Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The passive voice shifts focus from the person doing the action to the person or thing receiving the action.
- Use 'be' + past participle: 'The cake was eaten' (max 20 words)
- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject (max 20 words)
- Use 'by' only if the doer is important: 'by Shakespeare' (max 20 words)
Overview
Subject (主語) + Verb (動詞) + Object (目的語)、つまり「AがBを〜する」という形です。一方、受動態はこの「B（目的語）」を主語の位置に持ってくる構造です。The chef prepared the meal. (シェフが料理を準備した) |The meal was prepared. (料理が準備された) |- 1直接受動： 「私は先生に褒められた」のように、動作を直接受けるもの。
- 2迷惑受動： 「雨に降られた」「泥棒に逃げられた」のように、その出来事によって困ったという感情が含まれるもの。
It was rained. とは言いません（これは日本人がよくやってしまう間違いです）。英語では、動作の対象となる「モノ」や「コト」に焦点を当てるためにこの形を使います。Subject (動作を受けるもの) + be動詞 + 過去分詞 (Past Participle)-ed をつけるだけですが、不規則動詞（make → made, write → written など）はしっかり覚える必要があります。This smartphone is made in Japan.(このスマートフォンは日本で作られています。)Letters are delivered every morning.(手紙は毎朝配達されます。)
The package was sent yesterday.(その小包は昨日送られました。)The windows were cleaned this morning.(窓は今朝掃除されました。)
by ... を付け加えます。This book was written by a famous novelist.(この本は有名な小説家によって書かれました。)
by を使いません。動作主が誰か分かっている場合や、重要でない場合は省略するのが自然です。My bicycle was stolen!(自転車が盗まれた！)- 犯人が誰か分からないので、盗まれた「自転車」を主語にします。
The street is swept every night.(通りは毎晩掃除されます。)- 誰が掃除しているか（清掃員など）よりも、掃除されるという事実に注目しています。
The pyramids were built thousands of years ago.(ピラミッドは何千年も前に建てられました。)- 建設した無名の労働者たちよりも「ピラミッド」そのものが話題の中心です。
The project was completed on schedule.(プロジェクトは予定通り完了しました。)- 「私たちが完了させた」と言うよりも、プロジェクトの結果に焦点を当てることでプロフェッショナルな響きになります。
The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment.(実験は管理された環境で行われました。)
A mistake was made in the calculation.(計算に間違いがありました。)You made a mistake.(あなたが間違えた) と言うよりも攻撃性が低くなります。政治家のスピーチでもよく使われるテクニックです。
First, the grapes are harvested. Then, they are crushed.(まずブドウが収穫されます。次に、それらは押しつぶされます。)
- ❌ Incorrect:
The report finished yesterday. - ⭕ Correct:
The report was finished yesterday.
finished）だけでは「〜された」という述語になれません。必ず「be動詞」というエンジンが必要です。- ❌ Incorrect:
An accident was happened. - ⭕ Correct:
An accident happened.
happen (起こる) や die (死ぬ)、arrive (到着する) は自動詞なので、受動態にはなりません。- ❌ Incorrect:
The letter was wrote by him. - ⭕ Correct:
The letter was written by him.
write - wrote - written の変化を正確に覚えることが不可欠です。- ❌ Incorrect:
I was stolen my wallet.(私は盗まれた、私の財布を…？) - ⭕ Correct:
My wallet was stolen.(私の財布が盗まれた。)
I was stolen と言うと、自分自身が盗品として持ち去られたような奇妙な意味になってしまいます。be + 過去分詞 | 動詞の通常形 | have + 物 + 過去分詞 |The car was repaired. | I repaired the car. | I had my car repaired. |- 動作:
The door was closed by the wind.(ドアは風によって閉められた。) - 状態:
The door was closed when I arrived.(私が着いた時、ドアは閉まっていた。)
be + 過去分詞 の形をとります。get を使った受動態（get + 過去分詞）をよく聞きますが、be と何が違うのですか？get を使った受動態は、より口語的（カジュアル）で、「変化」や「予期せぬ出来事」を強調します。例えば、I got fired. (クビになった) や I got married. (結婚した) など、動きのあるニュアンスになります。一方、be 動詞はよりフォーマルで一般的です。have「持っている」、resemble「似ている」、fit「合う」など）は受動態にできません。例えば、A car is had by me. とは言いません。Someone did...）を使うべきです。be + being + 過去分詞 という形になります。例えば、My car is being repaired. (私の車は今、修理されているところです) となります。少し複雑に見えますが、B1レベルではまず基本の現在形・過去形を完璧にしましょう。2. Negative Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
is not
|
isn't
|
The car isn't washed.
|
|
are not
|
aren't
|
The cars aren't washed.
|
|
was not
|
wasn't
|
The car wasn't washed.
|
|
were not
|
weren't
|
The cars weren't washed.
|
Passive Voice Tense Formation
| Tense | Subject | To Be | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
The car
|
is
|
washed
|
The car is washed.
|
|
Present Simple
|
The cars
|
are
|
washed
|
The cars are washed.
|
|
Past Simple
|
The car
|
was
|
washed
|
The car was washed.
|
|
Past Simple
|
The cars
|
were
|
washed
|
The cars were washed.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
The car
|
is being
|
washed
|
The car is being washed.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
The car
|
has been
|
washed
|
The car has been washed.
|
|
Future (Will)
|
The car
|
will be
|
washed
|
The car will be washed.
|
|
Modals
|
The car
|
must be
|
washed
|
The car must be washed.
|
Meanings
A grammatical construction where the subject is the recipient of the action rather than the performer.
Unknown Agent
Used when we don't know who performed the action.
“My bike was stolen last night.”
“The window was broken while I was out.”
Obvious Agent
Used when the performer of the action is so obvious it doesn't need mentioning.
“The thief was arrested.”
“The crops are harvested in autumn.”
Formal/Scientific Objectivity
Used to sound objective and professional by removing the 'I' or 'We'.
“The chemicals were mixed in a beaker.”
“The results were analyzed carefully.”
Reference Table
| 時制 | 主語 | 'to be' 動詞 | 過去分詞 | 例文 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
The report
|
is
|
written
|
The report *is written* daily.
|
|
Present Simple
|
These apps
|
are
|
downloaded
|
These apps *are downloaded* by millions.
|
|
Past Simple
|
The message
|
was
|
sent
|
The message *was sent* an hour ago.
|
|
Past Simple
|
The decisions
|
were
|
made
|
The decisions *were made* quickly.
|
|
Present Simple
|
My coffee
|
is
|
brewed
|
My coffee *is brewed* fresh every morning.
|
|
Past Simple
|
Our car
|
was
|
repaired
|
Our car *was repaired* by a local mechanic.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
The requested documentation has been processed. (Workplace)
The paperwork was finished this morning. (Workplace)
The forms are all done. (Workplace)
It's all sorted, mate. (Workplace)
受動態: 物がどうなるか
作り方
- 'to be' verb 例: is, are, was, were
- Past Participle 例: written, made, sent
- Optional 'by' 誰がしたか
使う時
- 行為者が不明 例: My wallet was stolen.
- 行為者が重要でない 例: The road is being repaired.
- 行動に焦点を当てる 例: News was reported.
- 公式な文脈 例: Rules are enforced.
よくある間違い
- 'be' の欠落 例: 'The book read.'
- 間違った 'be' の形 例: 'They was told.'
- 間違った動詞の形 例: 'The cake was ate.'
能動態 vs. 受動態
受動態を使うべきか？
行動の「行為者」は分かっているか、そして重要ですか？
行動や行動を受けるものに焦点を当てたいですか？
受動態を使う状況
ニュースと報道
- • 'It was reported that...'
- • 発見がなされる
- • イベントが発表される
プロセスと指示
- • 材料が混ぜられる
- • 手順が踏まれる
- • 製品が製造される
行為者が不明/重要でない時
- • 私の鍵が見つかった。
- • 間違いが犯された。
- • 窓が割られた。
外交と客観性
- • 決定がなされた。
- • 問題が対処される。
- • 政策が策定される。
レベル別の例文
The car is washed.
The car is washed.
The pizza is eaten.
The pizza is eaten.
The windows are closed.
The windows are closed.
The book was lost.
The book was lost.
The house was built in 2010.
The house was built in 2010.
These shoes are made in Italy.
These shoes are made in Italy.
The thief was caught by the police.
The thief was caught by the police.
Was the homework finished?
Was the homework finished?
The application was rejected because it was late.
The application was rejected because it was late.
The meeting is held in the main hall every Friday.
The meeting is held in the main hall every Friday.
Many languages are spoken in this city.
Many languages are spoken in this city.
The bridge was damaged during the storm.
The bridge was damaged during the storm.
The suspect is being questioned by the detectives now.
The suspect is being questioned by the detectives now.
The project should have been completed last week.
The project should have been completed last week.
It is believed that the company is facing bankruptcy.
It is believed that the company is facing bankruptcy.
The data was collected over a six-month period.
The data was collected over a six-month period.
The decision was made with the utmost care.
The decision was made with the utmost care.
Rarely is such a discovery made in this field.
Rarely is such a discovery made in this field.
The building is said to be haunted.
The building is said to be haunted.
He was given a standing ovation after his speech.
He was given a standing ovation after his speech.
The proposal was met with considerable skepticism.
The proposal was met with considerable skepticism.
Provision was made for the possibility of a delay.
Provision was made for the possibility of a delay.
The artifacts are thought to have been smuggled out of the country.
The artifacts are thought to have been smuggled out of the country.
No effort was spared in the search for survivors.
No effort was spared in the search for survivors.
間違えやすい
Learners confuse 'The window was broken (by someone)' with 'The window was broken (state/adjective)'.
Learners confuse 'is done' with 'has done'.
Some verbs look active but feel passive, like 'The book sells well'.
よくある間違い
The cake eaten.
The cake was eaten.
The car is wash.
The car is washed.
I was borned in London.
I was born in London.
The window broke by me.
The window was broken by me.
The letters was sent.
The letters were sent.
The book written by him.
The book was written by him.
Is the dinner cook?
Is the dinner cooked?
The house was builded in 1990.
The house was built in 1990.
It was happened yesterday.
It happened yesterday.
The work is being do.
The work is being done.
The car was got stolen.
The car was stolen / The car got stolen.
He is said to have been went.
He is said to have gone.
The problem was explained me.
The problem was explained to me.
文型パターン
The ___ was ___ in ___.
___ are ___ every day.
It is ___ that ___.
The ___ hasn't been ___ yet.
Real World Usage
Thousands of homes destroyed by flood.
Made in Vietnam. Batteries not included.
The flight has been delayed.
The eggs are beaten until fluffy.
I was given the 'Employee of the Month' award.
My bike got stolen! :(
「be」動詞を見つけよう！
過去分詞を忘れないで！
能動態と受動態のテスト
文脈が重要！
誰が主役？
Smart Tips
Use the passive to avoid sounding like you are blaming someone.
Check if it's an adjective or a passive verb by trying to add 'by someone'.
Don't say 'Someone...'. Use the passive voice instead.
Use the present simple passive to focus on the steps.
発音
Stress on Participle
In passive sentences, the main stress usually falls on the past participle, not the 'be' verb.
Weak 'was'
The word 'was' is usually unstressed and pronounced as /wəz/.
Falling intonation for statements
The bridge was built in 1890. ↘
Conveys a completed fact.
暗記しよう
記憶術
BE + V3 = Passive for me! (Be verb + Past Participle).
視覚的連想
Imagine a robot being built in a factory. We don't see the workers, only the robot (the object) moving through the stages of being 'made', 'painted', and 'shipped'.
Rhyme
When the doer is a mystery, use the passive for history!
Story
A man wakes up and finds his car is gone. He tells the police, 'My car was stolen!' He doesn't say 'A thief stole it' because he didn't see the thief. The car is the star of his story.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look around your room. Find 5 things and say how they were made or where they were bought using the passive voice (e.g., 'This lamp was bought in IKEA').
文化メモ
The passive voice is the 'bread and butter' of news. It allows reporters to remain neutral and avoid blaming individuals before a trial.
In Western universities, using 'I' in a science paper is often discouraged. The passive voice is used to make the research seem universal and objective.
Contracts use the passive to define obligations without naming specific employees, focusing on the company as an entity.
The English passive voice evolved from Old English, which used 'weorthan' (to become) or 'beon' (to be) with a participle.
会話のきっかけ
Where was your favorite piece of clothing made?
Have you ever had something stolen?
What is a famous building in your city? When was it built?
How are traditional holidays celebrated in your country?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
The new update ___ on all devices yesterday afternoon.
Find and fix the mistake:
The message send to everyone in the group chat.
正しい文を選びましょう:
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /4
練習問題
8 exercisesThe Mona Lisa ___ (paint) by Leonardo da Vinci.
Choose the correct option:
Find and fix the mistake:
The windows are clean every Saturday.
Passive form:
You can use the passive voice with the verb 'to sleep'.
A: Why is the road closed? B: An accident ___ (report) ten minutes ago.
Which of these is passive?
Write -> ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesAll assignments ___ online by midnight on Sunday.
The latest episode released last night.
正しい文はどれですか？
「Das Museum wird gerade renoviert.」を英語に翻訳しましょう。
これらの単語を文に並べ替えましょう:
主語と正しい受動態の動詞形を一致させましょう:
The data ___ carefully analyzed before making a decision.
Many applications submitted for the new role.
正しい文はどれですか？
「Neue Produkte werden oft in sozialen Medien beworben.」を英語に翻訳しましょう。
これらの単語を文に並べ替えましょう:
始まりと正しい結びを一致させましょう:
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
Avoid it when the 'doer' is important or when you want to be direct and energetic. 'I love you' is much better than 'You are loved by me'!
No! In fact, we omit 'by' in about 80% of passive sentences because the doer is unknown or obvious.
'Was broken' is standard and neutral. 'Got broken' is informal and often implies the event was accidental or unfortunate.
Yes! Use 'will be' + V3. For example: 'The results will be published tomorrow.'
No, but overusing it can make writing sound dry or evasive. Use it when the focus truly belongs on the object.
Swap the subject and the 'be' verb. 'The car was fixed' becomes 'Was the car fixed?'
Only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be passive. You can't say 'The bed was slept' because 'sleep' doesn't have an object.
Yes! In English, being born is something that happens to you, so we always use the passive form.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Voz pasiva (ser + participio) / Pasiva refleja (se)
English uses the passive much more frequently than Spanish in everyday speech.
La voix passive (être + participe passé)
French participles change endings (e.g., mangé vs mangée); English ones never do.
Passiv (werden + Partizip II)
German uses 'become' (werden) as the auxiliary, while English uses 'be'.
受身 (ukemi)
Japanese uses a suffix on the main verb; English uses an auxiliary verb.
المبني للمجهول (al-mabni lil-majhul)
Arabic uses vowel shifts within the verb; English uses 'be' + V3.
被字句 (bèi zì jù)
Chinese 'bèi' is a particle, not a verb conjugation, and often carries a negative connotation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
関連動画
04:41 “The Minister of Loneliness” | Sarah Kay | TED
05:57 The infamous JoJo thought experiment - Michael Vazquez and Sarah Stroud
06:27 Was Alexander the Great really that great? - Stephanie Honchell Smith
How to use the Passive Voice 😅 English Grammar Lesson
mmmEnglish
PASSIVE VOICE - English Grammar step-by-step
Arnel's Everyday English
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