The passive voice is an essential grammatical structure that allows us to emphasize the action or the recipient of an action rather than the doer.
- The Eiffel Tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel.
In the sentence above, the focus is on “The Eiffel Tower” and the action “was designed,” rather than on Gustave Eiffel (the doer of the action). This is the essence of passive voice.
Past Passive Voice Structure
The past passive voice follows this structure:
Subject + was/were + past participle (+ by + agent)
The agent (the doer of the action) is optional and is only included when it’s important or relevant.
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| Someone built this house in 1890. | This house was built in 1890. |
| Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet.” | “Romeo and Juliet” was written by Shakespeare. |
| They didn’t invite John to the party. | John wasn’t invited to the party. |
| Did they clean the office? | Was the office cleaned? |
When to Use the Past Passive Voice
The past passive voice is used when:
- The doer of the action is unknown
- The doer of the action is unimportant
- We want to focus on the action or the recipient of the action
- We want to be more formal or objective
Examples of Past Passive Voice
When the doer is unknown:
- My car was stolen last night.
- The windows were broken during the storm.
When the doer is unimportant:
- The streets were cleaned early this morning.
- The package was delivered yesterday.
When we want to focus on the action or recipient:
- The Mona Lisa was painted in the 16th century.
- These buildings were designed by a famous architect.
For formal or objective statements:
- The experiment was conducted under strict conditions
- The decision was made by the committee yesterday.
Forming the Past Passive Voice
Affirmative Sentences
Subject + was/were + past participle (+ by + agent)
For singular subjects or “I/he/she/it,” use “was”:
- The letter was written by John.
For plural subjects or “you/we/they,” use “were”:
- The dishes were washed after dinner.
Negative Sentences
Subject + was/were + not + past participle (+ by + agent)
- The movie wasn’t enjoyed by the critics.
- The instructions weren’t followed correctly.
Question Form
Was/Were + subject + past participle (+ by + agent)?
- Was the email sent yesterday?
- Were you informed about the changes?
Key Points to Remember
- Use the past passive voice when the focus is on the action or the recipient, not the doer.
- The structure is: Subject + was/were + past participle.
- Include “by + agent” only when the doer is important or relevant.
- For singular subjects or “I/he/she/it,” use “was.”
- For plural subjects or “you/we/they,” use “were.”
Conclusion
The past passive voice is a fundamental grammatical structure in English that allows us to shift focus from the doer to the action or the recipient. It’s particularly useful in formal writing, scientific reports, news, and historical accounts. Practice using the past passive voice in your writing and speaking to make your English more varied and precise.