Definition / Explanation
The past simple passive is used when something was done in the past and the doer is unknown, unimportant, or not the focus. It is formed with was/were + past participle. This structure is common in news reports, factual writing, and descriptions of past events where the result matters more than the person responsible. It often appears with clear past time markers such as yesterday, last year, or in 2023. Using the passive here helps the speaker focus on what happened, not on who did it.
Key Rules
- Form: was/were + past participle.
- Use was with singular subjects and were with plural subjects.
- Use it to focus on what happened, not who did it.
- Add by + person only if the doer matters.
- It often appears with clear past time markers.
Examples
- The window was broken during the storm.
- The email was sent yesterday.
- Two new offices were opened last year.
- The problem was solved in an hour.
- Their names were not included on the list.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ The email was send yesterday. -> ✅ The email was sent yesterday.
- ❌ Two new offices was opened last year. -> ✅ Two new offices were opened last year.
- ❌ The problem solved quickly. -> ✅ The problem was solved quickly.