Introduction

In everyday English, we often say who does an action: People build houses. But sometimes the action is more important than the person who does it, or we do not know who the doer is. In these cases, English uses the passive voice. This unit focuses on the present passive, a key tool for describing processes, services, rules, and facts in a clear, objective way.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: (1) form the present passive with am/is/are + past participle; (2) transform present simple active sentences into the passive; (3) decide when to include the agent with by; (4) use the present passive to describe routines, instructions, and general truths.

1) When we use the passive (present)

We use the passive when the action or the result is the main focus. This is common in news, notices, formal writing, and descriptions of systems.

Compare:

Active: The chef prepares the meals. (focus: the chef)

Passive: The meals are prepared (by the chef). (focus: the meals)

We also use the passive when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious:

My bike is stolen. (We do not know who stole it.)

English is spoken here. (The speaker is not important.)

Important concept
In the passive, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The meaning stays the same, but the focus changes.

2) Form: present simple passive

The present passive is formed with:

am / is / are + past participle

Examples:

Singular: The report is written every month.

Plural: The reports are written every month.

I: I am invited to the meeting.

Affirmative

Subject + am/is/are + past participle

These products are made in Spain.

Negative

Subject + am/is/are + not + past participle

The office is not opened on Sundays.

Questions

Am/Is/Are + subject + past participle?

Is the room cleaned every day?

3) How to transform active to passive (present)

Use this method when the active verb is in the present simple.

Step 1: Identify the object of the active sentence.

Step 2: Move it to the subject position.

Step 3: Choose am/is/are based on the new subject.

Step 4: Use the past participle of the main verb.

Step 5 (optional): Add by + agent if the doer is important.

Example transformation:

Active: The company produces these phones.

Passive: These phones are produced (by the company).

4) Using “by” (agent) and when to omit it

Use by + agent when the doer is important, new information, or surprising:

The new bridge is designed by a famous architect.

Omit the agent when it is unknown, obvious, or not relevant:

The tickets are checked at the entrance. (We assume staff check them.)

Warning
Do not confuse the passive with the present continuous. Compare: The door is closed (state/result) vs The door is being closed (action in progress). In this unit, we focus on am/is/are + past participle (present passive).

5) Common contexts (B1 level)

Rules and notices: ID cards are required.

Processes: Coffee is grown in many countries.

Services: Breakfast is served from 7 to 10.

General truths: The Earth is covered mostly by water.

Practice

Practice section
Transform each sentence into the present simple passive. Include by + agent only when it adds important information.