Start with a real moment.
A customer asks about an order. “Your order was shipped this morning” keeps the order in focus. The warehouse team may have shipped it, but that detail is not necessary to answer the customer’s question. Passive voice changes the focus; it is not automatically more formal or more professional.
See how the sentence works.
Subject + be + past participle
Read the sentence as one idea, then notice the job each part does.
Understand the choices.
Build the passive with be + past participle. Change be to match the tense: “is delivered,” “was delivered,” “will be delivered.” In the present perfect, use “has been delivered.” The participle delivered stays the same.
Add by + agent if the person or thing doing the action matters: “The design was approved by the client.” Leave it out when it is unknown, obvious or irrelevant. Passive clauses still need accurate information; do not use them to hide responsibility in an important update.
Use the active when it is simpler: “We’ll email you tomorrow” is often clearer than “You will be emailed tomorrow.” Most verbs need an object in their active use to form an ordinary passive. “Arrive” does not become “was arrived.”
Useful sentences, in context.
Breakfast is served from seven.
Present passive describes a regular service.
The meeting has been postponed.
Present perfect passive links a past change to now.
The form must be signed.
Modal + be + participle expresses a requirement.
A small change makes a difference.
AvoidThe email was send yesterday.
UseThe email was sent yesterday.
Send has the irregular past participle sent.
A MOMENT TO PRACTISE
Your turn.
Choose an answer, then check the explanation. There is no timer and nothing to sign up for.
TAKE IT INTO YOUR DAY
Make it yours.
Write an update about something completed at work. Try both active and passive versions, then choose the one that puts the useful information first.
Further reading · British Council LearnEnglish
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