01Present simple passive
For a regular action, use am/is/are + past participle. Match be to the person or thing receiving the action.
am/is/are + past participleA2-B1
Passive Voice: present and past Simple Exercises
About this lesson
Passive voice: present and past simple · A2. For a regular action, use am/is/are + past participle. Match be to the person or thing receiving the action.
Show what happens to someone or something. Practise present and past simple passives.
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Knowledge map
Start practisingPassive voice: present and past simple
02Past simple passive
For a finished past event, use was/were + past participle. A participle can be irregular and can differ from the past simple form.
was/were + past participle03Negatives, questions and focus
Add not after be; put be before the subject in questions. The receiver becomes the subject. Use by + agent when the doer matters; it can often be omitted.
Was the room cleaned? · It wasn’t cleaned.Affirmative
The room is cleaned daily.It was cleaned yesterday.
Negative
The room isn’t cleaned daily.It wasn’t cleaned yesterday.
Question
Is the room cleaned daily?Was it cleaned yesterday?
Short answer
Yes, it is.No, it wasn’t.
Illustrated guide
01 / 12D01Save it to find it in My collection.
A cleaner cleans one entrance every morning. Focus on the entrance.
Choose the passive verb form that reports the cleaner’s daily action, focusing on the entrance.
Your learning route
01
Step 1 · Warm-up
0/3Warm-up
02
Step 2 · Build the skill
0/1Present simple passive
For a regular action, use am/is/are + past participle. Match be to the person or thing receiving the action.
The studio is cleaned every evening.03
Step 3 · Build the skill
0/1Past simple passive
For a finished past event, use was/were + past participle. A participle can be irregular and can differ from the past simple form.
The missing bag was found near the lift.04
Step 4 · Build the skill
0/2Negatives, questions and focus
Add not after be; put be before the subject in questions. The receiver becomes the subject. Use by + agent when the doer matters; it can often be omitted.
Were the seats reserved by the school? The seats were not reserved.05
Step 5 · New contexts
0/3New contexts
06
Step 6 · A fresh challenge
0/2A fresh challenge
Practice notes in this unit
0Make mistakes useful.
Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
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Lesson map
A2Passive voice: present and past simple
Lesson points
Present simple passive
For a regular action, use am/is/are + past participle. Match be to the person or thing receiving the action.
The studio is cleaned every evening.Past simple passive
For a finished past event, use was/were + past participle. A participle can be irregular and can differ from the past simple form.
The missing bag was found near the lift.Negatives, questions and focus
Add not after be; put be before the subject in questions. The receiver becomes the subject. Use by + agent when the doer matters; it can often be omitted.
Were the seats reserved by the school? The seats were not reserved.Questions & answers
Opening an answer records help for that question.
A cleaner cleans one entrance every morning. Focus on the entrance.
Choose the passive verb form that reports the cleaner’s daily action, focusing on the entrance.
- The entrance is cleaned every morning.
- The entrance is clean every morning.
- The entrance are cleaned every morning.
Answer & explanation
The entrance is cleaned every morning.
Look at “A cleaner cleans one entrance every morning. Focus on the entrance.”. For a regular action, use am/is/are + past participle. Match be to the person or thing receiving the action. Complete sentence: “The entrance is cleaned every morning.”.
The secretary wrote the meeting minutes yesterday. Minutes means the written record of a meeting.
Choose the past simple passive sentence.
- The minutes are written yesterday.
- The minutes were written yesterday.
- The minutes were wrote yesterday.
Answer & explanation
The minutes were written yesterday.
Look at “The secretary wrote the meeting minutes yesterday. Minutes means the written record of a meeting.”. For a finished past event, use was/were + past participle. A participle can be irregular and can differ from the past simple form. Complete sentence: “The minutes were written yesterday.”.
The club checks its bikes before each ride. Ask about this routine, focusing on the bikes.
Choose the present simple passive question.
- Do the bikes checked before each ride?
- Are the bikes check before each ride?
- Are the bikes checked before each ride?
Answer & explanation
Are the bikes checked before each ride?
Look at “The club checks its bikes before each ride. Ask about this routine, focusing on the bikes.”. Add not after be; put be before the subject in questions. The receiver becomes the subject. Use by + agent when the doer matters; it can often be omitted. Complete sentence: “Are the bikes checked before each ride?”.
The cafe makes these sandwiches here every morning. The sandwiches ___ here every morning.
Complete the gap with the present simple passive of make. Write only the missing words.
Answer & explanation
are made
The sandwiches receive this regular action. Plural 'sandwiches' needs 'are made'.
Last night's storm broke two windows. Focus on the windows.
Choose the past simple passive sentence.
- The two windows were broke during last night's storm.
- The two windows was broken during last night's storm.
- The two windows were broken during last night's storm.
Answer & explanation
The two windows were broken during last night's storm.
Look at “Last night's storm broke two windows. Focus on the windows.”. For a finished past event, use was/were + past participle. A participle can be irregular and can differ from the past simple form. Complete sentence: “The two windows were broken during last night's storm.”.
The caretaker forgot to lock the doors last night. Nobody else locked them. Focus on the doors.
Choose the negative past simple passive sentence.
- The doors did not locked last night.
- The doors were not locked last night.
- The doors were not lock last night.
Answer & explanation
The doors were not locked last night.
Look at “The caretaker forgot to lock the doors last night. Nobody else locked them. Focus on the doors.”. Add not after be; put be before the subject in questions. The receiver becomes the subject. Use by + agent when the doer matters; it can often be omitted. Complete sentence: “The doors were not locked last night.”.
A local artist painted this mural in 2021.
Rewrite in the past simple passive, starting This mural. Keep the artist with by and keep the year. Write one full sentence.
Answer & explanation
This mural was painted by a local artist in 2021.
'This mural' receives the painting. Use 'was painted' and retain the artist with 'by'.
Other accepted versions
- This mural was painted in 2021 by a local artist.
Find the agreement error: The invitations is sent every May.
Correct only is. Write the whole corrected sentence.
Answer & explanation
The invitations are sent every May.
'Invitations' is plural, so change 'is' to 'are'. Keep the participle 'sent' and the routine time phrase.
Find the verb-form error: The parcel was took to the office yesterday.
Choose the corrected past simple passive sentence.
- The parcel was take to the office yesterday.
- The parcel was took to the office yesterday.
- The parcel was taken to the office yesterday.
Answer & explanation
The parcel was taken to the office yesterday.
Look at “Find the verb-form error: The parcel was took to the office yesterday.”. For a finished past event, use was/were + past participle. A participle can be irregular and can differ from the past simple form. Complete sentence: “The parcel was taken to the office yesterday.”.
Find the error in this question: Did the tickets checked at the gate yesterday?
Choose the corrected past simple passive question.
- Were the tickets checked at the gate yesterday?
- Did the tickets checked at the gate yesterday?
- Were the tickets check at the gate yesterday?
Answer & explanation
Were the tickets checked at the gate yesterday?
Look at “Find the error in this question: Did the tickets checked at the gate yesterday?”. Add not after be; put be before the subject in questions. The receiver becomes the subject. Use by + agent when the doer matters; it can often be omitted. Complete sentence: “Were the tickets checked at the gate yesterday?”.
Our workshop prints these labels every Friday. Focus on the labels.
Choose the present simple passive sentence.
- These labels are print in our workshop every Friday.
- These labels is printed in our workshop every Friday.
- These labels are printed in our workshop every Friday.
Answer & explanation
These labels are printed in our workshop every Friday.
Look at “Our workshop prints these labels every Friday. Focus on the labels.”. For a regular action, use am/is/are + past participle. Match be to the person or thing receiving the action. Complete sentence: “These labels are printed in our workshop every Friday.”.
The storm damaged the roof last winter.
Rewrite in the past simple passive, starting The roof. Keep the cause with by and keep last winter. Write one full sentence.
Answer & explanation
The roof was damaged by the storm last winter.
The roof receives damage in a finished past event. Use 'was damaged'; 'by the storm' preserves the cause.
Other accepted versions
- The roof was damaged last winter by the storm.