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Lesson Plan August 7, 2026

Topic: Passive

In this lesson we will learn about using the passive to talk about actions in the past and present.

Section A

You form the passive with the verb be and the past participle.

Present simple

• Paper is made from wood.

• When is the room cleaned?

• Pineapples aren’t grown in Scotland.

Past simple

• The building was completed in 1853.

• When was the film made?

• His homework wasn’t done very well.

Present perfect

• All the rooms have just been painted.

• Have you been served yet?

• The books hasn’t been written yet.

You often use the passive when the object of the verb is more important than the subject

• They completed the building in 1853.
  becomes
  The building was completed in 1853.

In passive sentence, you use by before the person or thing that causes the action (the agent)

• (Active) JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books.

• (Passive) The Harry Potter books were written by JK Rowling.

If you do not know who the agent is, or it is clear who it is, you don’t need to use it

• His wallet was stolen while he was on holiday. (We do not know who stole his wallet)

• Letters are delivered every morning. (We know letters are delivered by the postman)