is made, was built: the passive
The passive (present and past)
The passive = a form of be (is, was, has been, will be…) + the third form (done, made, built). Use it when what happened matters more than who did it.
- English is spoken here.
- My bike was stolen last night.
- The house was built in 1990.
Spanish often uses «se» or «me»: «se construyó en 1900», «me robaron la bici». English uses be + the third form: It was built in 1900. My bike was stolen.
Use the third form (build, built, built), not the plain verb: was built (not was build), is done (not is do).
Also on this page: by + who did it · is being done · has been done
Try 6
Six quick questions, easiest first. At the end you'll see which mistake you make.
- In our family, the shopping ______ by my dad every Saturday morning.has done · is done · does · is doing
- Although the argument was serious, the problem ______ quickly once everyone had calmed down.solved · was solved · was solving · had solved
- Last weekend the whole household ______ to my aunt's wedding.has invited · is invited · invited · was invited
- I can't pay by card because the machine is being ______ at the moment.fixed · fixing · fix
- Card payments ______ at the market, so bring some cash.weren't accepted · aren't accepted · don't accept
- Nobody ______ about the change of plan, so we all went to the wrong pub on Friday.told · is told · was told
- Smoking ______ anywhere inside the hotel, including the balconies.isn't allowed · doesn't allow · isn't allow
- Last year our whole team ______ on a training course in Manchester.was sent · sent · is sent
- Our electricity bill ______ automatically from the bank account each month.is paid · has paid · is pay
- Two of my oldest friends ______ to the wedding, and they were very hurt.didn't invite · aren't invited · weren't invited
- Our monthly book club ______ by Hannah, who books the café every time.is organise · is organised · organises
- After the shop closed down, the staff ______ their last month's wages.were never pay · were never paid · are never paid
Show the answers
- is donenot does: missing is, was or werenot has done: missing is, was or werenot is doing: missing is, was or were
- was solvednot solved: missing is, was or werenot had solved: missing is, was or werenot was solving: missing is, was or were
- was invitednot invited: missing is, was or werenot is invited: is for the past, or was for nownot has invited: missing is, was or were
- fixednot fix: is or was + the plain verb
- aren't acceptednot don't accept: missing is, was or werenot weren't accepted: is for the past, or was for now
- was toldnot told: missing is, was or werenot is told: is for the past, or was for now
- isn't allowednot isn't allow: is or was + the plain verbnot doesn't allow: missing is, was or were
- was sentnot sent: missing is, was or werenot is sent: is for the past, or was for now
- is paidnot is pay: is or was + the plain verbnot has paid: missing is, was or were
- weren't invitednot didn't invite: missing is, was or werenot aren't invited: is for the past, or was for now
- is organisednot organises: missing is, was or werenot is organise: is or was + the plain verb
- were never paidnot are never paid: is for the past, or was for nownot were never pay: is or was + the plain verb
Common mistakes on this point
Not: My bike stole last night.
Say: My bike was stolen last night.
When the subject didn't do the action, use am, is, are, was or were + the third form.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: The house was build in 1990.
Say: The house was built in 1990.
The passive needs the third form: built, done, fixed, allowed.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: Last week we are invited to a wedding.
Say: Last week we were invited to a wedding.
am, is, are + done for now and always; was, were + done for the past.
See this mistake on its own page ›