1) A passive voice is formed with some form of 'be' plus the past participle of the main verb. 2) In passive sentences, an agent (the doer of the action) is sometimes mentioned using "by" 3) Special passive structures include using "it" plus a form of "be" plus the past participle for certain verbs like think, say, believe.

1. Passive voice
A passive voice is a form of BE + PAST PARTICIPLE
In a passive sentence we sometimes mention the ANGENT (person or thing doing the
action)
We use BY with the angent
We do not mention the angent if: - it does not add any new information
- it is not important
- it is difficult to say who the angent is
Tenses Active Passive
Simple present He washes his car His car is washed
Present continuous He is washing his car His car is being washed
Simple past He washed his car His car was washed
Present perfect He has washed his car His car has been washed
Past perfect He had washed his car His car had been washed
Past continuous He was washing his car His car was being washed
Future He will wash his car His car will be washed
He is going to wash his car His car is going to be washed
Modal verbs He should wash his car His car should be washed
Special passive structures
We can use IT + VERB TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE of the following verbs:
Think – say – believe – agree – announce – consider – decide – expect – explain – hope –
know – report – suggest – suppose – understand – romour.
E.g: It has been decided that breaks will last 30 minutes.
We use:
(check tense) (P. Part.) When we ask tell or
HAVE SOMETHING DONE pay someone else to
(=get but do something for us.
More informal)
Active and passive
Active Passive
Bell invented the telephone The telephone was invented by Bell