At the A2 level, you should be able to use Simple Passive in both the present and past tenses. There are clear explanations, gap-fill questions, and simple examples that use “be” and “past participle.”
Simple Passive – Present & Past: ‘be’ + Past Participle – Exercises
When we want to talk about the action or the result of the action, not who does it, we use the simple passive. People use this form a lot in everyday English, especially in news, instructions, and general facts.
What is the easy passive?
The verb “be” and the past participle of the main verb make up the simple passive.
Structure
Subject + be + past participle
Example
The door is closed.
The message was sent.
In these sentences, the subject doesn’t do anything. It gets the action.
Present simple passive
We use the present simple passive to talk about things that are always true, routines, and general facts.
Form
am is are + past participle
Examples
English is spoken in many countries.
The office is cleaned every morning.
Tickets are sold online.
These sentences talk about things that happen often or are usually true.
Passive in the past
We use the past simple passive to talk about things that were done in the past.
Form
was were + past participle
Examples
The bridge was built in 2010.
The email was sent yesterday.
The window was broken last night.
Words like “yesterday,” “last night,” or “in 2010” usually make it clear when the action happened.
Active and passive comparison
Active sentence
People make this product in Italy.
Passive sentence
This product is made in Italy.
In the passive voice, the subject of the active voice becomes the object. It doesn’t matter who does the action or who they are.
When we don’t use by
We often use the passive without “by” at the A2 level. This happens a lot when the person who did the action is unknown, obvious, or not important.
Example
The room is cleaned every day.
The computer was repaired yesterday.
We know that someone fixed the computer and cleaned the room, but we don’t need to say who.
Things you should not do
Don’t forget the verb “be.”
Incorrect: The letter sent yesterday.
Correct: The letter was sent yesterday.
Do not use the past simple form of the main verb by itself.
Incorrect: The house built in 2015.
Correct: The house was built in 2015.
Make sure the subject and verb are the same.
The reports are checked.
The report is checked.
When you remember the structure “be plus past participle,” it’s easy to use the simple passive in the present and past. Use the present simple passive for facts and routines that are true all the time. Use the past simple passive for things that happened in the past. Concentrate on the action, not who does it.
