How Do You Make the Passive in Other Tenses?
You already know is made and was made. Every other tense works the same way: be changes with the tense, and the main verb stays a past participle.
HAPPENING NOWis being + past participle
A new bridge is being built across the river.
DONE, RESULT NOWhas been + past participle
Your order has been sent.
WITH A MODALmust be + past participle
Mobile phones must be switched off during the exam.
The main verb is always a past participle. Be carries the tense.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Sorry, the lift blank at the moment."
- Question 2
"Good news! Your visa blank."
The forms
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Sam / is / are beingpast participle
The kitchen is being painted.
PRESENT PERFECT
Shave / has beenpast participle
Two new teachers have been hired this year.
FUTURE
Swill be / is going to bepast participle
The results will be announced next week.
MODAL
Scan / must / should / might bepast participle
Tickets can be bought online.
QUESTION
Has / Will / Can…Sbe / beenpast participle?
Has the parcel been delivered?
Only the first word moves before the subject.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Your passport should blank in a safe place."
When to use it
Delivery updates
Your parcel has been delivered.
The app tells you it has arrived. Who brought it doesn't matter.
Rules on signs
Shoes must be taken off inside the temple.
A rule for everyone, with no one named.
Being or Been?
| BEING | BEEN | |
|---|---|---|
| Comes after | am / is / are / was / were | have / has / had |
| Meaning | happening, not finished | finished |
| Example | My bike is being fixed. | My bike has been fixed. |
Look at the word just before it: is → being, has → been.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:The room is cleaning now.
Correct:The room is being cleaned now.
The room isn't doing the cleaning. Add being + past participle.
Incorrect:Your order has been send.
Correct:Your order has been sent.
After been, the past participle: send, sent, sent.
Incorrect:It must be finish today.
Correct:It must be finished today.
After be, the past participle. A modal doesn't change that.
Incorrect:The car has being repaired.
Correct:The car has been repaired.
Has goes with been, never being.
Incorrect:The new road will build next year.
Correct:The new road will be built next year.
Roads don't build things. Add be after will.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct form:
The hospital is being rebuilt at the moment.
- A. is being rebuilt — Correct
- B. is rebuilding
- C. has being rebuilt
Answer: A. is being rebuilt
The hospital isn't doing the building. And being never follows has.
Choose the correct form:
The thief has been caught by the police.
- A. has been caught — Correct
- B. has caught
- C. has being caught
Answer: A. has been caught
The police did the catching, not the thief. After has, use been.
Choose the correct form:
This door must be locked at night.
- A. be locked — Correct
- B. locked
- C. be lock
Answer: A. be locked
After must comes the base verb be. Then the past participle: locked.
Choose the correct form:
A new park is going to be built near my house next year.
- A. is going to be built — Correct
- B. is going to build
- C. is going to built
Answer: A. is going to be built
A park can't build anything. After going to, use be, then built.
Choose the correct word:
The bench has just been painted, so the paint is still wet.
- A. been — Correct
- B. being
Answer: A. been
The painting is finished. Being only follows am, is, are, was or were.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 14 questions