be + past participle across tenses, when to choose passive, and by-agents
I can form the passive across tenses and decide when it beats the active.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
My bike was stolen last night — it was locked, too.
My bike was stolen last night — it was locked, too.
The new terminal will be opened by the mayor in June.
The new terminal will be opened by the mayor in June.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
be + past participle; the tense lives in be:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| present | English is spoken here. |
| past | The bridge was built in 1894. |
| perfect | The road has been closed. |
| future | The results will be published on Friday. |
Use it when the doer is unknown, obvious or unimportant; name the doer with by only when it matters: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice Exercisesbe omitted
Tense lives in be: was built, has been closed
from for the agent
Agent takes by
My bike was stolen last night — it was locked, too.
My bike was stolen last night — it was locked, too.
Unknown doer → passive; Slavic 'ukradli' maps to it.
The new terminal will be opened by the mayor in June.
The new terminal will be opened by the mayor in June.
Future passive + by-agent that matters.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises