The Passive in Everyday Life: 50 English Phrases

Something Was Stolen

My bag was stolen on the metro last Friday.
Somebody stole my bag on the metro last Friday.
Luckily, nothing was taken from my coat pockets.
My phone got broken during the move.
My phone was already broken when I bought it.
How did your screen get cracked so badly?

Things Being Done Around You

A new block of flats is being built behind our yard.
A new block of flats was built there three years ago.
Nobody was asked about the noise, of course.
Our street is cleaned twice a week.
Our street is being cleaned right now.
The bins are not collected on Sundays here.

It Has Already Been Done

The window has already been fixed.
The window was fixed on Monday morning.
Has the parcel been delivered yet?
By the time I got home, dinner had been cooked.
When I got home, dinner was still being cooked.
The table had not been laid at all.

It Should Have Been Done

The bill must be paid by Friday.
The bill should have been paid last week.
All of this can be done online in two minutes.
The parcel can be left with the neighbours.
The parcel could have been left with the neighbours.
Nothing could be done about it that evening.

Having Things Done for You

I had my laptop repaired at the shop downstairs.
I repaired my laptop myself in the end.
Where do you usually get your hair cut?
We are having the kitchen painted this week.
We are painting the kitchen ourselves this week.
I need to get my car serviced before winter.

It Is Said That

This café is said to have the best coffee nearby.
My neighbours say this café has the best coffee.
It is believed that the house is over a century old.
He is thought to be somewhere in Portugal now.
Everyone at work thinks he is in Portugal now.
We were told that the road would stay closed.

Naming Who Did It

This scarf was knitted by my grandmother, not bought.
My grandmother knitted this scarf in two evenings.
Who was this photo taken by?
The flat was left to me by my aunt.
My aunt left the flat to me in her will.
The deposit was never returned by the landlord.

Putting It Together

My bike was stolen from the yard last night.
Somebody stole my bike from the yard last night.
The kitchen is being painted while we are away.
We are having the kitchen painted while we are away.
The heating has already been turned on.
The heating should have been turned on last week.
This bread is said to be baked every morning.
My coat was mended by a neighbour, not by me.