Introduction
Have you ever felt like IELTS Writing is out to get you? Like it’s some mysterious puzzle designed to confuse you with tricky grammar rules? Well, you’re not alone! One of the most misunderstood (yet super useful) parts of IELTS Writing is the passive voice. But don’t worry—I promise it’s not as scary as it sounds!
Think about it—when was the last time you saw a news headline that said, “Someone stole the Mona Lisa”? Probably never! Instead, you’d read, “The Mona Lisa was stolen!” See? The focus is on the action, not who did it. That’s exactly why the passive voice is such a game-changer in IELTS Writing, especially when describing processes, scientific facts, and formal statements.
So, if you’ve been scratching your head, wondering how to make your essays sound more professional (and less like a casual text to your best friend), you’re in the right place. By the end of this guide, you’ll not only understand the passive voice—you’ll use it like a pro!
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."- Mark Twain
What is Passive Voice?
Alright, let’s keep it simple—passive voice is basically when the sentence plays a little game of "Who’s the real star here?" In active voice, the person doing the action is the main character. But in passive voice, it’s like the action or the thing being done gets to take the spotlight.
For example, instead of saying, “The teacher explained the lesson,” the passive version would be “The lesson was explained by the teacher.” See what happened there? The lesson is the star now, and the teacher is just a sidekick!
Structure (Passive Voice)
Now, let’s talk about how to make it happen. The formula is pretty straightforward:
Subject + form of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were) + past participle of the verb.
So, for example:
- Active: “The chef cooked the dinner.”
- Passive: “The dinner was cooked by the chef.”
Active Voice vs. Passive Voice
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| The subject (doer) performs the action. | The subject (receiver) receives the action. |
| Focus is on the doer (subject). | Focus is on the action or the object. |
| Example: “The chef cooked the dinner.” | Example: “The dinner was cooked by the chef.” |
| Subject comes first, followed by the verb and object. | The object comes first, followed by the verb (form of “to be”) and the subject. |
| More direct and dynamic. | More formal, objective, and often used in academic writing. |
When to Use the Passive Voice in IELTS Writing
The passive voice can be your secret weapon in IELTS Writing, helping you sound more formal and objective—just what examiners are looking for! It’s not about making your writing boring or robotic, but about showing that you understand the academic tone and structure. Here’s when you should use it in Task 1 and Task 2:
Academic Writing Task 1: Describing Processes
In Task 1, you might be asked to describe a process or how something works. Here’s where the passive voice shines. The key is to focus on the action rather than who’s doing it. This helps you sound more formal and keeps things impersonal, which is exactly what you want in academic writing.
Example:
"The raw materials are processed in the factory."
In this sentence, the focus is on the process (raw materials being processed), not on who’s doing it. It’s a neat way to keep things objective and clear, making your description sound professional.
Academic Writing Task 2: Presenting Opinions
When you’re writing your opinion or discussing general ideas in Task 2, the passive voice helps you present things in a neutral, well-rounded way. It makes your writing sound more like a widely accepted belief rather than something you personally believe.
Example:
"It is believed that education is the key to success."
This structure, "it is believed," lets you present an idea without attaching it to a specific person or group. It sounds more authoritative and shows you’re thinking beyond your own perspective—something that’ll impress the examiner.
Forming Passive Sentences in Various Tenses
| Tense | Active Voice Example | Passive Voice Example | Structure | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | The teacher explains the lesson. | The lesson is explained by the teacher. | Subject + is/are + past participle of the verb | Used for general truths or habitual actions. |
| Past Simple | The artist painted the portrait. | The portrait was painted by the artist. | Subject + was/were + past participle of the verb | Describes actions that happened in the past. |
| Present Continuous | The team is building the new bridge. | The new bridge is being built by the team. | Subject + is/are + being + past participle of the verb | Describes actions happening at the moment or around now. |
| Past Continuous | The researchers were conducting the experiment. | The experiment was being conducted by the researchers. | Subject + was/were + being + past participle of the verb | Describes actions that were ongoing in the past. |
| Present Perfect | The scientists have discovered a new planet. | A new planet has been discovered by the scientists. | Subject + has/have + been + past participle of the verb | Describes actions completed recently or with present relevance. |
| Past Perfect | The committee had approved the proposal. | The proposal had been approved by the committee. | Subject + had + been + past participle of the verb | Describes actions completed before another past action. |
| Future Simple | The company will launch the product next month. | The product will be launched by the company next month. | Subject + will be + past participle of the verb | Describes actions that will happen in the future. |
| Future Continuous | The engineers will be testing the new system tomorrow. | The new system will be being tested by the engineers tomorrow. | Subject + will be + being + past participle of the verb | Describes ongoing actions that will happen in the future. |
| Future Perfect | The company will have completed the project by next year. | The project will have been completed by the company by next year. | Subject + will have been + past participle of the verb | Describes actions that will be completed before a future time. |
Practice Exercises: Passive Voice
Transforming Active Sentences to Passive
Below are some active voice sentences. Your task is to transform them into passive voice. Remember to focus on the action or object rather than the subject.
- The chef prepares the meal every day.
- The students completed the project last week.
- The company is launching a new product next month.
- The teacher explained the lesson clearly.
- They are renovating the building at the moment.
- The committee has approved the new policy.
- The scientists discovered a new species in the jungle.
- The manager will review the report tomorrow.
- They had painted the wall before the event.
- The workers are building a bridge over the river.
Identifying Passive Structures
Paragraph 1:
The new system has been implemented successfully. The software updates were completed last week, and training sessions were held for all employees. It is believed that this system will improve efficiency across departments.
Paragraph 2:
In 2020, the famous painting was stolen from the museum. It was recovered six months later, but its condition was damaged. The artwork has since been restored by specialists and is now on display in a new gallery.
Paragraph 3:
A decision was made to build a new park in the city center. The area was cleared, and construction began early this year. It is expected that the park will be completed by the end of next year.
Answers: Transforming Active Sentences to Passive
- The meal is prepared by the chef every day.
- The project was completed by the students last week.
- A new product is going to be launched by the company next month.
- The lesson was explained clearly by the teacher.
- The building is being renovated at the moment.
- The new policy has been approved by the committee.
- A new species was discovered in the jungle by the scientists.
- The report will be reviewed by the manager tomorrow.
- The wall had been painted before the event.
- A bridge is being built over the river by the workers.
Answers: Identifying Passive Structures
Paragraph 1:
- has been implemented
- were completed
- were held
- is believed
Paragraph 2:
- was stolen
- was recovered
- was damaged
- has been restored
- is displayed
Paragraph 3:
- was made
- was cleared
- was begun
- is expected
- will be completed
Practice Exercises: More Passive Voice
Transforming Active Sentences to Passive
Convert the following active voice sentences into passive voice:
- The police arrested the suspect last night.
- The company has launched a new marketing campaign.
- The director will announce the new policy tomorrow.
- The chef prepared a delicious meal for the guests.
- The students are studying the new syllabus.
- The workers fixed the broken fence yesterday.
- They will start the meeting at 10 AM.
- The engineers are designing a new bridge for the city.
- The teacher will collect the assignments next week.
- The scientists discovered a new planet in the galaxy.
Identifying Passive Structures
Read each of the following paragraphs and underline the passive structures. After that, you can check your answers.
Paragraph 1:
The concert was held in the city park last weekend. Tickets were sold out within hours, and the event was attended by thousands of people. The band was introduced by the host, and the music was played loudly throughout the evening.
Paragraph 2:
A new policy has been implemented in the office. All employees are required to submit their reports by Friday each week. It is expected that the new rules will improve productivity across departments.
Paragraph 3:
The article was published last week in the leading newspaper. It was written by an experienced journalist, and the topic was researched thoroughly. The article will be distributed to all subscribers next week.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve made it through the wonderful (and slightly sneaky) world of the passive voice. Hopefully, it’s starting to feel less like a grammar monster and more like a secret weapon for IELTS success. Now, you know when to use it, how to structure it, and why it can make your writing sound more polished and academic.
But remember—just knowing the rules won’t get you a high score. You need to practice, practice, practice! So, go ahead and start transforming those active sentences into passive ones. Play around with process descriptions, rewrite news headlines, or even try explaining your daily routine in passive voice (just for fun!).
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."- Walt Disney