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English Passive Voice – Part 2

Use the present continuous passive (am/is/are being + past participle) for an action happening to something right now, and the present perfect passive (has/have been + past participle) for an action completed at an unspecified time before now.

  • CEFR B1
  • 8-question quiz
  • 2 exercises
Present continuous passive and present perfect passive
  1. help→I am being helpedsomeone is helping me now
  2. check→it is being checkedsomeone is checking it now
  3. give→they are being givensomeone is giving them something now
  4. help→I have been helpedsomeone has helped me
  5. speak to→she has been spoken tosomeone has talked with her
  6. sell→they have been soldsomeone has sold them

This unit introduces more complex components of the passive voice.

Am/Is/Are being  (present continuous passive)

We can also use the passive voice in combination with the present continuous.
We typically use the present continuous passive to describe something that is being done at the moment. It’s formed by using “to be” twice: [am/is/are] + being + past participle.

I       am being          helped.

Examples

  • The patients are being examined.
  • Support groups are being used to help people.
  • She is being immunized today.
  • They are not being immunized.
  • His hearing is being checked regularly.
  • They are being given fluids at the moment.
  • The doctors are being supported by the nurses.

Has/have been (present perfect passive) 

The present perfect passive is used for an action completed at an unspecified time before now, when the result matters now: [have/has] + been + past participle.

I        have been               helped.

Examples

  • These people have been seen by a doctor.
  • I have been given a support group to talk to.
  • She has been spoken to by a therapist.
  • The therapist has been spoken to by all the patients.
  • Contact lenses have been sold here for 5 years.
  • Depression has been cited in many cases.
  • Hearing loss has been caused by loud music.

Key vocabulary

WordMeaningExample
being + past participlethe middle part of the present continuous passiveYour order is being prepared.
been + past participlethe middle part of the present perfect passiveThe invoice has been paid.
byintroduces the person or thing that does the action (the agent)The project is being managed by Laura.
is being repairedsomeone is repairing it nowThe elevator is being repaired, so please use the stairs.
has been approvedsomeone has approved it (the result matters now)Your vacation request has been approved.
have been sentsomeone has sent themThe invitations have been sent to all the guests.
is being renovatedwork on the building is in progressOur office is being renovated this month.
has been canceledsomeone has canceled itThe 3 p.m. meeting has been canceled.

Practice: English Passive Voice – Part 2

Work through the exercises, then test yourself with the quiz. Learn from your mistakes and try again as often as you like.

Exercises

Present continuous passive

Complete each sentence with am/is/are being + the past participle of the verb in parentheses.

  1. The new website ______ (build) right now.

    work in progress

    Show answer

    is being built

  2. The patients ______ (give) fluids at the moment.

    plural subject

    Show answer

    are being given

  3. Sorry, I can't talk. I ______ (interview) for a story.

    I + am

    Show answer

    am being interviewed

  4. Your car ______ (wash) now. It will be ready in ten minutes.

    singular subject

    Show answer

    is being washed

  5. The applications ______ (review) by the hiring team this week.

    plural subject

    Show answer

    are being reviewed

  6. The main road ______ (repair), so traffic is slow.

    singular subject

    Show answer

    is being repaired

Present perfect passive

Complete each sentence with has/have been + the past participle of the verb in parentheses.

  1. The report ______ (send) to the client.

    singular subject

    Show answer

    has been sent

  2. All the tickets ______ (sell).

    plural subject

    Show answer

    have been sold

  3. Your password ______ (change) successfully.

    singular subject

    Show answer

    has been changed

  4. Contact lenses ______ (sell) here for five years.

    plural subject

    Show answer

    have been sold

  5. She ______ (promote) to team leader.

    she + has

    Show answer

    has been promoted

  6. The meeting ______ (move) to Thursday.

    singular subject

    Show answer

    has been moved

  7. The new employees ______ (give) their laptops.

    plural subject

    Show answer

    have been given

  8. I ______ (invite) to the conference.

    I + have

    Show answer

    have been invited

Quiz: 8 questions

1. Choose the present continuous passive: "The office ______ right now."
2. Choose the present perfect passive: "The contract ______ by both companies."
3. Which sentence is correct?
4. "The patients are being given fluids." When is this happening?
5. Make this sentence passive: "The nurses are supporting the doctors."
6. Make this sentence passive: "Someone has repaired the printer."
7. Complete: "I ______ to the meeting, but I can't go."
8. Which sentence is NOT passive?

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