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
The world court is rejected by the US despite the US commitment to human rights and US concern about crimes against humanity.
Our operational NGO was founded in India.
Negative Form:
Passive Subject + to be (passive auxiliary) + Not + Past Participle
Our government leaders haven't been charged with ethnic cleansing.
Product safety will not be provided by relying on improved corporate practices.
Question Form:
to be (passive auxiliary) + Passive Subject + Past Participle
Was the outcome known by management?
Is your outside staffing agency involved?
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
That database isn't mined very often.
Is your outside staffing agency involved?
Past Simple Passive
The management team wasn't compelled to attend our accountability workshop.
Was the accounting policy written by the new central committee?
Future with 'Will' Passive
This leadership team will not be reconvened again.
Product safety will not be provided by relying on improved corporate practices.
Present Perfect Passive
Our government leaders haven't been charged with ethnic cleansing.
This community has been bombed seven times and has lost all essential services.