B2 Stage 1: Sentence
Say what happens, not who does it (the passive)
The passive voice: is made, was built
You can use forms like 'is made' or 'was built' (the passive) when the person who does the action is not important.
This guide is for B1 writers moving to B2. It is a stage 1 skill: write one sentence (8-40 words).
When to use the passive voice
When you describe a process, a rule, a history or a result, and what is done matters more than who does it: 'Waste is sorted at the factory.' 'The rules were changed last year.'
The passive voice: how to do it
Use the passive when the person who does the action is not important, not known or obvious. Form: a form of 'be' + the third form of the verb (made, built, written). 'Glass is collected every week.' 'The museum was built hundreds of years ago.' 'More plastic will be recycled next year.' Match 'be' to the time and to the subject: 'is made', 'was made', 'has been made', 'are made'. Add 'by + the person' only if it tells the reader something new: 'The bridge was designed by a local student.' Do not use the passive everywhere: 'My friend made this cake' is better than 'This cake was made by my friend.'
Useful language for the passive voice
- is / are made from ...
- was / were built
- has / have been changed
- is / are used to ...
- will be repaired
- is said to ...
Example of the passive voice
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which are dried and roasted before they are ground into a paste.
Topic: How chocolate is made
How the BetterWrite coach checks the passive voice
The BetterWrite coach checks 3 points for this skill, plus accuracy and staying on topic, and quotes your own words when one is not there yet.
Try it
Write ONE sentence about recycling in your town. Use the passive (like 'is made' or 'was built'), because the person who does the action is not important.
Write 8-40 words (one sentence).