The Passive Voice

The window was broken by me.

We use the passive when:

• The person performing the action is obvious, unknown or unimportant :

The glass was broken.

• The action itself is more important than the doer ( for ex. In the headings):

Hundreds of buildings were damaged by the earthquake.

• We want to sound more formal / polite :

The ceremony will be held in the city hall.

Active: Mr. Harris sculpts statues.

S. V. O.

Passive: Statues are sculpted by Mr. Harris.

S. V. Agent

The window has been left opened. We can not omit the noun denoting the doer of the action if it is important for the meaning of the sentence: The announcement will be made by the president himself. В вопросах в страдательном залоге с who, whom by не опускается : Who will give the speech? – Who will the speech be given by? " width="640"

We can omit the noun denoting the doer of the action if it is expressed with the words someone, they, people, etc.:

Someone has left the window opened. - The window has been left opened.

We can not omit the noun denoting the doer of the action if it is important for the meaning of the sentence:

The announcement will be made by the president himself.

В вопросах в страдательном залоге с who, whom by не опускается :

Who will give the speech? – Who will the speech be given by?

To be + past participle (V3)

Present Simple

am/is/are + past participle

Future Simple

will be + past participle

Past Continuous

was/were being + past participle

Past Perfect Simple

had been + past participle

Past Simple

was/were + past participle

Modal verbs

may / might /could / must / have to + be + past participle

Present Perfect Simple

have/has been + past participle

Present Continuous

am/is/are being + past participle