English grammar
Recap and extension: the passive in any tense — has been / had been / is going to be / may be + participle
Understand and use the passive in any tense: has been, had been, is going to be, may be + past participle.
From the scene It has been sold
In short
The passive works in any tense: put be in the tense you need, then the past participle.
Your turn
Which one goes with had been + participle (past perfect passive)?
Options: had been sold · has been acquired · is going to be renovated
Show answer
had been + participle (past perfect passive) → had been sold
How it works
You've seen will be, was/were, is being and has been + participle; the same recipe works in every tense.
Good to know
Put be in whatever tense you need and add the past participle: has been acquired, had been sold, is going to be renovated, may be converted. The participle never changes.
Good to know
The passive is typical of letters, the news and formal notices; in speech people often prefer the active (they bought it).
has been + participle (present perfect passive) has been acquired
Ramón
"Half of the building has been acquired by Pez Dorado Investments."
"La mitad del edificio ha sido adquirida por Inversiones Pez Dorado."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Half of the building (blank) by Pez Dorado Investments."
Options: has been acquired · had been sold · is going to be renovated
Show answer
Ramón
"Half of the building has been acquired by Pez Dorado Investments."
"La mitad del edificio ha sido adquirida por Inversiones Pez Dorado."
had been + participle (past perfect passive) had been sold
Ramón
"The property had been sold before Christmas."
"La propiedad había sido vendida antes de Navidad."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"The property (blank) before Christmas."
Options: has been acquired · is going to be renovated · had been sold
Show answer
Ramón
"The property had been sold before Christmas."
"La propiedad había sido vendida antes de Navidad."
is going to be + participle (future passive) is going to be renovated
Ramón
"The building is going to be renovated by a foreign investor."
"El edificio va a ser reformado por un inversor extranjero."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"The building (blank) by a foreign investor."
Options: is going to be renovated · has been acquired · had been sold
Show answer
Ramón
"The building is going to be renovated by a foreign investor."
"El edificio va a ser reformado por un inversor extranjero."
may be + participle (modal passive) may be converted
Ramón
"The flats may be converted into tourist apartments."
"Los pisos pueden ser convertidos en apartamentos turísticos."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"The flats (blank) into tourist apartments."
Options: has been acquired · had been sold · may be converted
Show answer
Ramón
"The flats may be converted into tourist apartments."
"Los pisos pueden ser convertidos en apartamentos turísticos."
has already been + participle has already been informed
Javi
Because Doña Elena has already been informed.
Porque Doña Elena ya ha sido informada.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Because Doña Elena (blank).
Options: has been acquired · had been sold · has already been informed
Show answer
Javi
Because Doña Elena has already been informed.
Porque Doña Elena ya ha sido informada.
Common mistake
Not has or was here. Before another past event: the past perfect passive.
"The property had been sold before Christmas."
"La propiedad había sido vendida antes de Navidad."
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| has been + participle (present perfect passive) | has been acquired |
|---|---|
| had been + participle (past perfect passive) | had been sold |
| is going to be + participle (future passive) | is going to be renovated |
| may be + participle (modal passive) | may be converted |
| has already been + participle | has already been informed |
More lines from the story
- JaviAcquired? In other words, bought.¿Adquirida? O sea, comprada.