THE PASSIVE: FORM - WITH OR WITHOUT AGENT

USE:
To talk about actions or events in which the agent, or the "doer" of the
action, is obvious, unknown or unimportant, or to emphasize the action,
the results of the action, or the receiver of the action. The Passive is also
used to stress a process or event.
FORM:
["BE" + Past Participle [V3]]
NOTE: The verb "BE" varies according to the tense of the sentence. It
can take any form, including progressives.
EXAMPLES:
"The castle was built in 1543."
"It has been rebuilt twice since then."
(Agent unknown/unimportant)
"English is spoken here."
(Agent is obvious or understood)
"The game is played until there are no more players on the field."
(Process is stressed)
NOTE: We can include the agent after the verb in a Passive sentence,
using the preposition BY.
EXAMPLES:
"My lunch was stolen by a gorilla from the circus!"
"The new hospital is going to be opened by the Queen herself."
AFFIRMATIVE/NEGATIVE
PRESENT/PAST SIMPLE
[OBJECT + Present/Past Form of BE (NOT) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3] (by
SUBJECT)...]
EXAMPLES:
"English is spoken here."
"These socks weren't made in Japan."
PRESENT/PAST PROGRESSIVE

[OBJECT + Present/Past Form of BE (NOT) + BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE

[V3] (by SUBJECT)]
EXAMPLES:
"The house is being painted (by John)."
"Our car wasn't being used yesterday."
PRESENT PERFECT
[OBJECT + HAVE (NOT)/HAS (NOT) + BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3] (by
SUBJECT)]
EXAMPLES:
"The house has been rented (by Bob Tell)."
"We haven't been invited to the party."
YES/NO QUESTIONS
[BE/HAVE + SUBJECT (BE) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]
EXAMPLES:
"Was the letter sent?" (SIMPLE)
"Is it being ordered?" (PROGRESSIVE)
"Have they been asked?" (PERFECT)
WH-QUESTIONS
[WH-WORD + BE/HAVE + (SUBJECT) (BE) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]...]
EXAMPLES:
"Who was told about this?"
"When was John invited to the wedding?"
"Where was it being shown?"
"Why has Bill been fired?
OTHER EXAMPLES:
"The car wasn't being repaired when we arrived."
"The election results have just been announced."
"George has been caught by the police."
"Are we going to be invited to Joe's party?"
"Why has Betty been arrested?"
"Who was that movie made by?
"It was made by DeMille, I think."

Some verbs, such as GIVE, ASK, TELL, OFFER, PROMISE, SEND, SHOW, TEACH, and PAY, can have two
objects: one DIRECT and one INDIRECT. Either the direct object or the indirect object can become the subject
in a passive sentence:
"My grandmother gave me a watch for my birthday."
"The watch was given to me for my birthday."
(direct object)
"I was given the watch for my birthday."
(indirect object)