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Grammar:Present Perfect (Passive Form) - How to Use + Example Sentence

Updated: Sep 4

1. What is the Present Perfect tense (Passive Form) ?

Present Perfect Passive form: (has / have + been + past participle)


e.g. >> has been told, have been made, has been taken, etc.


2. When to use the Present Perfect (Passive form) - Example Situation


- We use the Passive form in the following situations:


i. we want to focus on the result of an action and (not the person / thing doing the action),

ii) we do not know who did the action,

iii) we do not need to or not necessary to mention the person doing the action.


3. Present Perfect & Present Perfect (Passive) - What's the Difference?

Example Sentence


Food has been served.
Passive Present Perfect - has /have been + past participle

i) Present Perfect

 Form: (has / have + past participle)



e.g. The host has served drinks.

(Subject) (object)




ii)Present Perfect  Passive

- Form: (has / have + been + past participle + by)

e.g. Drinks have been served (by the host).

| |

(subject) (object)






Grammar Point!

- Both active & passive sentences meanings are the same.

- Passive form is common in news articles and academic writing.



4. How do we use the Present Perfect Passive form? - Example Sentence


1. An email has been sent to the school.

2. The children have been fed by the nanny.

3. The school picnic has been postponed to next month.

4. Many people have been scammed recently.

5. The bill has been paid by the boss.



Look out for the Present Perfect Passive in the short story below. How many can you spot?


5. Learn Grammar Through Stories:The Mysterious Sculpture


In the heart of a bustling city, a new sculpture has been placed in the central park.

Meaning: bustling=busy


The sculpture, which stands over ten feet tall, has been created from shimmering metal and smooth marble.


shimmering= reflecting light to seem shiny or sparkly.


Since its arrival, it has been admired by hundreds of people.


a sculpture in the middle of a park.
a metal and marble sculpture

No one knows who the artist is, but the sculpture has been praised by art critics and visitors alike.


Several theories have been proposed about its meaning.


proposed= put forward for consideration or discussion.



Some believe it represents the unity of humanity, while others think it symbolises the fragility of life.


fragility = the quality of being easily broken or damaged


The city officials have been contacted by curious residents, asking for more information about the artwork.


However, every inquiry has been met with silence. It seems the artist’s identity has been deliberately kept a secret.


deliberately = done consciously and intentionally.


As days have passed, more and more people have been drawn to the sculpture. Its mysterious aura has captured the imagination of the entire city.


drawn=attracted


Photographs of the sculpture have been shared across social media, and already, it has been featured in various art magazines.


Whoever the artist may be, their work has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on everyone who has seen it.



Examples of Present Perfect Passive used in the story:

has been placed

has been created

has been admired

has been praised

have been proposed

have been contacted

has been met

has been (deliberately) kept

have been drawn

have been shared

has been featured




6. How to form the Present Perfect Passive - Example Sentence

Form - (has /have + been + Past Participle + [by] )


e.g. see > seen


i) Present Continuous Passive Form - (Positive) + short form

- I / you / we / they have ('ve) been seen (by)

- he/ she / it has ('s) been seen (by)



ii) Present Perfect Passive - (Negative) + short form


- I / you / we / they have ('ve not / haven't) been seen (by)

- he/ she / it has not ('s not /hasn't) been seen (by)



iii) Present Perfect Passive - Yes/No Question


- Have I / you / we / they been seen (by)...?

- Has he / she / it been seen (by)...?


Has a video of her been taken ?
Present Perfect Passive - Yes/no Questions


iv) Short answers (positive)

- Yes, I / you / we / they have.

- Yes, he/ she / it has.





v) Short answers (negative) + short form


- No, I / you / we / they are not ('re not / aren't).

- No, he/ she / it is not ('s not / isn't).



Grammar Point!

i) Regular verbs

e.g.

Present Past Past Participle

- cook > cooked > cooked

- boil > boiled > boiled


ii) Irregular verbs

e.g.

Present Past Past Participle

take > took > taken see > saw > seen


For more on Past Participle regular / irregular verbs:



7. Quick recap! the Passive Present Perfect


Situation #1 - Use Passive Form:

- focus on the result - not the person (who did the action.)


The party has not been cancelled.
Present Perfect Passive - negative form

Passive form (Present Perfect)

> (has / have + Past Participle + [by])


e.g. The party has been cancelled.


- cancel > cancelled



Compare: Present Perfect Simple

-e.g. The company has cancelled the party.



Situation #2 - Use Passive Form:

- We do not know who did the action


- keep > kept


e.g. Her room has been kept clean & tidy.


Compare: Present Continuous (active)

- Someone has kept her room clean & tidy.



Situation #3 - Use Passive Form:

- We do not need to mention the person or thing causing the action (not necessary)


Cash has been counted (by the bank)
Present Perfect Passive - positive

- rob > robbed


e.g. The bank has been robbed.


(*not necessary to say 'by robbers')


Compare > Present Perfect Simple

- Somebody has robbed the bank.



8) Present Perfect Passive - Example Sentence


1. All the wedding invitations have been sent out. (passive)

> We have sent out all the wedding invitations.(active)


2. Party buntings & decorations have been hung up. (passive)

> We've hung up the party buntings & decorations.(active)


​3. Has the students been informed? (passive)

> Has the school informed the students?(active)


Grammar Learning Tip!

We use the Passive Form quite a lot in real life as we may want to focus on different things or which fact is more important - the person or the action. Or it's not necessary to mention the person doing the action.



i) Passive Form (Present Perfect) - More Example Sentence


- Mica's going away on a last-minute 3-day business trip to Taipei.


Mica's Checklist :

Drinks are being served at my friend's party.
Present Perfect Passive - How to Use

1. Luggage has been packed.


2. Taxi to the airport has been booked.


3. Limousine pick-up at Taipei airport has been confirmed.


4. Tuesday meeting at 9am has been scheduled.


5. Apartment cleaning schedule has been changed to next Monday.


6. Dental appointment has been postponed.


7. My next door neighbour has been informed.



Vocabulary Check!

*last-minute (adj.) = at the latest moment to do something

e.g. The restaurant doesn't accept last-minute bookings. You need to book in advance.



English Learning Tip!

When practising or reviewing English grammar on your own, you may want to use personal experience in your everyday situation to make your own original sentences...



Yes, she has. No, she hasn't.
Present Perfect Passive (short answers)

ii) Present Perfect Passive - Example Sentence


- Lizzie works as a part-time housekeeper at an apartment.


Today she has just started work at a new client's place, a young and busy working woman in her 20's named Mia.


Lizzie is filling in her 'Job Done' form for the owner before leaving the apartment:


1. Ironing has been done.


2. Bed linen has been changed.


3. Laundry has been done.


4. Furniture has been dusted.


5. Floor has been mopped.


6. Bathroom / toilet has been cleaned.



At midnight Mia came home to find:


1. The bin hasn't been emptied.


2. Why haven't the windows been cleaned?


3. Her meal hasn't been prepared.


4. Laundry hasn't been folded.


5. Grocery shopping hasn't been done.


6. Why haven't the chores been done?

- They have all been included in the contract!



English Speaking Tip!

Practise speaking using the short forms - 's / 're not, aren't, isn't, etc. as much as you can. You'll sound more natural.





9. Time for your practice.


Now that you know how to use the Passive Present Perfect with the example sentences, let's try these exercises:


Exercise (A)

Change the following (active) sentences into the passive form.


Grammar Point!

i. Present Perfect Form - (has / have + past participle)

e.g. > Phil has taken the books with him.


ii. Passive Present Perfect Form - (has / have + been + past participle)

(passive) e.g. The books have been taken by Phil.


1. Has he paid the bill yet?

2. Have they received the package?

3. Martha has given us a new recipe.

4. My son has won first prize for the art competition.

5. Many people have seen the latest Tom Cruise movie.



Exercise (B)

Try to change the following verbs into the Past Participle form:

  1. agree

  2. leave

  3. contact

  4. understand

  5. dust

  6. write

  7. send

  8. shake

  9. run

  10. jump



Grammar Point!


There are (8 Tenses) Passive Voice / Form:

>> Past Continuous Passive

>> Present Perfect Passive

>> Past Perfect Passive

>> Future Perfect Passive



Thanks so much for reading & Happy Learning!



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