English Classes
Passive Voice
Houses of Parliament
A) Rewrite the sentences in the Passive.
1 They will not deliver the new sofa on Friday.
The new sofa will not be delivered on Friday.
2 You can use this saucepan for cooking spaghetti.
This saucepan can be used for cooking spaghetti.
3 I have to finish my homework tonight.
My homework has to be finished tonight.
4 You must tidy your bedroom.
Your bedroom must be tidied.
5 You ought to put these clothes away.
These clothes ought to be put away.
6 The boss gave the secretary some letters to type.
Some letters were given the secretary to be typed.
7 We should eat this cake immediately.
This cake should be eaten immediately.
8 Sally sent Peter a birthday card.
A birthday card was sent Peter.
Peter was sent a birthday card.
9 You must take the dog for a walk.
The dog must be taken for a walk.
10 The cat is not chasing the mouse.
The mouse is not being chased (by the cat)
11 Do they produce oil in Spain?
Is oil produced in Spain?
12 Did a dog bite him?
Was he bitten by a dog?
13 Edward has not recorded a new song.
A new song has not been recorded.
14 Someone left the front door open.
The front door was left open.
15 Jenny didn't break the window.
The window wasn’t broken.
16 Someone is using the computer.
The computer is being used.
17 His brother taught him to drive.
He was taught to drive by his brother
18 Many people speak English.
English is spoken by many people.
19 The doctor had already told him to go on a diet.
He had already been told to go on a diet.
20 The author is writing a new book.
A new book is being written.
16 Someone is using the computer.
The computer is being used.
17 His brother taught him to drive.
He was taught to drive by his brother
18 Many people speak English.
English is spoken by many people.
19 The doctor had already told him to go on a diet.
He had already been told to go on a diet.
20 The author is writing a new book.
A new book is being written.
B)Turn the following questions into the Passive.
1 Do they make bread in this factory?
Is bread made in this factory?
2 Will Susan decorate the bedroom tomorrow?
Will the bedroom be decorated tomorrow?
3 Did they find the ring in the garden?
Was the ring found in the garden?
4 Is Tom drawing the picture?
Is the picture being drawn?
5 Has Simon sent the invitations yet?
Have the invitations been sent yet?
6 Had Paul repaired the door before he left for work?
Had the door been repaired before he left for work?
C) Rewrite the sentences in the passive in both ways.
1 His father gave Billy a new bicycle.
A new bicycle was given Billy.
2 Fred has offered Mary a watch.
A watch has been offered Mary.
Mary has been offered a watch.
3 Lisa is sending Tim an invitation.
An invitation is being sent Tim.
Tim is being sent an invitation.
C) Rewrite the sentences in the passive in both ways.
4 She brought me some oranges.
Some oranges were brought me.
I was brought some oranges.
5 Sonia is going to lend me some money.
Some money is going to be lent me.
I am going to be lent some money.
6 Jack will show me the new car.
The new car will be shown me.
I will be shown the new car.
7 They paid him a lot of money for the job.
A lot of money was paid him for the job.
He was paid a lot of money for the job.
D) Supply the correct form of the verbs in the active voice.
1. The house was destroyed by fire.
Fire destroyed the house
2. Harold could be taken to the airport by Nancy.
Nancy could take Harold to the airport.
3. The program will be seen by many people.
Many people will see the program.
4. A new theory has been applied by scientists.
Scientists have applied a new theory.
5. The exams are being prepared by the teachers.
The teachers are preparing the exams.
6. His composition was read by the teacher in front of the
class.
The teacher read his composition in front of the class.
7.The Chinese vase was broken by the children.
The children broke the Chinese vase.
8. Changes in society are reflected by feminism.
Feminism reflects changes in society.
9. Information is stored by computers.
Computers store information.
10.This poem has been written by Shakespeare.
Shakespeare has written this poem.
11.A new industry will be built by the company.
The company will build a new industry.
12. The film was seen by the children.
The children saw the film.
13. All the doors were painted by Jack.
Jack painted all the doors.
14. The letters were sent by me.
I sent the letters.
E) Underline phrases that are not necessary in these
sentences. Not all sentences contain unnecessary phrases.
1.My wallet has been stolen by someone.
2.We were taught by a different teacher yesterday.
3.Nick was operated on at the hospital by a doctor.
4.The meal was served by a waiter in a red coat.
5.We were shown around the museum by a guide.
6.Two letters were delivered this morning by the letter
carrier.
7.Three men have been arrested by the police.
8.Yesterday a window was broken by someone.
F) Underline and correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1.Many pet dogs are losing every year.
are lost
2.The injured man was been taken to the hospital.
was taken
3. A new bridge is be built across the river.
is being built
4.All the food at the party was ate.
was eaten
5.Nothing will being decided before next Saturday.
will be decided
6.The game is playing on Friday evening.
is being played
7.The robber unlocked the door by a stolen key.
with a stolen key
8.This book was writing by Sam's father.
was written
G) Complete the sentences with the words in
parentheses and the Passive Voice.
American supermarkets or grocery stores are the
shopper's dream. Almost any kind of food
imaginable can be found there. Years ago these
stores closed on Sundays and at night, but
nowadays shoppers can be seen carrying brown
paper bags at any time of day or night. You don't
even need money to go shopping; paying by check
or credit card is permitted in most supermarkets.
Big shopping carts are used to make shopping
easier. The different foods are arranged
attractively in wide aisles. This makes for easy
shopping.
Many other products besides food can be
found in the supermarket. All kinds of
cleaning supplies, household gadgets, and
even toys or plants are sold there too.
Special discount coupons are included in
most newspapers, and these are collected
by the "good" shopper. By using these
coupons a lot of money can be saved on
the weekly shopping.
H) Turn these sentences into the Passive Voice in both
ways.
1. They were giving the teacher all their attention.
All their attention was being given to the teacher.
The teacher was being given all their attention.
2. The genes give the cells the necessary instructions.
The necessary instructions are given to the cells by
the genes.
The cells are given the necessary instructions by the
genes.
3. They told us a different story.
A different story was told us.
We were told a different story.
4. You must show the publisher your new book.
Your new book must be shown to the publisher.
The publisher must be shown your new book.
I) Turn these sentences in the passive.
1. They owe a lot of money to the bank.
A lot of money is owed to the bank.
2. They have proved that there is no life on the moon.
It has been proved that there is no life in the moon.
3. You can buy videos like this one anywhere.
Videos like these can be bought anywhere.
4. Someone has to write the history of the European
Community one day.
The history of the European Community has to be
written one day.
5. Someone may have already written the history of
the European Community.
The history of the European Community may have
already been written.
6. When we arrived home, we found out that
someone had broken one of our windows
When we arrived home, we found out that one of
our windows had been broken.
7. They have sold their car to pay their debts.
Their car has been sold to pay their debts.
8. They hold a meeting in the village hall once a
week.
A meeting is held in the village hall once a week.