The Passive

We use the passive form when the action is more important than who performs it:

Look at the constructions:

Present simple / Past simple

Subject

to be

past participle of verb

(by + object pronoun/name)

The song

is

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The song

was

sung

by Bob Dylan.

Grapes are grown in France.

The dishes were washed by my mother.

Present continuous / Past continuous

Subject

to be

being

past participle of verb

(by + object pronoun/name)

The song

is

being

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The song

was

being

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The house is being painted.

The dog was being washed when I went into the room.

Present Perfect / Past Perfect

Subject

to have

been

past participle of verb

(by + object pronoun/name)

The song

has

been

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The song

had

been

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The car has been repaired.
The door had been painted before I came home.
Future with going to / future in the past

Subject

to be

going to be

past participle of verb

(by + object pronoun/name)

The song

is

going to be

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The song

was

going to be

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The house is going to be built next year.
The car was going to be washed when it started raining.
Modal verbs

Subject

modal verbs

be

past participle of verb

(by + object pronoun/name)

The song

will
should
could
would
ought to
can
must

be

sung

by Bob Dylan.

The house should be built.
The car ought to be cleaned.
The dog must be fed.

* Note There is no passive form of the present perfect continuous or past perfect continuous.