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Present simple passive Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 2 minutes

Present Simple Passive Form : (Am / Is / Are + past participle (verb 3) )

In English we use the passive voice when :

  • we are more interested in the activity being done than the person or thing that performs the action.
  • we don't know who or what does the action.
  • it is obvious who does the action
  • we write news reports and articles.

In passive sentences we can use 'by' to say who or what did the action. This is called the agent. 

The passive voice is used when focusing on the person or thing affected by an action. Only verbs that take an object can be used in the passive voice.

The main verb is always in its past participle form.

Example Sentences :

  • Bread is made from flour.
  • Honey is produced by bees.
  • Fresh lobsters are sold here.
  • Where is rice grown?
  • Where are Audi cars manufactured?


Other passive structures :

After verbs followed by a gerund we use being + past participle.

eg. Some people enjoy being told what to do.

After verbs followed by the infinitive with to we use to be + past participle.

eg. Children need to be brought up in a loving environment.

After prepositions we use being + past participle.

eg. She dreams of being chosen to represent England in the Olympics.

After the first/ second/ last (+noun) we use to be + past participle.

eg. The first events to be announced were the acrobats and the clown show.

After have to and used to we use be + past participle.

eg. The graduation party had to be called off due to bad weather.


Note for use of the passive :

In English we don't use the present perfect continuous and past perfect continuous in the passive!

Present simple passive example sentences
Of course, it's called the Windmill.Natürlich, er heißt "the Windmill".
We need an app that can tell us when pictures are taken...Wir brauchen eine App, die uns anzeigt, wann die Bilder gemacht wurden...
Really, I'm sure it's normally done before the winter, not after!Wirklich? Ich bin mir sicher, dass das normalerweise vor dem Winter gemacht wird und nicht danach!
Let me check, it's written on the paper.Lass mich mal sehen. Sie steht auf einem Stück Papier.
It is called Murphy's law.Das nennt man Murphys Gesetz.
Asking if pets are allowed in the house, maybe?Vielleicht zu fragen, ob Haustiere im Haus erlaubt sind?
What is Pinocchio made of, dear?Woraus ist Pinocchio gemacht, Schatz?

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Be going to
Be going to passive
Be used to / Get used to
Comparative
Defining relative clause
Echo tag
Expression
First conditional
Future
Future continuous
Future perfect continuous
Future perfect passive
Future perfect simple
Future simple passive
Greeting
Have/Get something done
Imperative
Implied conditional
Indirect question
Infinitive of purpose
Interjection
Mixed conditional
Modal
Modal passive
Non-defining relative clause
Other
Past continuous
Past continuous passive
Past perfect continuous
Past perfect passive
Past perfect simple
Past simple
Past simple passive
Polite request / offer / suggestion
Present continuous
Present continuous passive
Present perfect continuous
Present perfect passive
Present perfect simple
Present simple
Present simple passive
Question tag
Reduced relative clause
Reported speech imperative
Reported speech question
Reported speech request
Reported speech statement
Second conditional
Short answer
Superlative
Third conditional
Used to / would (past habit)
Was/were going to
Was/were supposed to
Wish
Would rather
Zero conditional