What the future passive does
We use the simple future passive to talk about things we think will or won't happen in the future. We usually don't mention who or what does the action — either because it isn't important, or because we don't know.
Clothes will be made smarter in the future.
More eco-friendly fabrics will be used.
In the future, sneakers won't be made of leather.
Why choose the passive? It moves the important thing to the front. Somebody will build solar panels puts the focus on an unknown "somebody"; Solar panels will be built puts it on the panels.
Form
| Form | Example |
|---|
| will + be + past participle | Clothes will be made smarter. |
| won't + be + past participle | The prices won't be reduced. |
| question | Will the results be published tomorrow? |
subject + will (not) be + past participle
The most useful thing about this structure: be never changes. It stays be for every subject, singular or plural.
The house will be sold. · The houses will be sold.
I will be told later. · They will be told later.
From active to passive
The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive one. The active subject either disappears or moves to the end with by.
They will build solar panels. → Solar panels will be built.
A local firm will design the logo. → The logo will be designed by a local firm.
They won't announce the winner today. → The winner won't be announced today.
Two tips: only add by + person when the doer genuinely matters — most of the time you leave it out. And going to works the same way: The old system is going to be replaced.
Getting the participle right
The passive always needs the past participle, so irregular verbs are where most mistakes happen. Learn these ones — they appear constantly in the passive.
| Base | Past participle | Base | Past participle |
|---|
| make | made | build | built |
| sell | sold | take | taken |
| write | written | choose | chosen |
| grow | grown | send | sent |
⚠ Common mistakes:
✗ Clothes will be make from cotton. → ✓ will be made
✗ The tickets will sold online. → ✓ will be sold online
✗ The winners will be choosed. → ✓ will be chosen
✗ Sneakers won't make of leather. → ✓ won't be made of leather
✗ The prices won't be not reduced. → ✓ won't be reduced (one negative only)