B1 · Intermediário Capítulo 7

Focusing on Actions with the Passive Voice

5 Regras totais
60 exemplos
6 min
Regras neste capítulo Prática rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Shift the focus from who did it to what happened.

  • Construct passive sentences using the verb 'to be' and past participles.
  • Describe ongoing processes and historical events where the action is the star.
  • Identify when to include the person performing the action using 'by'.
Master the art of objective reporting and professional descriptions.

O que você vai aprender

Ever wonder how to talk about events or give credit for achievements without always focusing on who did it? This chapter unlocks the power of the passive voice, helping you share news and highlight actions with confidence. You'll soon be reporting like a pro!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to transform active sentences into the basic passive form using 'be' + V3.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to describe daily routines and facts using the Present Simple Passive.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to narrate historical events or past actions using the Past Simple Passive.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to assign responsibility or credit in a passive sentence using the 'by' agent.
  5. 5
    By the end you will be able to use passive reporting structures to share news or common beliefs.

Guia do capítulo

Overview

Welcome to
Focusing on Actions with the Passive Voice,
your guide to mastering a truly versatile aspect of B1 English grammar! Have you ever wanted to talk about an event or achievement without always having to say who was responsible? Perhaps you’ve read a news report and noticed how things are described in a very objective way.
That’s the magic of the passive voice. This chapter is designed to help you shift your focus from the doer to the action itself, giving you more flexibility and sophistication in your English.
By understanding how to use be with a past participle (V3), you'll unlock the ability to describe what happens to things (Present Simple Passive) and what happened to things (Past Simple Passive). We’ll also explore how to still give credit with by when the doer is important, and how professional English uses the passive voice for reporting news and rumors. This will significantly improve your ability to communicate clearly and confidently, allowing you to sound more natural and professional in various situations.
Get ready to enhance your English focusing on actions with the passive voice!

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, the passive voice is about changing the focus of a sentence. Instead of saying *who* did something (the active voice), you focus on *what* was done or *what* something happened to. The fundamental building block for all passive sentences is the auxiliary verb 'be' followed by the past participle (V3) of the main verb.
For example,
The car is repaired
or
The letter was written.
Let’s look at how this core structure adapts across different situations. For actions happening regularly or states of being, we use the Present Simple Passive. This is formed with am/is/are + V3.
If a problem with your car is fixed every year, you might say,
The engine is checked annually.
Here, the focus is on the engine and the regular action, not necessarily who checks it. When we talk about past actions where the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, we use the Past Simple Passive. This uses was/were + V3.
For instance,
The ancient city was discovered in the desert
focuses on the city and the discovery, not who discovered it.
Sometimes, even in the passive voice, the doer *is* important. In these cases, you can give credit with by by adding 'by' followed by the agent at the end of the sentence.
The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci
still highlights the painting first, but acknowledges the artist.
This is particularly useful when the action is more significant than the actor, but the actor is still noteworthy. Finally, the passive voice is extremely common for reporting news and rumors. This allows for objectivity and formality, often when the source isn't clear or needs to be generalized.
Phrases like
It is believed that...
or
The new policy was announced yesterday
are perfect examples, focusing on the information itself rather than the speaker or announcer.

Common Mistakes

Learning the passive voice can sometimes lead to a few common errors. Let's make sure you avoid them!
  1. 1✗ Incorrect form of 'be' or forgetting it
* ✗ The book written last year.
* ✓ The book was written last year.
* *Explanation:* You must always include a form of the verb 'be' (am, is, are, was, were) in passive sentences.
  1. 1✗ Using the wrong past participle
* ✗ The report is wrote by my colleague.
* ✓ The report is written by my colleague.
* *Explanation:* Remember to use the correct past participle (V3) form of the verb, not the past simple form.
  1. 1✗ Confusing active and passive when using 'by'
* ✗ She was cooking the dinner by her.
* ✓ The dinner was cooked by her.
* *Explanation:* The agent with 'by' comes after the passive verb structure, indicating the person who performed the action. The original sentence was trying to force a passive structure onto an active meaning.

Real Conversations

Here’s how the passive voice sounds in everyday chats:

A

A

Hey, what happened to the old building on Elm Street?
B

B

Oh, it was demolished last month. A new apartment complex is being built there now.
A

A

Did you hear about the new art exhibit?
B

B

Yes, I did! I heard a lot of the sculptures were created by local artists. It is said to be very impressive.
A

A

This report looks great. Who put it together?
B

B

Actually, the data was collected by the whole team, and then the final presentation was designed by Sarah.

Quick FAQ

Q

Why is English focusing on actions with the passive voice important for B1 learners?

It's crucial for understanding news, formal reports, and sounding more sophisticated. It allows you to describe situations where the action or result is more important than who did it, which is very common in English.

Q

When should I definitely use by in a passive sentence?

Use by when the agent (the person or thing doing the action) is important or interesting to know, but you still want to keep the focus on the action or the recipient of the action. If the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, you can omit by.

Q

Can the passive voice be used in questions?

Absolutely! Just like active sentences, passive sentences can be turned into questions. For example:

Was the car repaired?
or
Is the message understood?

Q

How can I practice using the passive voice effectively?

Try describing processes (e.g.,

How coffee is made
), summarizing news articles, or rewriting active sentences you find into passive ones. Listening to news broadcasts also helps you hear it naturally.

Cultural Context

In English, the passive voice is more prevalent in formal, academic, scientific, and journalistic writing. It helps maintain objectivity and can make reports sound more authoritative by depersonalizing statements. For instance,
Mistakes were made
sounds more formal and less accusatory than You made mistakes. In informal, everyday conversations, the active voice is generally preferred, as it’s more direct and personal.
Overusing the passive voice in casual talk can sometimes make you sound overly formal or even evasive, so it's all about choosing the right tool for the right situation!

Exemplos-chave (8)

1

The email **is sent** every Monday morning.

O e-mail é enviado toda segunda-feira de manhã.

Voz Passiva: Formação Básica (be + V3)
2

The old castle **was built** in the 12th century.

O castelo antigo foi construído no século XII.

Voz Passiva: Formação Básica (be + V3)
3

The coffee is brewed fresh every morning.

O café é feito fresco toda manhã.

Voz Passiva em Inglês: O que acontece com as coisas (Presente Simples Passivo)
4

Books are read in the library.

Livros são lidos na biblioteca.

Voz Passiva em Inglês: O que acontece com as coisas (Presente Simples Passivo)
5

The email `was sent` an hour ago.

O e-mail foi enviado há uma hora.

Passado Simples Passivo: O Que Aconteceu Com Isso?
6

My bike `was stolen` from outside the cafe.

Minha bicicleta foi roubada de fora da cafeteria.

Passado Simples Passivo: O Que Aconteceu Com Isso?
7

The new bridge was designed by a famous architect.

A nova ponte foi projetada por um arquiteto famoso.

Voz Passiva: Dando Crédito com 'por'
8

The email will be sent by the marketing team tomorrow.

O e-mail será enviado pela equipe de marketing amanhã.

Voz Passiva: Dando Crédito com 'por'

Dicas e truques (4)

💡

Como identificar a Voz Passiva

Sempre procure por uma forma do verbo 'to be' (tipo is, was, are, were, been, being) seguida imediatamente por um particípio passado (V3). Se não vir os dois, provavelmente não é passiva. É moleza!
The cake was eaten.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva: Formação Básica (be + V3)
💡

Fique de Olho no 'Be' + V3

Sempre procure uma forma do verbo 'to be' (am, is, are) seguida de um particípio passado. Se um deles estiver faltando, não é voz passiva! Por exemplo:
The letter is written.
(Não 'The letter written').
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva em Inglês: O que acontece com as coisas (Presente Simples Passivo)
💡

Fique de Olho no 'Was/Were'

Sempre procure por 'was' ou 'were' antes do verbo principal. Se faltar, você provavelmente está usando a voz ativa ou cometeu um erro! Tipo:
The house was built in 1990.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passado Simples Passivo: O Que Aconteceu Com Isso?
💡

A pessoa que fez a ação importa!

Use 'by + agent' só quando a informação de *quem* ou *o quê* fez a ação for realmente importante, para dar crédito ou evitar ambiguidade. Não adicione se for óbvio ou desnecessário.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva: Dando Crédito com 'por'

Vocabulário-chave (6)

manufactured made in a factory discovered found for the first time announced made known publicly organized planned and coordinated published printed for sale believed thought to be true

Real-World Preview

palette

The Art Gallery Tour

Review Summary

  • Subject + to be + Past Participle (V3)
  • am/is/are + V3
  • was/were + V3
  • ... + by + person
  • It is + said/thought/reported + that...

Erros comuns

Many learners forget the verb 'to be'. You always need a form of 'be' (is, are, was, were) to make a passive sentence.

Wrong: The movie watched by me yesterday.
Correto: The movie was watched by me yesterday.

You must use the Past Participle (V3), not the Past Simple (V2). 'Wrote' is V2; 'written' is V3.

Wrong: The song was wrote by her.
Correto: The song was written by her.

In English, we use 'by' to indicate the person who performed the action, not 'from' or 'of'.

Wrong: The book was written from Mark Twain.
Correto: The book was written by Mark Twain.

Next Steps

You've unlocked a major level of English fluency! Using the passive voice makes your writing sound sophisticated and objective. Keep practicing!

Read a short news article and highlight every passive sentence.

Describe how your favorite food is made using the Present Simple Passive.

Continue to: Elevando seu Inglês: Voz Passiva e Fluidez Natural

Prática rápida (10)

Escolha a forma correta para completar a frase.

It ___ that the new student is from Canada.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is believed
A estrutura 'It is believed that...' está correta para relatar uma crença geral ou rumor atual.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Quando Usar a Voz Passiva (Relatar Notícias e Rumores)

Qual frase usa 'by' corretamente na voz passiva?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new song was produced by the popular DJ.
A Opção 1 usa corretamente 'was produced' (forma passiva de 'to produce') seguido de 'by' para introduzir o agente. As Opções 2 e 3 estão gramaticalmente incorretas.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva: Dando Crédito com 'por'

Qual frase usa corretamente o relato passivo?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is reported that the store is closed.
A forma passiva 'is reported' está correta para a estrutura 'It is...that', mostrando notícias gerais.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Quando Usar a Voz Passiva (Relatar Notícias e Rumores)

Escolha a preposição correta para introduzir o agente.

The famous novel was written ___ an acclaimed author.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: by
Para introduzir o agente (o autor) em uma frase passiva, usamos 'by'. 'With' seria usado para um instrumento.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva: Dando Crédito com 'por'

Escolha a forma correta da voz passiva.

The world's best coffee ___ in Colombia.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is grown
Como 'coffee' é singular, usamos 'is' com o particípio passado 'grown'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva em Inglês: O que acontece com as coisas (Presente Simples Passivo)

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

The concert cancelled because of the rain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The concert was cancelled because of the rain.
A frase original está sem o verbo 'be'. Como 'cancelled' indica um evento passado, 'was' é a forma correta no passado simples de 'to be'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva: Formação Básica (be + V3)

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

The books was read by many students.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The books were read by many students.
Books é plural, então precisamos de were em vez de was.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passado Simples Passivo: O Que Aconteceu Com Isso?

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

The app is said to being updated next week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The app is said to be updated next week.
Depois de 'to', você deve usar um verbo no infinitivo básico. 'To be updated' mostra corretamente uma ação passiva futura.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Quando Usar a Voz Passiva (Relatar Notícias e Rumores)

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

New ideas is discuss every Monday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: New ideas are discussed every Monday.
'Ideas' é plural, então 'are' é necessário. Além disso, 'discussed' é o particípio passado correto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva em Inglês: O que acontece com as coisas (Presente Simples Passivo)

Escolha a forma correta de 'to be' para completar a frase passiva.

The new library ___ opened next month.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: will be
Como a ação vai acontecer 'next month', precisamos da forma futura simples passiva, que é 'will be' + V3.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Voz Passiva: Formação Básica (be + V3)

Score: /10

Perguntas comuns (6)

A estrutura mais fundamental é uma forma do verbo to be (tipo is, was, are) seguida pelo past participle (V3) do verbo principal. Por exemplo:
The book is read.
Nós usamos quando a pessoa ou coisa que faz a ação (o 'doer') é desconhecida, sem importância, ou quando queremos enfatizar a própria ação ou a pessoa/coisa que recebe a ação. Por exemplo:
The window was broken.
Seu principal objetivo é focar na ação ou no objeto que recebe a ação, em vez de quem ou o que a realiza. Por exemplo,
The report is written
enfatiza o relatório, não o escritor.
Você a forma usando o presente simples do verbo 'to be' (am, is, are) seguido do particípio passado (V3) do verbo principal. Por exemplo,
English is spoken globally
.
A ideia principal é focar numa ação que aconteceu no passado e no que *foi feito* com o sujeito, em vez de quem realizou a ação. Por exemplo,
The car was repaired
destaca o carro e seu conserto, não o mecânico.
Você a forma combinando o passado simples do verbo 'to be' (was para sujeitos singulares, were para plurais) com o particípio passado (V3) do verbo principal. Assim,
The report was written
ou
The gifts were given
.
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