The passive: was stolen, is sold

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

The passive in the present and the past: Calvin's truck was stolen in March. Stolen cars are often taken apart. When to add by + who did it, and when to leave it out. From the journey of a stolen pickup truck to a phone call with an insurance company about a theft.

Teach this lessonDownload PDF

Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

was stolenis soldare opened

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: the long trip of a stolen truckReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the passiveGrammar exercise
  6. 6The passive: present and pastGrammar rule
  7. 7by… or not?Grammar exercise
  8. 8At the recycling centerGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12The insurance callSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a news briefGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: choose the right formGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: the journey of a thingDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

Some questions about you before we start.

  1. What is the most valuable thing that you carry with you every day?
  2. Is your neighborhood a safe place to leave a bike outside?
  3. Do you lock your door every time you leave home?

Grammar rule

The passive: present and past

be + past participle

Present: am / is / are + past participlePast: was / were + past participle
PositiveThe gates are opened at nine.The bridge was closed for a week.
NegativePets aren't allowed in the building.The windows weren't broken.
QuestionAre the rooms cleaned every day?When was the bridge closed?

When do we use it?

  • When the action, or the thing, is more important than the person who did it.
  • When the person who did it is unknown or obvious: My umbrella was taken. The roads are plowed after every big snowstorm. (by city workers: obvious)

by + who did it

  • Add by when it is new or important information: The fire was spotted by a mail carrier.
  • Leave it out when it is obvious, unknown or not important: My umbrella was taken by someone. → My umbrella was taken.

Watch out

  • The past participle, not the past simple: was broke → was broken; were chose → were chosen.
  • be agrees with the subject: The keys were found. The money was found.
  • Questions: be comes first, and there is no did: Did it stolen? → Was it stolen?
  • No passive with verbs that have no object, like happen, arrive and die: It was happened at night → It happened at night.

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

Teach this lesson
← Unit 1Unless