The Passive Voice: Things Get Done
B2⏱ 5 min
The Passive Voice: Things Get Done
At Uccello, Establishment, and The Ivy — Sydney’s temples of fine dining — every detail was choreographed with invisible precision. The foie gras was sliced by hand, its edges wiped clean with a cloth warmed to the exact temperature. The sauce was reduced for three hours until it coated the back of a spoon perfectly. The table was set with military precision: no finger marks, no asymmetry, no second chances. In fine dining, the action matters — the person doing it is often secondary. That is exactly when English reaches for the passive voice.
🎯 Aim: Form and use the passive voice to focus on the action or the result rather than the person performing it.
Active vs Passive
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| The chef sliced the foie gras. | The foie gras was sliced by the chef. |
| Someone reduces the sauce for three hours. | The sauce is reduced for three hours. |
| Staff set the table. | The table was set with military precision. |
How to Form the Passive
be (in the right tense) + past participle
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | They clean the glasses. | The glasses are cleaned. |
| Past simple | We reduced the sauce. | The sauce was reduced. |
| Present perfect | Someone has polished the silver. | The silver has been polished. |
| Future | They will prepare the menu. | The menu will be prepared. |
| Modal | Staff must chill the wine. | The wine must be chilled. |
When to Use the Passive
- The agent (doer) is unknown: The reservation was cancelled.
- The agent is obvious: The fine was issued. (by the authorities — we know)
- The agent is unimportant: focus is on the action/result
- Formal / impersonal writing: recipes, reports, instructions
Restaurant Examples
- “Each plate is inspected before it leaves the kitchen.“
- “The wine list was updated twice a year.“
- “Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance.“
- “The dessert had been prepared three hours before service.“
- “Guests are greeted by name on arrival.“
Practice Task — Rewrite in the Passive
Change each active sentence into the passive. Include the agent only if it adds useful information.
- The sommelier selected the wines for the tasting menu.
- Someone has cancelled your reservation.
- The kitchen team will prepare three courses.
- They must serve the champagne at 8°C.
- The manager inspects every table before service.
Show answers
- The wines were selected (by the sommelier) for the tasting menu.
- Your reservation has been cancelled.
- Three courses will be prepared (by the kitchen team).
- The champagne must be served at 8°C.
- Every table is inspected by the manager before service.
Takeaway
The passive = be + past participle. Use it when the action or result matters more than who does it. Change be to match the tense you need. Add by + agent only when the doer is important or surprising.
Cambridge CELTA course completed — 120 supervised teaching hours and four written assignments validated to the required standard.
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