Passive Gerunds: Being (receiving the action)
being + past participle to precisely express actions you've received with natural fluency.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'being' + a past participle to describe an action happening to you without mentioning who is doing it.
- Use 'being' + V3 after verbs like 'enjoy', 'hate', or 'avoid'. Example: 'I enjoy being pampered.'
- Place 'not' before 'being' for the negative form. Example: 'He complained about not being invited.'
- Use it after prepositions like 'of', 'about', or 'for'. Example: 'She is afraid of being watched.'
Overview
Use 'being' with an action word. It shows something happens to you.
The action happens to the person. He hates being told what to do.
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
being + Past Participle (V3)
calling | being called |
eating | being eaten |
telling | being told |
criticizing | being criticized |
giving | being given |
When To Use It
- 1After Prepositions: This is arguably the most common and grammatically strict application. English prepositions must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund. If the action expressed by the gerund is received by the subject, the passive gerund is indispensable. Failing to use the passive form here would fundamentally alter the meaning or result in an ungrammatical sentence. Common prepositions include
about,for,without,by,in,on,of,with,against,after, etc.
She's exhausted from being overworked.(The overworking happens to her.)He was accused of being negligent.(He was the one subjected to the accusation of negligence.)The team succeeded by being strategically innovative.(Their success came from their innovative actions, being perceived as such.)
- 1After Verbs Followed by Gerunds: A significant category of verbs in English demands a gerund as their complement. When the action of this gerundial complement is received by the subject of the main verb, the passive gerund is the correct choice. These verbs do not take infinitives in this context; therefore, a passive infinitive is not an alternative. Examples include
enjoy,avoid,mind,consider,imagine,deny,suggest,risk,dislike,hate,love,prefer,remember,regret,fancy,admit,fancy,dread,resent,tolerate,understand,appreciate,recall,report,mention,recommend,postpone,defer,finish,stop,keep,delay,miss,practise,quit,save,stand,can't help,can't stand,it's no good,it's no use.
I don't mind being corrected if I make a mistake.(I am the one who receives the correction.)He regrets being nominated for the award, as it caused a controversy.(He was the recipient of the nomination.)They appreciated being invited to the exclusive event.(They were the ones receiving the invitation.)
- 1To Emphasize the Recipient or the Experience: Even when not strictly required by a preceding preposition or verb, the passive gerund serves a crucial rhetorical function. It allows you to deliberately shift the focus away from the agent of the action (who performed it) and onto the patient (who or what experienced it). This is particularly effective when the agent is irrelevant, unknown, or when the feeling or impact of the experience on the recipient is the most important element of the message.
The project thrived on being given ample resources.(The focus is on the project's reception of resources, not who gave them.)Children often learn best by being shown, not just told.(The emphasis is on the children's experience of being demonstrated to.)She spoke about the challenges of being a public figure.(The experience of being in the public eye is highlighted.)
- 1For Conciseness and Stylistic Elegance: The passive gerund often provides a more compact and elegant alternative to a full passive clause, particularly in formal writing or complex sentence structures. It allows for the condensation of information, streamlining sentences without sacrificing clarity. This is a hallmark of advanced language use, enabling you to express complex ideas with greater economy.
- Instead of:
The reason for his anger was that he had been unjustly accused. - Use:
The reason for his anger was his being unjustly accused. - Instead of:
It is important for the company that it is perceived as ethical. - Use:
It is important for the company to prioritize being perceived as ethical.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing Active and Passive Gerunds: This is perhaps the most prevalent error, leading to significant shifts in meaning. Using an active gerund (
-ing) when a passive gerund (being+ past participle) is required fundamentally misrepresents who is performing and who is receiving the action.
- Incorrect:
He dreads criticizing.(This implies he is afraid to criticize others.) - Correct:
He dreads being criticized.(This implies he is afraid that others will criticize him.) - Incorrect:
She enjoys giving flowers.(She likes to perform the action of giving.) - Correct:
She enjoys being given flowers.(She likes to receive the flowers.)
- 1Omitting
being: Learners sometimes mistakenly use only the past participle after a preposition or a gerund-taking verb, attempting to create a passive sense. However, the past participle alone cannot function as a gerund in this context; thebeingis essential to form the gerundial phrase.
- Incorrect:
He complained about neglected by his colleagues. - Correct:
He complained about being neglected by his colleagues.(neglectedalone is an adjective or past tense verb, not a gerund.) - Incorrect:
They risked caught in the crossfire. - Correct:
They risked being caught in the crossfire.
- 1Confusing Passive Gerunds with Passive Infinitives (
to be done): While both convey a passive meaning, their usage is dictated by the preceding verb or structure. Verbs that take gerunds cannot be followed by passive infinitives, and vice-versa. Incorrectly interchanging them is a common source of error.
- Verbs followed by gerunds (e.g.,
avoid,finish,mind,enjoy,suggest): They avoided being seen.(Correct:avoidtakes a gerund.)- Incorrect:
They avoided to be seen. - Verbs followed by infinitives (e.g.,
want,need,agree,decide,expect): She wants to be promoted.(Correct:wanttakes an infinitive.)- Incorrect:
She wants being promoted.
- 1Misunderstanding Time Reference with Perfect Passive Gerund (
having been done): The simple passive gerund (being done) usually refers to an action that is simultaneous with or immediately subsequent to the main verb's action. The perfect passive gerund (having been done) specifically indicates an action completed before the action of the main verb. Conflating these two forms leads to temporal inaccuracies.
He denied being involved in the incident.(He denied his involvement at the time of the incident or denial.)He denied having been involved in the incident.(He denied that he had been involved at some point in the past, prior to the denial.)
- 1Incorrectly Using
being + -ingas a Passive Gerund: The constructionbeing + verb-ingis a continuous active form (e.g.,He is being considerate). It cannot be used as a passive gerund. The passive gerund always requires a past participle, never an-ingform afterbeing(unless that-ingform is an adjective, which is a different grammatical phenomenon).
- Incorrect:
She resented being waiting for so long. - Correct:
She resented being made to wait for so long.(orShe resented waiting for so long.if active.) - Incorrect:
The report avoids being mentioning controversial topics. - Correct:
The report avoids being mentioned.(orThe report avoids mentioning controversial topics.if active.)
Real Conversations
Passive gerunds are pervasive in modern English across diverse communication contexts, lending a natural and often subtle nuance to expression. They allow speakers and writers to comment on experiences without explicitly naming the agent, frequently conveying a subjective reaction to receiving an action.
- Casual Conversation: You might hear someone express frustration or relief:
Formation of the Passive Gerund
| Type | Formula | Example Verb | Resulting Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
being + V3
|
praise
|
being praised
|
|
Negative
|
not + being + V3
|
invite
|
not being invited
|
|
With Preposition
|
prep + being + V3
|
watch
|
of being watched
|
|
As Subject
|
Being + V3 + verb
|
ignore
|
Being ignored hurts.
|
|
With Possessive
|
possessive + being + V3
|
promote
|
his being promoted
|
Meanings
The passive gerund is used to describe an action that is performed upon the subject of the gerund, rather than the subject performing the action themselves. It functions as a noun in the sentence.
Emotional Response
Expressing how one feels about an action they receive.
“She loves being complimented on her work.”
“Most people detest being lied to.”
Prepositional Object
Used after a preposition to show the recipient of an action.
“He is tired of being treated like a child.”
“They apologized for not being prepared.”
Subject of a Sentence
Using the passive experience as the main topic.
“Being ignored is worse than being criticized.”
“Being chosen for the team was his greatest achievement.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb + being + V3
|
I love being pampered.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + Verb + not being + V3
|
I hate not being told the truth.
|
|
Interrogative
|
Do you + Verb + being + V3?
|
Do you mind being recorded?
|
|
Prepositional
|
Preposition + being + V3
|
She is afraid of being fired.
|
|
Subject Gerund
|
Being + V3 + is...
|
Being recognized is nice.
|
|
Perfect Passive
|
having been + V3
|
He recalls having been warned.
|
Formality Spectrum
I take exception to being ignored by my colleagues. (Social/Professional interaction)
I don't like being ignored. (Social/Professional interaction)
I hate being ghosted. (Social/Professional interaction)
Being left on read is the worst. (Social/Professional interaction)
The Passive Gerund Ecosystem
Verbs
- Enjoy I enjoy being helped.
- Avoid He avoids being seen.
Prepositions
- Afraid of Afraid of being caught.
- Angry about Angry about being lied to.
Active vs. Passive Gerund
Choosing the Right Form
Is the subject doing the action?
Is it a gerund-taking verb?
Examples by Level
I like being helped.
He hates being late.
Do you like being here?
She likes being a student.
I enjoy being told stories.
She is afraid of being alone.
He doesn't mind being asked questions.
They like being called by their names.
I'm tired of being treated like a child.
She complained about not being invited to the party.
Being chosen for the role was a surprise.
He avoided being seen by his boss.
The celebrity was used to being followed by paparazzi.
He insisted on being kept informed of any changes.
Being misunderstood is a common problem for new writers.
She was proud of being nominated for the award.
The diplomat resented being questioned about his private life.
Despite being warned of the risks, they proceeded with the experiment.
The candidate's success was attributed to his being perceived as honest.
I loathe being made to wait in long queues.
The protagonist's existential dread stems from the fear of being forgotten by history.
There is a subtle distinction between being ignored and being actively shunned.
The legislation aims to protect citizens from being exploited by predatory lenders.
His entire worldview was shaken upon being confronted with the evidence.
Easily Confused
Learners don't know whether to use 'being done' or 'to be done'.
In British English, 'The car needs washing' means 'The car needs to be washed'.
Confusing 'I am being watched' (tense) with 'I hate being watched' (gerund).
Common Mistakes
I like being help.
I like being helped.
He is afraid of be watched.
He is afraid of being watched.
I enjoy to be invited.
I enjoy being invited.
He resented being not told.
He resented not being told.
Sentence Patterns
I can't stand being ___.
She is terrified of being ___.
Being ___ is a part of the job.
He insisted on being ___ immediately.
Real World Usage
I don't mind being given constructive criticism.
I love being tagged in your travel photos!
I'm calling about being overcharged on my last bill.
The right to avoid being incriminated.
He's worried about being ghosted again.
She is nervous about being operated on.
The 'By' Test
Watch the Prepositions
Diplomacy
Smart Tips
Use the passive gerund to focus on your experience.
Memorize the 'Gerund Verbs' list (enjoy, avoid, mind, suggest). These ALWAYS take 'being'.
Use passive gerunds to describe your preferences or soft skills.
Remember: Preposition + Gerund is an absolute rule. If it's passive, it must be 'being + V3'.
Pronunciation
Linking 'Being'
In natural speech, the 'g' in 'being' often links to the following vowel if the past participle starts with one.
Stress Pattern
The stress usually falls on the past participle, not on 'being'.
Frustration Intonation
I'm TIRED of being LIED to! ↘
Falling intonation at the end emphasizes the negative emotion.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'B.P.' — Being + Participle. Like a 'Blood Pressure' check for your sentence's health!
Visual Association
Imagine yourself sitting in a chair while a robot paints your portrait. You aren't painting; you are 'being painted.' The focus is on you, the recipient.
Rhyme
When you're the one who gets the deed, 'Being' and 'V3' are all you need.
Story
A famous actor hates 'being followed' by cameras. He enjoys 'being left' alone. One day, instead of 'being recognized,' he wore a mask to avoid 'being spotted.'
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about things you hate happening to you at work or school using 'I can't stand being...'
Cultural Notes
British speakers often use the passive gerund to sound polite and indirect, especially when complaining. 'I don't much care for being kept waiting' is a classic polite British complaint.
In US business settings, the passive gerund is used to discuss 'being empowered' or 'being mentored,' focusing on the employee's development as a recipient of company resources.
In global academic writing, the passive gerund is used to maintain 'objectivity' by removing the researcher from the sentence.
The gerund itself comes from Old English, but the passive gerund construction (being + V3) developed much later, around the 18th century.
Conversation Starters
What is something you really enjoy being told by your friends?
Have you ever avoided being seen by someone you knew in public?
In your opinion, is being respected more important than being liked?
How do you feel about being recorded during a presentation?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
He is afraid of ___ (catch) by the police.
I really enjoy ___ to dinner by my friends.
Find and fix the mistake:
She complained about not being tell the truth.
I hate ___.
The passive gerund can be used as the subject of a sentence.
A: Why are you so upset? B: I'm just tired of ___ like I don't know anything.
Select the correct phrase.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesHe is afraid of ___ (catch) by the police.
I really enjoy ___ to dinner by my friends.
Find and fix the mistake:
She complained about not being tell the truth.
I hate ___.
The passive gerund can be used as the subject of a sentence.
A: Why are you so upset? B: I'm just tired of ___ like I don't know anything.
Select the correct phrase.
Active: 'Telling' matches with...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesShe is afraid of ___ alone at night.
Despite ___ by her strict parents, she pursued her dream.
The children were excited about receiving gifts.
I remember tell a secret by my best friend.
Which sentence uses the passive gerund correctly?
Which sentence is grammatically sound?
Translate into English: 'Me molesta que me interrumpan.'
Translate into English: 'Él odia que le mientan.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the active gerund phrases with their passive equivalents:
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
Yes, but that's not a passive gerund. 'I like being happy' is just the gerund of the verb 'to be' followed by an adjective. A passive gerund must have a past participle (V3) like `being helped`.
The first is the present passive gerund (general/now), and the second is the perfect passive gerund (completed past). Use `having been done` when the timing of the past action is important.
Both are correct! 'Like' can take either a gerund or an infinitive. However, 'enjoy' only takes the gerund: `I enjoy being helped`.
This is a special rule for the verb 'need'. In British English, `need + -ing` has a passive meaning. You can say `needs to be washed` too, but `needs washing` is very common.
Yes! It's very common. `He avoided being recognized by wearing a hat.`
In this specific passive structure, yes. Without 'being', the sentence will either be active or grammatically incomplete.
Put 'not' before 'being'. Example: `The best part was not being asked to pay.`
Absolutely. It is very common in academic and legal writing to keep the tone objective and focus on the process rather than the person.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ser + participio / que + subjuntivo
English uses a single noun-like phrase; Spanish often uses a full subordinate clause.
être + participe passé
French uses the infinitive; English uses the gerund.
zu werden / das ...-werden
German relies more on 'werden' (to become) constructions.
〜れること (reru koto)
Japanese structure is very consistent but requires specific nominalizers.
المصدر المجهول (Al-Masdar al-Majhul)
Arabic changes the internal vowel structure of the noun to indicate the passive.
被 (bèi) + Verb
Chinese lacks tense and mood markers on the verb itself.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
English Verbs Followed by Gerund (-ing)
Overview A cornerstone of B1-level English is understanding when a verb must be followed by another verb in its `-ing`...
Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...)
Overview Passive reporting structures, epitomized by phrases such as `He is said to be...`, serve as sophisticated tools...
Related Videos
08:17 How pit bulls got a bad reputation
06:05 This is how nomadic farmers live
05:12 Can humans be trusted with control over genetics? - Michael Vazquez and Raye Ploeger
How to use the Passive Voice 😅 English Grammar Lesson
mmmEnglish
PASSIVE VOICE - English Grammar step-by-step
Arnel's Everyday English
Related Grammar Rules
Passive Voice for Objectivity: 'It is said that...'
Overview English grammar provides specific structures to report information without identifying the source, or to emphas...
Reported Speech with Modals & Passive Reporting (C1)
Overview Mastering reported speech with modals and passive reporting structures marks a significant step towards C1-leve...
Reporting Verbs: Who Said What?
Overview Reporting verbs are essential linguistic tools that enable you to relay information or summarise statements, qu...
When to Use Passive Voice (Reporting News & Rumors)
Overview The passive voice in English serves various crucial communicative functions, particularly when the agent of an...
Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...)
Overview Passive reporting structures, epitomized by phrases such as `He is said to be...`, serve as sophisticated tools...
