In your IELTS Writing test, you may need to use the passive voice frequently, especially if you’re describing a process in Academic Writing Task 1.
Understanding when and how to use the passive voice effectively can increase the quality of your writing and maximise your chances of achieving a high score on the test.
What is a voice in grammar?
In grammar, voice is how a verb shows:
who is doing the action (or being in a certain state)
who is affected by it
There are two types of voice: Active and Passive.
When a sentence is in the active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action.
e.g. He wrote the letter.
In contrast, in the passive voice, the subject is the receiver of the action. We don’t know who did the action.
e.g. The letter was written.
In this example, we focus on the letter, not the person writing it.
When using the passive voice, we can leave out the doer (the person who does something). But if the doer is important, we can mention him or her by using a prepositional phrase (by + doer).
Examples:
The letter was written by his uncle.
This necklace was given to me by my grandmother.
How to write a sentence in the passive voice
We make the passive by using the word 'be' (in the right tense) and the past participle of the verb (e.g. written, invited, stolen, etc.).
Subject + | verb be + | past participle | |
|---|---|---|---|
The letter | was | written. | |
The bread | is | baked | in the oven. |
Two people | have been | arrested. |
How to change verb tense in the passive voice
You can use the passive voice in different tenses. Here are some common examples:
Verb tense | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|
Present Simple | am, are, is + past participle | Finally, the product is delivered to local supermarkets. |
Present Continuous | am, are, is + being + past participle | That cathedral is being repaired as we speak. |
Future Simple | will + be + past participle | The wedding photos will be taken by the lake. |
Past Simple | was, were + past participle | The telephone was invented in the nineteenth century. |
Past Continuous | was, were + being + past participle | We didn't know, but we were being monitored that day. |
Present Perfect | have, has + been + past participle | I have been asked to participate in the project. |
Past Perfect | had + been + past participle | An important lesson had been taught. |
Modals | can, might, could, may, must, should + be + past participle | The game might be cancelled because of the weather. |
Important: You can’t use some verbs in the passive voice.
Examples:
Stative verbs (verbs that describe states, not actions) e.g. seem, belong, love, believe
e.g. This bag belongs to me not This bag is belonged to me.
Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not have a direct object) e.g. die, arrive, happen, laugh
e.g. He died not He was died.
Note: When talking about someone's birth, use the past form of "be" + "born" e.g. She was born in Scotland not She is born in Scotland.
When should you use passive voice?
Choosing between passive and active voice depends on what you want to emphasize in a sentence. Here are some common situations where the passive voice is used:
1. When we don't know who did it
Example: Her wallet was stolen.
We don’t know who committed the crime.
2. When it's obvious who did it
Example: He quit his job because he wasn’t paid enough.
We know it was his employers who didn’t pay him sufficiently.
3. When we are more interested in the action than who did it
Example: Finally, the refined sugar is packaged for distribution and sale.
In this sentence, we are more interested in the process (the packaging) than the workers.
4. When people in general do it
Example: Nowadays, most movies and TV shows can be streamed online.
This is an activity that the public can do.
Using passive voice in your IELTS test
You can use the passive voice in your IELTS Writing and Speaking tests. However, remember that the passive voice tends to be more formal and is more commonly used in writing than in speaking.
You might use the passive to describe a process in Academic Writing Task 1:
Example: Next, the materials are taken to the recycling plant.
When you’re writing your Task 2 essay, you may use some passive sentences to present arguments or develop ideas.
Example: In many cultures, the responsibility for elderly care is traditionally placed on the family.
If you’re taking the IELTS General Training test, you might use some passive structures if you’re asked to write a formal letter, such a letter of complaint.
Example: The product I received was damaged upon delivery.
While the passive voice is often used in formal writing, be careful not to overuse it. To make your writing flow more naturally, it's important to vary your sentence structures.
If you want to feel more confident on test day, starting practising with the passive and active voice now. Why not begin by taking our short quiz below?
Quiz: Passive or Active Voice
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. You can find the answers at the end of the quiz.
Q1: She____________ English to students in Vietnam last year.
was taught
taught
is taught
teaches
Q2: The diagram illustrates the way in which olive oil ___________.
is produced
produces
produced
be produced
Q3: The book ___________ by the end of the year.
will publish
will be published
will published
published
Q4: This medication _______________ twice a day.
must take
must be taking
must taking
must be taken
Q5: My smart watch __________ my heart rate when I’m exercising.
is recorded
was recorded
recording
records
Q6: Someone _______________ my passport and given it to the security guard.
had been found
had found
was found
is found
Q7: I went for an interview last week, but I ____________yet.
haven't been contacted
haven't contacted
didn't be contacted
wasn't being contacted
Q8: He ____________ with me.
was agreed
is agreed
agrees
agreeing
Q9: Princess Diana was born in 1961 and ________ in 1997.
was died
died
is died
dies
Q10: Ladies and gentlemen, trains ____________ because of a signal failure.
are currently delaying
is currently delaying
are currently being delayed
delayed
Answers
Q1: b
Q2: a
Q3: b
Q4: d
Q5: d
Q6: b
Q7: a
Q8: c
Q9: b
Q10: c
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