The present simple passive voice is an essential grammar topic for daily communication and frequently appears in international English tests. In this guide, IDP IELTS will help you understand its concept, structure, and usage effectively.
1. What Is the Passive Voice?
A passive voice sentence focuses on the object that receives the action rather than the subject performing it.
Example:
Active: They clean the room every day.
Passive: The room is cleaned every day.
In the passive sentence, “the room” becomes the subject receiving the action.
2. Present Simple Passive Voice Structure
Affirmative:
S + am/is/are + V3 (past participle) + (by O)
Negative:
S + am/is/are + not + V3 + (by O)
Question:
Am/Is/Are + S + V3 + (by O)?
Examples:
This house is built by Jim.
English is not spoken in that country.
Are books read by many people?
3. Active vs Passive Voice in Present Simple
Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
Definition | Subject performs the action | Subject receives the action |
Focus | Emphasizes the doer | Emphasizes the receiver |
Structure | S + V(s/es) + O | S + am/is/are + V3 + (by O) |
Example | Mary plays the piano every day | The piano is played by Mary every day |
4. How to Change Active to Passive in Present Simple
Step-by-step example:
Active: She writes a letter every day.
Identify the object: “a letter”
Make it the new subject: A letter
Use the correct form of "to be" + past participle: is written
Add "by" + original subject if needed: by her
Result: A letter is written by her every day.
5. Common Forms of Present Simple Passive
5.1 Passive with Two Objects
Example: She gave him a book.
Two passive forms:
He was given a book by her.
A book was given to him by her.
5.2 Passive with Reporting Verbs
Used with verbs like say, think, believe, report, know, expect...
Structure 1:
S + be + V3 + to-infinitive
Structure 2:
It + be + V3 + that + clause
Example: They say that she is beautiful.
She is said to be beautiful.
It is said that she is beautiful.
5.3 Passive from Causative Sentences
Have: I have my car fixed.
Make: I was made to clean my room.
Get: She gets her report prepared by her assistant.
5.4 Passive in Questions
Active: Do you water the flower?
Passive: Is the flower watered (by you)?
5.5 Passive with Verbs of Perception
Example: I see him leave the room. → He is seen to leave the room.
5.6 Passive with Imperative Sentences
Structure: Let + object + be + V3
Example: Open the door. → Let the door be opened.
6. Practice: Present Simple Passive Voice
Exercise 1: Change to passive voice
They clean the floor every day.
She feeds the cats twice a day.
The children often play football in the park.
We do not grow trees in the garden.
Does your mother make breakfast every morning?
Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer
This book ________ by many people. a. is read b. is reading c. read
The car ________ every week. a. is washed b. wash c. is washing
English ________ in many countries. a. speaks b. is spoken c. is speaking
The window ________ by him every day. a. is opened b. is opening c. opens
The dinner ________ by her mother. a. cooks b. is cooking c. is cooked
Answers:
Exercise 1:
The floor is cleaned every day.
The cats are fed twice a day by her.
Football is often played by the children in the park.
Trees are not grown in the garden.
Is breakfast made by your mother every morning?
Exercise 2:
a
a
b
a
c
Master the Present Simple Passive with IDP
We hope this guide has helped you understand and apply the present simple passive voice in English. To improve your grammar for the IELTS test, practice regularly and try free IELTS mock tests provided by IDP.
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