When to use different forms of the verb TO BE with passive voice?

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Asked by @ Salai Lalte (Community Student)

When to use different forms of the verb TO BE with passive voice?

English Time Ask Elo

Answered by @ Elo Kasia

Elo Kasia is the English Mentor for  ” English Grammar and Speaking Academy” ,  Join now.

When to use different forms of the verb TO BE with passive voice | English Time Ask Elo

Question Time: When to use different forms of the verb TO BE with passive voice? | English Time Ask Elo

    @ Salai Lalte, Thank you for your question.

    As usual, I will try to explain the difference using simple language and plenty of examples.  

When to use different forms of the verb TO BE with passive voice?

Generally speaking, is/are and was/were are different forms of the verb TO BE. It is used very often in English so it is very important to know the correct forms. 

We use TO BE most commonly:

1. To describe states and things which are true in the present or were true in the past
2. As a helping verb in continuous tenses
3. In passive voice

We have already studied passive voice for Simple and Continuous tenses (check our Units if you missed these lessons), however there are other uses worth learning, as some of these phrases are very useful.  

There are some verbs commonly used in passive voice expressing obligation, request or command and are followed by the to-infinitive.  

They include: be supposed to, be expected to, be allowed to, be asked to, be told to, be scheduled to.  Be supposed to is probably the one expression that you would come across most often.

We use it to say that something is required or expected, but not necessarily always done.  

In the present:

• Children are supposed to be quiet in school. (it is expected of them, but usually does not happen.)
• We are supposed to have our phones switched off when in college.
• Employees are not supposed to use the computers for any private communications.

In the past:

• We were supposed to catch the 8 o’clock train but we didn’t get to the station on time. The traffic was really bad.
• Sabina was supposed to contact the client, but she forgot.
• Weren’t you supposed to be at the conference yesterday?
• They weren’t supposed to leave the building until 8 but everybody clocked off early and went home.

Have a look at these examples with the other expressions:

1. Candidates are expected to arrive no less than 15 minutes before the start of the examination.
2. Guests of the hotel are asked not to smoke anywhere in the building.
3. In the UK, you’re allowed to vote at the age of 18.
4. If you want to use one of the meeting rooms, you’re supposed to book it 48 hours in advance.
5.  I was asked not to discuss any details of this report.
6. The employees were told to record all their daily task on a timesheet.

Make sure you study these examples carefully and try to use these expressions with other verbs to help you remember their meaning.

Elo Kasia is the Community Mentor for ” English Grammar and Speaking Academy“.

Director at Eloquent Learning Online School www.eloquentlearning.com.