The passive voice for processes and reports
Essential for describing processes in Task 1 and for formal, objective writing.
Form
be (in the right tense) + past participle. Add 'by' only when the agent matters.
- The beans are roasted at 200°C.
- The bridge was completed in 1932.
- The data has been collected by volunteers.
When to use it
In process diagrams, the focus is on what happens to the material, so the passive is natural.
In essays, the passive helps you sound objective: 'It is often argued that…'.
- First, the glass is collected and sorted by colour.
- It is widely believed that exercise improves concentration.