5

Starter
Grammar reference

The passive: present The passive: questions and

Affirmative Negative answers
I’m (am) paid. I’m not (am not) paid. Present passive
You’re (are) paid. You aren’t (are not) paid. Am I paid? Yes, I am.
He/She/It’s (is) paid. He/She/It isn’t (is not) paid. No, I’m not.
We/You/They’re (are) We/You/They aren’t (are not) Are you paid? Yes, you are.
paid. paid. No, you aren’t.

• the present simple passive is formed with the present

Is he/she/it paid? Yes, he/she/it is.
No, he/she/it isn’t.
simple of be + the past participle of the verb
Are we/you/they paid? Yes, we/you/they are.
English is spoken all over the world. No, we/you/they aren’t.
• for past participles of irregular verbs, see the irregular
verb list on p80 Past passive
• we use by in passive sentences if we want to talk Was I invited? Yes, I was.
about who or what does the action No, I wasn’t.
This song is sung by Taylor Swift. Were you invited? Yes, you were.
No, you weren’t.
The passive: past Was he/she/it invited? Yes, he/she/it was.
No, he/she/it wasn’t.
Affirmative Negative Were we/you/they invited? Yes, we/you/they were.
I was invited. I wasn’t (was not) invited. No, we/you/they weren’t.
You were invited. You weren’t (were not)
invited.
• passive questions are formed with (question word) +
the present/past simple of be + subject + the past
He/She/It was invited. He/She/It wasn’t (was not) participle of the verb
invited. When was the Eiffel Tower built?
We/You/They were We/You/They weren’t (were
invited. not) invited. • we put prepositions and other words at the end of
the question
• the past simple passive is formed with the past Who was the photo taken by?
simple of be + the past participle of the verb What is the statue made of?
The film was directed by Spike Lee.

Active and passive

• active sentences start with the subject; the subject is
the person or thing that does the action
Ed Sheeran wrote the song.
• we use the passive when the action of the sentence
is important, not the person who did it
active: They make chopsticks from wood.
passive: Chopsticks are made from wood.
• we also use the passive when we do not know who
does the action
active: Somebody designed the app in 2019.
passive: The app was designed in 2019.
• we use the passive in writing more than in speaking
• we often use the passive in writing to describe a
process
Then the app was released.

92 Get Involved! B1 © Macmillan Education Limited 2021

 Grammar practice 5

The passive: present 4 Correct the mistakes.

1 This photo took on our holiday in Indonesia last
1 Complete the sentences with the present summer.
passive of the verbs in brackets. This photo was taken on our holiday in Indonesia
1 This stadium is used for concerts. (use) last summer.
2 CDs in many shops these days. 2 Leonardo da Vinci was painted this picture in around
(not sell) 1506.
3 Millions of selfies every day. (take) 
4 Over two hundred photos on my 3 This designer is produced wonderful clothes for
phone. (store) teenagers.
5 Mandarin Chinese in this film. 
(not speak)
4 These sculptures made for a special outdoor
6 Graffiti art on this wall in the city exhibition last summer.
centre. (allow)

7 These paintings in the Fine Art
gallery. (display) 5 The potter is used special materials to make this kind
of pottery.

The passive: past 6 In this room we have artwork that painted by Monet,
2 Choose the correct words. Picasso and Dali.
1 The film Toy Story 4 by Josh Cooley. 
a was directed b were directed
2 The competition last week. The passive: questions and
a was held b were held answers
3 A lot of fan letters to the actor.
5 Complete the present passive questions with the
a were send b were sent
correct form of the verbs in the box.
4 We to the award ceremony.
a weren’t invited b were invite close display make own speak use
5 The email account by Grace.
1 What products are made of plastic?
a was create b wasn’t created
2 the drawings in this
6 The animals by the noisy visitors room?
yesterday.
3 Spanish in this country?
a weren’t disturbed b aren’t disturbed
4 these paper bags by
many customers?
Active and passive 5 What time the park gates
?
3 Choose the correct words.
6 this field by the school?
The film Avengers: Endgame 1 was released/
is released in 2019. It quickly 2 became/ 6 Write past passive questions.
was become one of the most profitable films ever.
1 who / this essay / write / by
It 3 made/was made over $1billion in the first
weekend. The film 4 was directed/directed by Joe Who was this essay written by?
and Anthony Russo. Several famous actors 5 appear/ 2 this picture / paint / by Frida Kahlo
is appeared in the film including Robert Downey Jr, 
Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson. The plot 3 when / this statue / make
6 is based/based on the need to destroy Thanos
and return order to the universe. Superheroes like 
Thor, Iron Man and Hulk 7 are required/required 4 this app / design / by the new student
to work together to save the day. 
5 where / the show / hold

Get Involved! B1 © Macmillan Education Limited 2021 93