to be + past participle + by (optional agent)
Here's a breakdown:
* to be: This is a form of the verb "to be," which will be conjugated according to the tense of the sentence (e.g., is, was, are, were, will be).
* past participle: This is the form of the main verb that indicates the action has been completed. It usually ends in "-ed" (e.g., walked, played, cooked).
* by (optional agent): This is the optional part that specifies who or what performed the action. It is often omitted, especially when the agent is unimportant or unknown.
Examples:
* Active: The dog chased the ball.
* Passive: The ball was chased by the dog. (Agent included)
* Passive: The ball was chased. (Agent omitted)
* Active: They will paint the house.
* Passive: The house will be painted by them. (Agent included)
* Passive: The house will be painted. (Agent omitted)
Remember, the passive voice focuses on the action being done rather than the person or thing doing it. It is useful when the agent is unimportant or unknown, or when you want to emphasize the action itself.