Form the past simple passive with was or were plus the past participle, agreeing with the subject rather than with who performed the action, as in the house was built in 1990 or the letters were sent yesterday. Use it when the focus is on the action, not on who did it.
Grammar Rule
The passive voice in the past simple is used when the focus is on the action, not on who did it. It is formed with was/were + past participle, agreeing with the subject, not with who performed the action.
Past Simple Passive: Rules and Examples
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | was + past participle | The house was built in 1990. This song was written in the 1980s. |
| Plural | were + past participle | The letters were sent yesterday. The windows were broken during the storm. These photos were taken last summer. |
Remember: was/were + past participle, always agreeing with the subject.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below forming the correct past simple passive sentence. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Passive Voice – Past Simple Passive (Was/Were + Past Participle)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you form the past simple passive?
Use was or were plus the past participle, choosing was for singular subjects and were for plural subjects, as in the house was built in 1990.
What does the past simple passive focus on?
It focuses on the action itself or on what happened, rather than on who performed the action, as in the windows were broken during the storm.
Does was or were agree with the subject or with who did the action?
Was or were always agrees with the grammatical subject of the sentence, not with the person who performed the action.
What is a common mistake with the past simple passive?
A common mistake is forgetting to change the verb to the past participle, or using the wrong form of be, such as is instead of was.