The Passive Infinitive: Using 'to be done'
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The passive infinitive shifts focus from the 'doer' to the 'receiver' of an action using 'to be' plus a past participle.
- Use 'to be' + past participle to show something happens to the subject. Example: 'It needs to be cleaned.'
- Place 'not' before 'to' for negatives. Example: 'He asked not to be disturbed.'
- Commonly follows verbs like want, need, expect, and hope. Example: 'I want to be invited.'
Overview
Use 'to be' and a word ending in -ed. This talks about the thing, not the person. Use this when the person is not important.
Say 'The budget must be approved' instead of 'Someone must approve it'. The budget is the most important part here.
It is an indispensable tool in professional, academic, and formal English.
How This Grammar Works
- 1The Infinitive: The infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by
to(e.g.,to do,to see,to create). The wordtoacts as a marker that requires the verb immediately following it to be in its simplest, unconjugated form.
- 1The Passive Voice: The passive voice is formed with a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb
befollowed by a past participle (the third form of a verb, likedone,seen,created). It is used when the subject of the sentence receives the action.
- An active subject performs the infinitive action:
I want to write a letter.(I am the one writing). - A passive subject receives the infinitive action:
The letter needs to be written.(The letter is not writing; it is receiving the action of being written).
Formation Pattern
submit (regular) | to submit | submitted | to be submitted |
check (regular) | to check | checked | to be checked |
When To Use It
I would like to be informed of any changes.(You want to receive information, not provide it.)The system needs to be updated by the IT department.(The system is the recipient of the update.)She expects to be promoted within the year.(She hopes to receive a promotion.)
The CEO is reported to be stepping down next month.(People are reporting this; the focus is on the CEO.)The ruins are thought to be destroyed during the war.(This is a historical belief.)The new policy is considered to be a major success.(This is the general opinion.)
All equipment is to be returned by 6 PM.(This is a rule, not a personal request.)The form is to be completed in block capitals.These files are not to be removed from the office.
He was surprised to be chosen for the lead role.(He received the honor of being chosen.)We were all disappointed to be left out of the discussion.- It can also follow impersonal adjectives:
It's necessary for the truth to be told.
There are still several issues to be addressed.She gave me a list of tasks to be completed before lunch.This isn't a decision to be taken lightly.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect:
The document needs to sign.(A document cannot sign anything.) - Correct:
The document needs to be signed. - Incorrect:
I want to pay more.(This means you want to give more money.) - Correct:
I want to be paid more.(This means you want to receive more money.)
- Missing
be: Incorrect:The problem must to solved.-> Correct:The problem must to be solved. - Using the wrong verb form: Incorrect:
It needs to be write.or...to be wrote.-> Correct:It needs to be written.Master your irregular past participles.
- Awkward:
This book is very difficult to be understood. - Natural:
This book is very difficult to understand. - Awkward:
The program is easy to be installed. - Natural:
The program is easy to install.
to be done | Current/Future | The project is expected to be finished next week. |to have been done | Past | The project is believed to have been finished last week. |- Incorrect:
The package is said to be delivered yesterday.(Timeline mismatch) - Correct:
The package is said to have been delivered yesterday.
Real Conversations
The passive infinitive appears across all registers of English, from formal announcements to casual text messages.
- Workplace Scenarios:
- (Email): Hi team, just a reminder that the client feedback needs to be reviewed by EOD.
- (Meeting): So, moving on, the next agenda item is to be discussed after the break.
- (Slack/Teams): I want to be kept in the loop on this.
- Casual & Social Interactions:
- (Text Message): My laptop needs to be repaired, it won't turn on.
- (Conversation): It's so nice to be included! Thanks for the invitation.
- (General comment): Something has to be done about this traffic.
- News, Media & Formal Announcements:
- (News Report): The Prime Minister is scheduled to be interviewed later this evening.
- (Public Sign): This entrance is to be used by staff only.
- (Airport Announcement): All passengers are required to be at the gate 20 minutes before departure.
- Customer Service & Feedback:
- (Online Review): I was disappointed to be told that my size was out of stock.
- (Complaint Email): I expect to be contacted about this issue within 48 hours.
Quick FAQ
- What is the core difference between
to doandto be done?
to do is active: the subject performs the action (I need to call him). to be done is passive: the subject receives the action (He needs to be called).- Can I still say who performed the action?
- Is the passive infinitive always formal?
- When should I use
to have been doneinstead?
- What exactly is a
past participle?
- Is it always better to use the passive voice when the agent is unknown?
Passive Infinitive Formation
| Type | Structure | Example Verb: 'Clean' | Example Verb: 'See' |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Simple Passive
|
to be + V3
|
to be cleaned
|
to be seen
|
|
Negative Passive
|
not to be + V3
|
not to be cleaned
|
not to be seen
|
|
Perfect Passive
|
to have been + V3
|
to have been cleaned
|
to have been seen
|
|
Continuous Passive
|
to be being + V3
|
to be being cleaned
|
to be being seen
|
Meanings
A verb form used to indicate that the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action described by the infinitive, rather than the performer.
Volition and Desire
Used after verbs like 'want', 'hope', or 'wish' to express what someone wants to happen to them or something else.
“I want to be told the truth.”
“She hopes to be promoted this year.”
Necessity and Obligation
Used after 'need', 'have', or 'must' to indicate required actions.
“This car needs to be washed.”
“There is a lot of work to be done.”
Reporting and Belief
Used with reporting verbs like 'say', 'think', 'believe', or 'expect' in formal structures.
“He is expected to be released tomorrow.”
“The painting is believed to be lost.”
Adjective Complements
Used after adjectives like 'easy', 'impossible', or 'likely' to describe the potential for an action.
“The instructions are easy to be misunderstood.”
“It is impossible to be finished by noon.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb + to be + V3
|
It needs to be fixed.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + Verb + not + to be + V3
|
I prefer not to be disturbed.
|
|
Interrogative
|
Auxiliary + Subject + Verb + to be + V3?
|
Does it need to be done?
|
|
With Adjectives
|
Adjective + to be + V3
|
It is easy to be fooled.
|
|
With 'There is'
|
There is + Noun + to be + V3
|
There is work to be done.
|
|
Reporting
|
Subject + is said + to be + V3
|
He is said to be involved.
|
Formality Spectrum
I request not to be disturbed during the meeting. (Privacy)
I don't want to be disturbed. (Privacy)
Don't bug me, okay? (Privacy)
Leave me be, I'm busy. (Privacy)
Passive Infinitive Usage Hub
Verbs
- Want I want to be told.
- Need It needs to be fixed.
Adjectives
- Easy Easy to be seen.
- Likely Likely to be chosen.
Active vs. Passive Infinitive
Should I use Passive Infinitive?
Is the subject doing the action?
Is the subject receiving the action?
Common Passive Infinitive Verbs
Desire
- • Want
- • Hope
- • Wish
- • Prefer
Expectation
- • Expect
- • Plan
- • Wait
- • Deserve
Examples by Level
I want to be helped.
He wants to be loved.
I need to be told.
She likes to be called 'Liz'.
The car needs to be washed.
The door is to be closed.
I hope to be invited to the party.
The cake is ready to be eaten.
He expects to be promoted soon.
There is a lot of work to be done.
The children asked not to be woken up.
The letter has to be sent today.
The results are to be announced at midnight.
The suspect is believed to be hidden in the woods.
These laws are intended to be enforced strictly.
The software needs to be updated regularly.
The proposal is considered to be fundamentally flawed.
She was the first woman to be elected to the board.
The artifacts are yet to be fully categorized.
He hates being told what to do, let alone to be ordered around.
The nuances of the treaty are to be meticulously scrutinized.
The witness is alleged to have been being threatened.
Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.
The building, once thought to be indestructible, was leveled.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'to be done' and 'being done'.
Using active when passive is needed.
Mixing up present and past passive infinitives.
Common Mistakes
I want to help.
I want to be helped.
He needs to call.
He needs to be called.
I like to love.
I like to be loved.
It needs wash.
It needs to be washed.
The car needs to wash.
The car needs to be washed.
I want to be invite.
I want to be invited.
It is to done.
It is to be done.
I hope to be see.
I hope to be seen.
He expects to promote.
He expects to be promoted.
I asked to be not disturbed.
I asked not to be disturbed.
There is work to do.
There is work to be done.
The report is said to finish.
The report is said to be finished.
It is likely to be misunderstood.
It is likely to be misunderstood.
Sentence Patterns
The ___ needs to be ___.
I hope to be ___ by ___.
There is still a lot of ___ to be ___.
He is considered to be ___.
Real World Usage
I expect to be challenged in this role.
The room is still to be cleaned.
This needs to be seen by everyone!
The fine is to be paid within 30 days.
The device needs to be restarted.
The mixture is to be stirred slowly.
The 'By' Test
Don't forget the 'be'!
Use for Politeness
Smart Tips
Check if the object can actually do the action. If not, use 'to be done'.
Use the passive infinitive to sound more professional and less like you are pointing fingers.
Always place 'not' before 'to' to stay safe in formal exams.
Use adjectives like 'easy' or 'hard' with the passive infinitive to describe how something is perceived.
Pronunciation
Weak 'to be'
In natural speech, 'to be' is often reduced and sounds like /tə bi/.
Stress on Participle
The main stress usually falls on the past participle, not the 'to be'.
Rising-Falling
It needs to be DONE. ↘
Expressing a firm requirement or completion.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: 'To be' + 'V3' makes the action happen to me!
Visual Association
Imagine a robot standing still while a mechanical arm repairs it. The robot 'wants to be fixed.' The focus is on the repair happening to the robot, not the arm doing the work.
Rhyme
If the subject is the one who's blue, 'to be done' is the form for you!
Story
A lazy king sits on his throne. He doesn't want to do anything. He wants his food 'to be brought,' his clothes 'to be washed,' and his stories 'to be told.' He is the ultimate user of the passive infinitive.
Word Web
Challenge
Look around your room. Find three things that need something done to them. Write them down using the passive infinitive (e.g., 'The plant needs to be watered').
Cultural Notes
In the UK, it is very common to use the gerund '-ing' instead of the passive infinitive after 'need'. For example, 'The car needs washing' instead of 'The car needs to be washed.' Both are correct, but the gerund is more informal.
The passive infinitive is used extensively in corporate environments to avoid blaming individuals. Instead of saying 'You didn't sign the form,' a manager might say 'The form is yet to be signed.'
Legal documents use the passive infinitive to create universal rules that apply to everyone without naming specific people.
The English passive infinitive evolved from Old English, which used a more complex system of inflections to show passive voice.
Conversation Starters
What is one thing in your house that needs to be fixed?
Do you prefer to be told the truth even if it hurts?
If you were a famous celebrity, would you want to be followed by paparazzi?
What changes do you think need to be made in your city's transport system?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
The car needs ___ (wash) today.
Find and fix the mistake:
He wants to be invite to the party.
There is a lot of work ___.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Espero ser ascendido.
Answer starts with: I h...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Select the correct negative form.
The suspect is believed ___ in London.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesThe car needs ___ (wash) today.
Find and fix the mistake:
He wants to be invite to the party.
There is a lot of work ___.
be / needs / fixed / it / to
Espero ser ascendido.
To see
Select the correct negative form.
The suspect is believed ___ in London.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesAll visitors are requested ___ at the reception desk.
The documents needed to signed by the manager.
Which of these sentences is correct?
Translate: 'Se dice que la empresa está a punto de lanzar un nuevo producto.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence beginnings with their appropriate endings:
The ancient ruins are believed ___ by a forgotten civilization.
It's important to understand when learning a new language.
Identify the correct sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the active phrases with their passive counterparts:
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
Yes, in British English, 'needs doing' is a very common and slightly more informal way to say 'needs to be done'. Both are correct.
It is more formal than active structures, but it is used in everyday speech too, especially for chores and work tasks.
'To be done' is an infinitive, used after verbs like 'want'. 'Being done' is a gerund, used after verbs like 'enjoy' or 'avoid'.
Only with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object). You cannot make 'to be slept' because you can't 'sleep' something.
In English, after 'there is/are', both the active and passive infinitive are often acceptable, but the passive 'to be done' is more common in formal writing.
Put 'not' before 'to'. For example: 'I prefer not to be seen.'
It is called a 'split infinitive'. While common in modern speech, traditional grammar prefers 'not to be'.
Avoid it if it makes the sentence too wordy or if the person doing the action is actually important to the story.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ser + participio / se + verb
English is much stricter about using the passive form for objects.
être + participe passé
French uses 'à' + active infinitive for necessity more than English.
zu werden + Partizip II
The auxiliary verb is 'become' (werden) rather than 'be'.
reru/rareru + koto
Japanese doesn't have a direct 'to + be' structure.
an yutamma + verbal noun
Arabic passive is often built into the verb itself through vowel shifts.
bèi (被) + verb
Chinese has no verb conjugation or infinitives.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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