Currently, there is no evidence in the Cambridge Learner Corpus of the use of the passive at A1 level.
At A2 level, learners have begun to use the passive to discuss familiar topics. They can, for example, use the passive affirmative with by to add information about something already known.
It was bought by my uncle. (Key English Test; Chinese)
It’s made by Sony-Ericsson, I love it ... (Key English Test; Italian)
It was written by an excellent author, Lev Tolstoy. (Key English Test; Russian)
Learners at A2 can use the past simple passive affirmative after a singular subject.
It was built in 1880. (Key English Test; Chinese)
On Saturday morning I was invited to a sports competition. (Key English Test; Indian)
They can also use the present simple passive affirmative with a singular subject.
The group is called “playmo”. (Key English Test; French)
I bought a T-shirt, it cost £42 because it is made of cotton. (Key English Test; Spanish - Latin American)
It is interesting to find that A2 learners, who have just been introduced to the present simple and past simple passive forms, are able to make natural and accurate use of them immediately. They can use a number of high-frequency passive expressions, such as be made by, be made of, be built, be invited to and be called, often with it as the subject. However, the sentences they produce are in the affirmative - there is no evidence in the Cambridge Learner Corpus at present of the use of present simple or past simple negative forms at A2.
