The advanced passive voice is used when the action is more important than the person performing it, when the person is unknown, or when we want a more formal and objective style. Advanced passive structures are common in academic writing, government reports, business communication, and news articles.

• The proposal is being reviewed.
• The bridge was completed last year.
• The highway will be expanded next summer.
• Several improvements have been introduced recently.

Our city has changed considerably over the past decade. Several parks have been renovated, new bike lanes were added last year, and another recreation centre will be constructed next spring. As a result, the community is served more effectively than before.

Use the present passive for facts and routines, the past passive for completed actions, and the future passive for actions that will happen later. Choose the passive tense that matches the time of the action.

• Many products are manufactured overseas.
• The classrooms are cleaned every evening.
• Coffee is served every morning.

• The building was renovated last year.
• The road was repaired yesterday.
• The windows were replaced last month.

• The new policy will be introduced next month.
• The bridge will be expanded next summer.
• The final report will be published tomorrow.

Use the present perfect passive to describe actions that have already been completed but are still important or relevant now. The focus remains on the action rather than on the person who performed it.

• Several improvements have been made this year.
• The bridge has been repaired successfully.
• New safety measures have been introduced across the city.
• The final report has been completed ahead of schedule.
• Thousands of trees have been planted over the past decade.

The passive voice is used when the action is more important than the person performing it. It is especially common in formal writing, academic reports, business communication, scientific research, and news articles. In many situations, the person who performs the action is unknown, obvious, or simply not important.

• Several new policies have been introduced this year. (The policies are more important than who introduced them.)
• The bridge was completed ahead of schedule. (The completed project is the main focus.)
• A new medical centre will be opened next spring. (The future event is emphasized.)
• The suspect has been arrested. (Who made the arrest is not important.)
• The results were published yesterday. (The publication matters more than the publisher.)

Sometimes we include the person or organization that performs the action by using by + agent. We usually do this only when the person performing the action is important to the meaning of the sentence. If the agent is obvious or unimportant, it is normally omitted.

• The award was presented by the mayor. (The mayor is important.)
• The report was written by an independent researcher. (The writer adds useful information.)
• The new software has been developed by a Canadian company. (The company is significant.)
• The Nobel Prize was awarded by the committee. (The organization is relevant.)
• The bridge was built in 2022. (No agent is needed because it is not important.)

To change an active sentence into a passive sentence:

1. Move the object to the beginning of the sentence.
2. Choose the correct tense of be (or have been).
3. Use the past participle of the main verb.
4. Add by + the agent only if the person or organization is important.

Examples

• Researchers have discovered a new treatment.
  • → A new treatment has been discovered.
• The company will launch the product next month.
  • → The product will be launched next month.
• The committee approved the proposal.
  • → The proposal was approved.

Choose the passive tense according to when the action happens. Use the present passive for routines and facts, the past passive for completed actions, the future passive for future events, and the present perfect passive for actions that have already happened but remain important now.

• The reports are reviewed every month. (Present routine)
• The office was renovated last year. (Completed past action)
• The expansion will be completed next spring. (Future event)
• Several improvements have been implemented recently. (Completed action with a present result)
• The final decision has been announced. (The announcement still matters now.)