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Grammar Worksheet

The Present Passive

B1 am / is / are + past participle
Explanation

The passive focuses on what happens to something, not on who does it.

Form: subject + am / is / are + past participle

Add ‘by + agent’ when it is important to say who does the action.

Form
Subject Am / Is / Are Past participle
I am paid, asked, invited…
He / She / It is made, built, produced…
You / We / They are sold, taught, used…

Question:  Am / Is / Are + subject + past participle?  →  Is coffee grown in Brazil?

By + agent:  The office is cleaned by a professional company. (use ‘by’ when who does it matters)

Examples
  1. English is taught in schools all over the world.
  2. These cars are made in Germany.
  3. Coffee is grown in Colombia and Ethiopia.
  4. The office is cleaned every evening.
  5. My salary is paid at the end of the month.
  6. Is Japanese spoken in this area?
  7. Mobile phones are used by billions of people.
  8. This building is owned by the university.
Common Mistakes
Exercises
1 Complete with passive

Write the correct passive form using the verb in brackets.

Rice _____ (eat) in many countries.  →  is eaten

  1. My phone (charge) every night.
  2. These shoes (make) in Italy.
  3. English (teach) at this school.
  4. The report (write) by the manager.
  5. The windows (clean) once a week.
2 Correct the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.

  1. English is speak all over the world.
  2. These bags are making in China.
  3. The window is broke.
  4. The meals is served at 7pm.
3 Active to passive

Rewrite in the passive. You may omit ‘by …’ if unimportant.

The chef cooks the food.  →  The food is cooked by the chef.

  1. They teach French at this school.
  2. Someone cleans the office every evening.
  3. The company produces 500 cars a day.
  4. People use mobile phones all over the world.
  5. A professional team manages the project.
4 Your country

Write four true passive sentences about your country. What is made, grown, spoken, or sold there?

  1. In my country, _____ is / are _____.
  2. In my country, _____ is / are _____.
  3. In my country, _____ is / are _____.
  4. In my country, _____ is / are _____.
5 Write the question

Use the prompts to write a passive question.

coffee / grow / Brazil  →  Is coffee grown in Brazil?

  1. English / teach / at your school?
  2. these phones / make / in Japan?
  3. the office / clean / every day?
  4. fish / eat / in your country?
Speaking Activity

Tell your partner about things in your country or city using the passive.

Use the passive in your answers: ‘It is made / grown / sold / eaten…’