Grammar › Present passive

Present passive: negative sentences

450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten

Not goes after is or are, before the past participle.

The past participle is the third form in verb tables: written, gone, built. It never changes with the subject.

The pattern

Not slots in between the auxiliary and the past participle:

The gate is not locked. → The gate isn’t locked.

Both contractions exist for the plural: aren’t and ’re not, as in they’re not kept.

Stating what does not happen

The negative present passive is the language of exceptions in rules and notices:

• Bags aren’t searched on the ground floor.
• Cash isn’t accepted at this counter.
• Late applications aren’t considered.

no longer, any more

Both fit naturally and are common in this tense:

Paper records are no longer kept. The hall isn’t rented out any more.

Choosing the right auxiliary

If the sentence has a past participle in it, the negative is isn’t or aren’t. If the verb is plain, the negative is doesn’t or don’t:

• The office isn’t cleaned on Sundays. — passive
• The cleaner doesn’t come on Sundays. — active

All forms

Examples

Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.

• The hall isn't used for parties anymore.
• The project isn't completed by the team members.
• The problem isn't understood by many students in the class.
• The clothes aren't washed by my mother every week.
• The letter isn't received by the recipient.
• The email isn't sent by my colleague.
• The song isn't liked by everyone.
• The guitar isn't played by my sister.
• The exam isn't taken by everyone.
• The tower isn't opened to visitors.
• The question isn't answered by the professor.
• The letter isn't written by John.

Mistakes to avoid

Other forms of Present passive