Intermediate Grammar
Master English grammar one unit at a time. Clear notes, then 40+ interactive exercises with instant feedback — based on the topics in English Grammar in Use (Intermediate).
is done / was done — Passive 1“be + past participle · present: am/is/are done · past: was/were done · by + who does it” — 44 interactive questions
📖 Grammar Reference — is done / was done — Passive 1
Study the notes, then work through the six exercises.
A Active and passive
In an active sentence the subject does the action. In a passive sentence the important thing is what happens to the subject — we may not say (or know) who does it:
💡 The passive is be + the past participle (cleaned, made, built, taken, written…).
B is / are done — present simple passive
For something that happens regularly or that is true now, use am / is / are + past participle:
💡 Match be to the subject: one thing → is, more things → are.
C was / were done — past simple passive
For a finished action in the past, use was / were + past participle:
💡 Add by only when it is useful to say who or what did it: …was painted by a famous artist.
D Watch out
| This room is cleaned. be + past participle | is clean / is cleaning ✗ |
| The house was built. past participle, not base | was build ✗ |
💡 Some verbs (happen, arrive, come, go, sleep…) are never passive — nothing is “done” to anybody.
Made with care for English learners · allenglish4u.com
Original practice material inspired by the English Grammar in Use syllabus (Cambridge University Press). Example sentences and exercises are written by All English 4U.