General English Level 5 V 3
UNIT 03 Be careful! TOPIC 01 Oh no, she's been hurt!
LANGUAGE FOCUS 05 The passive - present perfect
In this activity we will look at how and when to use the passive form in the present perfect tense.
Sophie says:
Sophie:
Oh no, she' s been hurt! He's knocked her over!

Sophie talks about the result of an action in the past. "Has been hurt" is the passive form of the present perfect tense.

We use the passive voice when the person or thing affected by the action is more important than who or what did the action. We also use the passive when we don't know who did the action.

Find out more about the passive.

The operator and Mathew say:
Operator 2:
Police Service. May I help you?
Mathew:
Hello? A woman's been attacked!
Operator 2: OK. Has she been injured?

Mathew talks about the effect of a recent action on the woman. He could say, "A man has attacked a woman" , but the effect of the action on the woman is more important than who did the action. Has been attacked is the passive form of the present perfect tense .

The operator wants to know the effect of the past action on the woman. She asks, "Has she been injured?" She uses the present perfect passive in her question.

We use the present perfect (active or passive) when there is a connection between a past action and now.

A woman has been knocked over.
They have been robbed.
Has he been hurt?
Have you been injured?

We make the passive form of the present perfect tense with have/has + been + the past participle.

Find out more about past participles.

Examples

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
We can't watch TV. The electricity has been turned off.
The house looks lovely. Has it been painted?
I'm in class 6B. Have you been told what class you are in?
She is really happy. She has been given a pay rise at work.
Has Mark been invited to the party? I know he wants to go.
Tim and Marie are moving to London. They have been offered jobs there.

Now go to 06 WRITING The present perfect passive.