What is Done to Something
Passive Voice
Use the passive voice to express that something is done to an object. The passive voice is especially useful in business situations when the focus is on the product, rather than the person who manufactures the product. The following structure is used for sentences in the passive voice.
Positive Form:
Passive Subject + to be (passive auxiliary) + Past Participle
That provision is rarely enforced on city council.
The construction loan was approved last week.
Negative Form:
Passive Subject + to be (passive auxiliary) + Not + Past Participle
The commercial account hasn't been verified yet, so we don't know if we'll have work in a few months.
The subsidiary will not be used again in the future.
Question Form:
to be (passive auxiliary) + Passive Subject + Past Participle
What raw materials were purchased before the manufacturing of this product ceased?
Has the document been approved by the title company?
Notice that the verb 'to be' is conjugated. Be careful to use 'is' for singular objects and 'are' for plural objects in the present passive voice.
The Use of the Agent 'by' in the Passive Voice
In many cases, the person, company or agent of the action need not be included. This is especially true in general statements.
Oranges are grown in California.
In this case, it is understood that someone grows oranges in California. However, it is not important for the understanding of the sentence to include the agent.
Oranges are grown in California. (by someone)
In the case that it is important to know who or what performs the action in a passive sentence, use the preposition 'by'.
Computers are assembled by Lenovo.
This book was printed by Harper's.
In this case, the company that manufactures the objects is required information.
Passive Tense Comparison Chart
This chart shows passive conjugation for a variety of tenses.
Present Simple Passive
Loans are taken out annually.
The share issue is processed every week.
Past Simple Passive
Was the account payee Philip?
What raw materials were purchased before the manufacturing of this product ceased?
Future with 'Will' Passive
His personal property will be damaged by the storm.
Will I be penalized if I do not maintain the minimum balance?
Present Perfect Passive
The funds have been marked as transferable.
The commercial account hasn't been verified yet, so we don't know if we'll have work in a few months.