Passive Voice in Present Perfect Simple
The passive voice in present perfect simple is English's most sophisticated passive construction for connecting past actions to present results, combining the completion focus of perfect tenses with the emphasis-shifting power of passive voice. Formed with have/has + been + past participle, this structure allows you to highlight completed actions and their present relevance whilst focusing on what has been done rather than who did it.
What makes present perfect passive particularly valuable is its ability to present achievements, completed processes, and accumulated results with a formal, objective tone. This combination is essential for describing accomplishments without boasting, reporting completed projects without naming individuals, and presenting research findings or statistical information where the results matter more than the researchers or data collectors.
The present perfect passive excels at creating professional, academic, and formal communications where you need to report on completed actions, changes that have occurred, or progress that has been made without drawing attention to specific people responsible. It's particularly useful in business reports, academic papers, news summaries, and official announcements where objectivity and completion are key.
Mastering this construction will help you create more sophisticated reports, write with appropriate academic and professional tone, and communicate about completed achievements and changes with the right balance of formality and focus on results rather than people in both written and spoken contexts.
Formation
Structure
Subject + have/has + been + past participle + (by + agent)
The subject has received completed action with present relevance
Active to Passive Examples:
Active:
The team has completed the project.
Passive:
The project has been completed.
Active:
Scientists have discovered a new species.
Passive:
A new species has been discovered.
All Forms:
- I have been invited to the conference.
- You have been selected for the programme.
- He/She/It has been repaired successfully.
- We have been relocated to the new building.
- They have been informed of the decision.
Negative and Question Forms
Positive:
- The report has been finished.
- New rules have been introduced.
- The problem has been solved.
Negative:
- The report has not been finished.
- New rules haven't been introduced.
- The problem hasn't been solved.
Questions:
- Has the report been finished?
- Have new rules been introduced?
- What has been discovered?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ "The work has done."
✅ "The work has been done."
Must include 'been' in present perfect passive
❌ "The houses have been build."
✅ "The houses have been built."
Use past participle, not base form after 'been'
❌ "The project have been completed."
✅ "The project has been completed."
Use 'has' with singular subjects, 'have' with plural
❌ "The report has been written from the team."
✅ "The report has been written by the team."
Always use 'by' to introduce the agent
Common Time Expressions
Completed Actions:
- already - The decision has already been made.
- just - The announcement has just been published.
- recently - New policies have recently been introduced.
- finally - The problem has finally been solved.
Time Periods:
- since - Progress has been made since January.
- for - The issue has been discussed for months.
- over the past - Changes have been implemented over the past year.
- in recent years - Standards have been raised in recent years.
Present Perfect vs Past Simple Passive
Present Perfect Passive:
Focus on completion with present relevance
- "The bridge has been built." (it's finished and available now)
- "New laws have been passed." (they're in effect now)
- "The problem has been solved." (it's no longer an issue)
Past Simple Passive:
Focus on completed past actions
- "The bridge was built in 1995." (specific past time)
- "New laws were passed last year." (completed past action)
- "The problem was solved yesterday." (specific past event)
Quick Reference Guide
Remember:
- Formation: have/has + been + past participle
- Focus: Completed actions with present relevance
- Timing: Past actions connected to present moment
- Tone: Formal, objective, focuses on achievements/results
- Questions: Move have/has before subject
- Negatives: Add 'not' after have/has, before 'been'
- Don't forget 'been': Essential for perfect passive voice
- Use with: already, just, recently, since, for, over the past