EnglishActive or passive?
Say or type A (active) or P (passive).
- People use this app every day.
- The first smartphone was invented decades ago.
- Social media companies collect user data.
- The website is updated every week.
- Users have downloaded the new game.
- The new feature has been added.
- The company will release a tablet soon.
- The device can be charged wirelessly.
Passive pattern: receiver of the action + be + past participle.
Developers update the app.
The app is updated.
Building the passive voice
Active verb tense | Passive form | Technology example |
|---|---|---|
Present Simple | is / are + past participle | The software is updated regularly. |
Past Simple | was / were + past participle | The touchscreen was invented by a designer. |
Present Perfect | has / have been + past participle | The website has been updated. |
Future | will be + past participle | A new device will be released soon. |
Modal verb | modal + be + past participle | The app can be downloaded for free. |
Developers update the app.
The app is updated.
Move the object to the front. Keep the original tense in be. Use the past participle.
Connect each source sentence to its equivalent
Connect each active sentence with its passive equivalent
- Engineers make these headphones in Japan.
- These headphones are made in Japan by engineers.
- A designer invented the touchscreen.
- The touchscreen was invented by a designer.
- The company has updated the website.
- The website has been updated by the company.
Follow the tense signal
Connect the active sentence with the equivalent passive sentence
- People use this website for shopping.
- This website is used for shopping.
- The brand released a smartwatch last month.
- A smartwatch was released last month.
- The company will launch a new device tomorrow.
- A new device will be launched tomorrow.
Keep the modal verb
Connect the active sentence with the equivalent passive sentence
- Users can download the app for free.
- The app can be downloaded for free.
- Technicians must charge the device overnight.
- The device must be charged overnight.
- Developers have fixed the software bug.
- The software bug has been fixed.
Transform the sentences
Write the passive verb phrase. Then say the full sentence.
- People use social media for news.
Social media [___] for news.
- The company released a new smartwatch last month.
A new smartwatch [___] last month.
- Developers have fixed the bug.
The bug [___] .
- The brand will launch a cheaper phone.
A cheaper phone [___] .
- Users can download the app for free.
The app [___] for free.
Check the passive forms
Decide if each statement is correct
Check the past and present perfect forms
Choose the form that fits the time signal
Choose the correct form
- This smartphone [___] in Korea.
- The company [___] a new app last month.
- The website [___] recently.
- A new social media feature [___] next month.
Quick tech quiz
Say the complete passive sentence.
- This device ________ in Korea. (make)
- The first iPhone ________ in 2007. (release)
- The app ________ recently. (update)
- A new version ________ next week. (launch)
- Photos ________ to the cloud automatically. (can / save)
Final check: Find the tense signal, choose the correct form of be, then use the past participle.
