Passive

Passive (be done / have been done)

Study this example:

This museum was built in 1848.

This is a passive sentence. Compare:

• Somebody built this museum in 1848. (active)

• This museum was built in 1848. (passive)

We often prefer the passive when it is not so important who or what did the action. In this example, it is not so important who built the house.