The passive across times (B1 Grammar)

You have already used the passive with is / are and was / were. The reason for choosing it does not change when the time changes: put the receiver of the action first when the doer is unknown, obvious, or not important, and add by + the doer only when you want to name them. The only thing that changes from here on is the the verb be.

Why you choose it never changes

The past participle never changes

You already build the past participle the same way as before. The point of this lesson is what stays still: whatever the time, the past participle is exactly the same. Only the verb be moves.

The passive shape stays the same

The passive is always a form of be + the past participle. To change the time, you change only the verb be. The past participle never changes. For now (a regular thing), use is / are + the past participle.

Change the verb be for the past

For the past, swap the verb be to was / were. The past participle is exactly the same as before.

Use will be for the future

For the future, the verb be becomes will be (will + be). The past participle still never changes. Keep the bewill on its own is not enough, because the passive always needs a form of be.

Negatives and questions

To make the passive negative, put not after the verb be: is not washed, was not washed, will not be washed (short forms: isn't / wasn't / won't be). To make a question, move the verb be in front of the subject: Is the car washed? Was the car washed? Will the car be washed? The past participle never moves.