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

Rose Sensei
Sep 12, 2023
7 min read

Updated: Sep 26

1. What is the Present Perfect Passive?

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 - Example Situation

- We use the Passive form in the following situations:

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

✅ we do not know who did the action,

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

Illustration depicting present perfect passive sentences: drinks served, event cancelled, bank robbed, tidy room, students informed.

3. Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Passive - What's the Difference?

Example Sentence

✔️Present Perfect

Form🟰 [has / have + past participle]

e.g. The host has served drinks.

(Subject) (object)

✔️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.

Sculpture with heart shape stands on a pedestal. Autumn trees surround it, with people strolling and vibrant orange and red leaves in the background. — 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

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

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

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

✔️ Present Perfect Passive - (Negative) + short form

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

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

✔️ Present Perfect Passive - Yes/No Question

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

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

✔️ Short answers (positive)

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

- Yes, he/ she / it has.

✔️ Short answers (negative) + short form

- No, I / you / we / they have not. (haven't)

- No, he/ she / it has not. (hasn't)

✏️Grammar Point!

➡Regular verbs

e.g.

Present Past Past Participle

cook cooked cooked

boil boiled boiled

➡Irregular verbs

e.g.

Present Past Past Participle

take took taken see saw seen

For more on Past Participle regular / irregular verbs:

Go to >> What is Past Participle? Uses + Example Sentences

📝7. Quick recap! the Present Perfect Passive

✔️Situation #1 - Use Passive Form:

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

Present Perfect Passive

> [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)

- 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.

Let's Practise! - More Example Sentence

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

📋✅ Mica's Checklist :

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...

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!

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

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

✔️Passive Present Perfect Form -[has / have + been + past participle]

e.g. The books have been taken by Phil.

1. Has he paid the bill yet?