bottles will be sent to supermarkets.
Future perfect	will have been + p.p.	By 2035, the coal plants will have been closed.
be going to	am / is / are going to be + p.p.	The old market is going to be demolished next year.
Modal	modal + be + p.p.	Single-use plastic should be banned. / The problem can be solved.
Modal perfect	modal + have been + p.p.	Much of the damage could have been prevented.
Infinitive	(to) be + p.p.	Every student deserves to be given clear feedback.
-ing form	being + p.p.	Most teenagers dislike being told what to do.

Verbs that have NO passive (intransitive verbs)

Verb	✗ Wrong	✓ Right	Why
happen / occur / take place	The accident was happened at night.	The accident happened at night.	Nobody 'happens' an accident. No object means no passive.
rise / fall / increase / decrease (data)	Sales were increased to 40%.	Sales increased to 40%.	In Task 1 you are describing a change, not saying someone deliberately increased it.
die	Thousands were died in the cyclone.	Thousands died in the cyclone. / Thousands were killed in the cyclone.	die is intransitive. If you want a passive, use the transitive verb kill.
remain / stay	Prices were remained stable.	Prices remained stable.	A linking verb; it has no object.
arrive / appear / disappear / emerge	The forest was disappeared by 2010.	The forest had disappeared by 2010. / The forest had been cleared by 2010.	Use a transitive verb (clear, cut down, remove) if you want to show human action.
consist of / belong to / seem	The process is consisted of six stages.	The process consists of six stages. / The process is made up of six stages.	consist of is never passive, even though be made up of and be composed of are.

Check: forming the passive

8 questions

1
Over the last decade, hundreds of new apartment blocks (build) in Dhaka.
2
In the next stage, the tea leaves (dry) in hot-air ovens.
3
Traffic is slow near the airport because a new flyover (construct) at the moment.
4
By 1990, most of the original forest (clear) for farming.
5
Single-use plastic bags should (ban) in all supermarkets.
6
Which verb CANNOT be used in the passive?
7
Find and correct the mistake:
The opening ceremony was took place in the main hall.
8
Match each active sentence to its correct passive form.
They are repairing the road.
They have closed the factory.
They will close the factory.
They had closed the factory.

Answer every question to check.

When should you choose the passive?

The passive is not 'more advanced' in itself. It is the right choice in four situations:

1. The doer is unknown, obvious or unimportant. My phone was stolen at Kamalapur station. (unknown) · Rice is harvested twice a year. (obviously by farmers)

2. The process matters more than the person. This is why Task 1 process diagrams and maps are written mainly in the passive: The clay is shaped into bricks, which are then fired in a kiln. · The old houses were demolished to make way for a car park.

3. To keep the topic at the start of the sentence. English likes to put known information first and new information last. The passive lets you do this, which improves cohesion: Bangladesh is one of the world's largest producers of jute. Much of this jute is spun into yarn before it is exported. The second sentence starts with this jute (already known) and ends with the new information.

4. To sound objective and cautious in academic writing. It is often argued that… · This policy is expected to… You report views without naming who holds them, which suits the discussion paragraphs of Task 2.

Include the agent with by, or leave it out?

About 80% of passives in academic English have no agent. Include by + agent only when the doer is new, important or surprising information:

✓ Amar Shonar Bangla was written by Rabindranath Tagore. (the writer is the point)
✓ The survey was conducted by the World Health Organization. (the source adds credibility)
✗ Rice is grown by farmers. · English is spoken by people all over the world. · The bag was stolen by someone. (empty agents: delete them)

Remember: by + the doer or a method (by hand, by machine, by truck: no article); with + a tool someone uses (The leaves are cut with a sharp knife).

Task 1 model: a process described with the passive

The diagram shows how black tea is produced.

First, the young leaves are plucked by hand, usually early in the morning. They are then taken to the factory, where they are spread out on large racks and left to wither for up to 18 hours, so that they lose much of their moisture. Next, the softened leaves are rolled by machine, which breaks the cells and releases natural juices. After this, the leaves are left to oxidise, and their colour gradually changes from green to copper. Once oxidation is complete, the tea is dried in hot-air ovens. Finally, it is sorted into different grades and packed for sale.

Present simple passiveA process is a general, repeated procedure, so the default tense is the present simple: is/are + past participle.
are plucked by hand'By hand' is a method, not an agent. No article: by hand, by machine, by truck. Notice there is no 'by workers'; that would add nothing.
are spread out … and leftOne 'are' can serve two participles joined by 'and'. You do not need to repeat it, which keeps the sentence elegant.
which breaks the cellsActive verb: the machine is the subject of this relative clause. Good writers mix active and passive; they do not force every verb into the passive.
their colour gradually changes'Change' here describes something happening by itself (intransitive), so it stays active. 'Is changed' would suggest someone changes it.
Once oxidation is completeA noun (oxidation) plus a time clause adds range and avoids a long chain of identical passive sentences.

Reporting structures for objective Task 2 writing

Pattern	Example	Use it for
It + passive reporting verb + that …	It is widely believed that online learning will never fully replace the classroom.	Introducing a common view, especially in the introduction or the 'opposing view' paragraph.
Subject + passive verb + to + infinitive	Regular exercise is known to reduce stress.	The same meaning, more concisely; the topic becomes the subject.
Subject + passive verb + to be + -ing	Air quality in Dhaka is thought to be getting worse.	A situation that is in progress now.
Subject + passive verb + to have + p.p.	The 2022 floods in north-eastern Bangladesh are believed to have affected over seven million people.	The belief is present, but the event was in the past.
Subject + is expected / projected to + infinitive	The new metro line is expected to cut journey times by half.	Predictions in Task 2, and future data in Task 1 ('is projected to reach').
It is estimated that … / X is estimated to …	It is estimated that around four million people work in Bangladesh's garment industry.	Introducing approximate figures as supporting evidence.
It is suggested / recommended / proposed that + subject + (should) + base verb	It is recommended that schools (should) teach financial literacy.	Recommendations. With suggest and propose, ONLY this pattern works: never 'Schools are suggested to…'.

Band 6 vs band 8: presenting views objectively

Band 6 style

Many people think that university should be free. They say that education is a right of everyone. Some people also say that free university will help poor students because they cannot pay the fees now and so they don't go to university.

Band 8 style

It is widely argued that university education should be free of charge, since access to learning is regarded as a basic right. Abolishing tuition fees is also expected to widen participation among students from low-income families, who are currently thought to be under-represented in higher education.

The band 6 version repeats 'people think / people say' and relies on simple clauses. The band 8 version uses three different passive reporting structures (It is argued that…, is regarded as…, is expected to…, are thought to be…) inside complex sentences with 'since' and a relative clause. The ideas are identical; the grammatical range is not. Note: the writer's own opinion should still be stated clearly elsewhere ('I firmly believe…'). Passives report other people's views; they do not replace your position.

The passive in Speaking: natural, not stiff

Part 1: Has your neighbourhood changed much in recent years?

Yes, enormously. When I was a child, there was a big open field behind our building, but it's been turned into a shopping complex now. A lot of the old houses have been knocked down and replaced by six-storey apartment blocks, and the main road has been widened, although honestly the traffic hasn't improved at all!

Part 3: Why do you think some traditional crafts are disappearing?

I think it's mainly economic. Handmade products like nakshi kantha are very labour-intensive, so they can't be sold as cheaply as factory goods. Young people also tend to be drawn to better-paid jobs in the city, so the skills aren't being passed down to the next generation. Unless these crafts are actively promoted, perhaps through tourism or online marketplaces, I'm afraid a lot of them will be lost.

it's been turned intoContracted present perfect passive (it has been → it's been). Contractions are completely natural in Speaking.
have been knocked down and replacedDescribing change to places is the most natural home for the passive in Part 1 and Part 2.
can't be sold / will be lostModal and future passives in Part 3 let you talk about consequences without inventing a doer.
aren't being passed downPresent continuous passive: an ongoing trend. This is exactly the kind of 'complex structure' that shows band 7+ range when it is accurate.
The get-passiveIn informal speech, 'get' can replace 'be' for events that happen to us: 'I got stuck in traffic', 'My cousin got promoted last year'. Fine in Speaking, but use 'be' in academic writing.

Overuse and awkward passives

Some candidates learn that 'the passive is academic' and then use it everywhere. The result is heavy, vague and often wrong.

Filler openings: It can be clearly seen from the graph that… repeated three times adds words but no information. Write The graph shows that… or start with the data.
Hiding your opinion: It is believed that… in a Task 2 thesis leaves the examiner unsure what you think. Task Response needs a clear position: I believe…, In my view….
'It is believed by me' ✗ → I believe.
Double passives: The data was attempted to be collected ✗ → Researchers attempted to collect the data.
'is needed to be' ✗: This problem is needed to be solved → This problem needs to be solved. The verb need stays active; only the infinitive is passive.
Long chains of passives: if every sentence in a paragraph is passive, rewrite one or two in the active with a real subject.

Same map, two writers

Passive overload

It can be seen from the maps that many changes were made. The farmland was replaced by houses. A school was built by the council. Trees were cut down by people. A road was constructed. It can also be seen that a car park was added.

Balanced and precise

Since 1995, the village has been transformed from a farming community into a residential suburb. Most of the farmland to the north has been replaced by housing, while the woodland beside the river has disappeared completely. A new road now runs from east to west, and a school and a car park have been added near the centre.

The left version uses six short passives in a row, two empty agents ('by the council' is unknown from a map, 'by people' is meaningless) and two filler 'It can be seen' clauses. The right version uses passives where human action is implied (transformed, replaced, added), active verbs where things happen or simply exist (has disappeared, runs), a consistent present perfect for change up to now, and complex sentences with 'while' and 'and'. That is range with control.

The ten most common passive errors in IELTS scripts

✗ Error	✓ Correction	Why
The rice harvested in November.	The rice is harvested in November.	Without be, 'harvested' reads as an active past verb: the rice harvested something.
The bridge was build in 2022.	The bridge was built in 2022.	The passive needs the past participle (third form).
The accident was happened at night.	The accident happened at night.	Intransitive verbs have no passive.
Since 2010, many flyovers were built in Dhaka.	Since 2010, many flyovers have been built in Dhaka.	'Since' + a period up to now needs the present perfect.
This problem is needed to be solved.	This problem needs to be solved.	'Need' stays active; the infinitive carries the passive.
Students are suggested to study abroad.	It is suggested that students study abroad.	'Suggest' cannot take an object + to-infinitive, active or passive.
Plastic bags should banned.	Plastic bags should be banned.	Modal passive = modal + be + p.p.
The number of cars have been reduced.	The number of cars has been reduced.	The subject is 'the number' (singular). Compare: 'A number of measures have been taken.'
Rice is grown by farmers in Bangladesh.	Rice is grown in Bangladesh.	The agent is obvious; it adds nothing.
The process is consisted of five stages.	The process consists of five stages.	'Consist of' is never passive. ('Is made up of' is fine.)

বাংলাভাষীরা কেন এই ভুলগুলো করেন

বাংলায় প্যাসিভ সাধারণত 'করা হয়', 'দেওয়া হয়েছে', 'দেখা যায়' দিয়ে তৈরি হয় — মূল ক্রিয়ার রূপ খুব একটা বদলায় না। ইংরেজিতে কিন্তু দুটো জিনিস লাগবেই: be (is/was/has been…) + past participle (built, taken, grown)। তাই 'The bridge was build' বা 'Rice grown in Bangladesh' — দুটোই ভুল। আর মনে রাখুন: happen, die, rise, fall, occur-এর কোনো object নেই, তাই এদের প্যাসিভ হয় না — 'It was happened' নয়, 'It happened'।

Check: reporting structures and choosing the passive

6 questions

1
It widely believed that the new bridge will boost the economy of the south-west.
2
The new metro line is expected (cut) journey times by half.
3
The ancient city is thought destroyed by an earthquake about a thousand years ago.
4
Find and correct the mistake:
This issue is needed to be addressed urgently.
5
Which sentence is NOT correct?
6
Choose TWO situations where the passive is the better choice.
Select 2.

Answer every question to check.

Writing Task 1 practice

120+ words · 15 min

The diagram below shows how raw jute is processed into yarn.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features.

Write at least 120 words. (A short practice version of Task 1: focus on accurate passives and clear sequencing.)

The processing of raw jute into yarn

Harvesting

Plants cut by hand after 100–120 days

Retting

Bundles submerged in water for 2–3 weeks to loosen the fibre

Stripping

Fibres separated from the stalks by hand

Washing and drying

Fibres washed in clean water and dried in the sun

Grading and baling

Sorted by quality and pressed into bales

Transport

Bales taken to mills by truck or boat

Spinning

Fibre softened and spun into yarn

0 / 120 words0 paragraphs0 linking wordsDraft saved on this device

Self-check before submitting

☐ An introduction that paraphrases the prompt (not copied word for word)
☐ An overview giving the number of stages and where the process starts and ends
☐ Present simple passive for most stages (are cut, are submerged, is spun)
☐ Correct irregular participles: cut, spun, taken (not cutted, spinned, took)
☐ At least three different sequencers (First, Then, After this, Once…, Finally)
☐ No empty agents such as 'by farmers' or 'by workers'; 'by hand' and 'by truck' are fine
☐ At least one complex sentence with 'where', 'which' or 'once'

Final quiz: the passive voice

11 questions

1
Which sentence correctly describes a line graph?
2
By the time the fire service arrived, the building (evacuate).
3
Find and correct the mistake:
A new hospital is building in Sylhet at the moment.
4
Last year's flood is estimated (affect) more than two million people.
5
Match each passive sentence to the main reason the passive was chosen.
My phone was stolen on the bus.
The leaves are dried in hot-air ovens.
It is widely argued that tuition fees should be abolished.
Gitanjali was written by Rabindranath Tagore.
6
In which sentence should the 'by' phrase be deleted?
7
Put the parts in order to make a correct sentence.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1to have contributed
- 2is widely thought
- 3Fast food
- 4among children
- 5to rising obesity
8
Find and correct the mistake:
Many people are suggested to reduce their sugar intake.
9
Which sentence would an examiner see as the most natural and controlled?
10
Unless stricter laws are introduced, more wetlands (destroy) in the coming decade.
11
Find and correct the mistake:
Finally, the softened fibre is spinned into yarn.

Answer every question to check.

Key takeaways

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