Understanding "is/am/are/was/were + Verb Third Form" in English
The use of is/am/are/was/were with the third form of the verb (past participle) always confuses the students while they are practicing the various exercises of English. However, once the student is able to understand it clearly, it becomes very easy to use. Let’s break it down.

What Does It Mean?
When the sentence is in the PASSIVE VOICE, the combination of is/am/are/was/were + verb third form is mainly used. In passive voice sentences, the focus is on the action or the result, not on who is doing the action.

For example:
Active: The student writes one paragraph daily. (Focus: Student)
Passive: One paragraph is written by the student daily. (Focus: Paragraph)

Notice how the verb changes: we use is and then the third form of "write" (which is "written").

Forms According to Tense

• Present Simple Passive:
  is/am/are + verb third form
   
• Examples:
  • The mock test is done every day.
  • I am invited to the event.
  • They are appreciated by the teacher.

• Past Simple Passive:
  was/were + verb third form
   
• Examples:
  • The task was not finished yesterday.
  • We were given new notebooks.

How to Choose "is", "am", "are", "was", "were"?
It depends on the subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) and the tense (present or past):

Example Sentences:

• Present Tense:
  • She is respected by everyone in the society.
  • I am known in the organization for my honesty.
  • They are given prizes for their performance.

• Past Tense:
  • He was appreciated for his work.
  • We were informed about the meeting.

Why is it Important?
Learning this pattern assists you to:
• Write formal English (useful for exams such as IELTS, PTE, etc.)
• Sound more professional when writing and speaking.
• Better comprehend newspapers, books, and formal texts.

Common Mistakes
❌ Wrong: The homework was complete.
✅ Correct: The homework was completed.

❌ Wrong: They is praised by the teacher.
✅ Correct: They are praised by the teacher.

Always remember to match the subject with the correct form (is/am/are/was/were) and use the third form of the verb, not the first or second.

Conclusion
The is/am/are/was/were + verb third form sentence structure is an easy yet effective pattern in English grammar. With some practice, you will be able to master it easily. Always pay attention to two things: select the appropriate helping verb depending upon subject and tense, and the third form of the main verb. As soon as you become familiar, your English will sound far more natural and refined.