Passive Voice

Here are some rules and exercises. Scroll down to find the key (correction) to the exercises

You'll also find all the rules and exercises on the following link:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive

Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

• the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

• the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

• the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive Level: lower intermediate

Tense		Subject	Verb	Object
Simple Present	Active:	Rita	writes	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	is written	by Rita.
Simple Past	Active:	Rita	wrote	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	was written	by Rita.
Present Perfect	Active:	Rita	has written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	has been written	by Rita.
Future I	Active:	Rita	will write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	will be written	by Rita.
Auxiliaries	Active:	Rita	can write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	can be written	by Rita.

Examples of Passive (upper intermediate level)Level: upper intermediate

Tense		Subject	Verb	Object
Present Progressive	Active:	Rita	is writing	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	is being written	by Rita.
Past Progressive	Active:	Rita	was writing	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	was being written	by Rita.
Past Perfect	Active:	Rita	had written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	had been written	by Rita.
Future II	Active:	Rita	will have written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	will have been written	by Rita.
Conditional I	Active:	Rita	would write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	would be written	by Rita.
Conditional II	Active:	Rita	would have written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	would have been written	by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects (see exercises J and K)

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.

	Subject	Verb	Object 1	Object 2
Active:	Rita	wrote	a letter	to me.
Passive:	A letter	was written	to me	by Rita.
Passive:	I	was written	a letter	by Rita.

.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive (see exercise L)

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says – it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

A/ Write passive sentences in Simple Present.

1. the documents / print: __________________________________________________________

2. the food / eat / not: ______________________________________________________________

B/ Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. Simple Present

1. He opens the door. The door is opened (by him).

2. We set the table. ________________________________________________________________

3. They don't help you. _____________________________________________________________

4. Does your mum pick you up? ______________________________________________________

C/ Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. Simple Past

1. She sang a song. A song was sung (by her).

2. Somebody hit me. _______________________________________________________________

3. They didn't make their beds. _______________________________________________________

4. Did he send the letter? ____________________________________________________________

D/ Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. Present Perfect

1. Kerrie has paid the bill. The bill has been paid (by Kerrie).

2. I have opened the present. _________________________________________________________

3. You have not sent the parcel. ______________________________________________________

4. Have they noticed us? ____________________________________________________________

E/ Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. Future Simple Will

1. Jane will buy a new computer. A new computer will be bought (by Jane).

2. Her boyfriend will install it. _________________________________________________________

3. You will not do it. ________________________________________________________________

4. They will not show the new film. ____________________________________________________

5. Will the company employ a new worker? ______________________________________________

F/ Passive Voice - Exercise with Auxiliary Verbs

1. I can answer the question. The question can be answered (by me).

2. You should open the window. ___________________________________________________

3. He must fill in the form. _______________________________________________________

4. He could not read the sentence. __________________________________________________

5. Will the teacher test our English? ________________________________________________

G/ Mixed Exercise on Passive Voice Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. John collects money. - ________________________________________________________________

2. Anna opened the window. - ____________________________________________________________

3. We have done our homework. - _________________________________________________________

4. I will ask a question. - _______________________________________________________________

5. Did Sue draw this circle? - ____________________________________________________________

10. Could you feed the dog? - ____________________________________________________________

H/ Exercise on Passive Voice - Present Progressive Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. My father is washing the car. - The car is being washed (by my father)

2. Farmer Joe is milking the cows. - _______________________________________________________

3. Is she preparing the party? - ___________________________________________________________

I/ Exercise on Passive Voice - Conditional II Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1.They would have told you. - You would have been told (by them)

2.She would have called the police. - _______________________________________________________

3.We would have painted the walls green. - __________________________________________________

4.She would not have noticed the mistake. - _________________________________________________

5.Would you have accepted that offer? - ____________________________________________________

J/ Passive Voice with two Objects: Build sentences in the passive and use the word in bold as a subject:

1. Rachel will give you some advice._______________________________________________________

2. I sent him a letter. ___________________________________________________________________

3. She told me a lie. ______________________________________________________________________ 4. They did not offer her a seat. ______________________________________________________________

K/ Passive Voice with two Objects: Build sentences in the passive and use the word in bold as a subject:

1. Rachel will give you some advice.________________________________________________________

2. I sent him a letter._____________________________________________________________________

3. She told me a lie. ____________________________________________________________________

4. They did not offer her a seat.____________________________________________________________

L/ Personal Passive Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. Use Personal Passive.

1. People know that she is a good swimmer.

→ She is known to be a good swimmer.

2. They say that Francis is in hospital.

→ ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. They thought that the children were in bed.

→ __________________________________________________________________________________

4. People believe that the robber has worked in the bank.

→ __________________________________________________________________________________

5. People will believe that nuclear power stations are dangerous.

→ __________________________________________________________________________________

6. His colleagues thought that he was on holiday.

→ __________________________________________________________________________________

7. People may know that cars pollute the environment.

→ __________________________________________________________________________________

8. They had supposed that the new product would come out soon.

→ __________________________________________________________________________________

M/ Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). Use Present Perfect Simple.

1. The car (steal)____________________________ 2. I (bake)___________________________ a cake.

3. Trees (plant)_____________________ in the street. 4. The boy (fall / not) _______________ off his bike.

5. I (bite / not) ______________________ by a snake. 6. She (pick up / not)________________ by a friend.

N/ Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). Use Simple Past.

1. Antony (grow up)_______________ in the country. 2.The new shopping mall (build)__________ last year.

3. The film (produce / not) _________________ in Hollywood. 4 Barbara (know)_________ James very well.

5. The jewels (hide / not) _______________________ in the cellar.

O/ The Statue of Liberty

Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). You must either use Simple Present or Simple Past.

1.The Statue of Liberty (give)______________________________ to the United States by France.

2.It (be) _______________________ a present on the 100th anniversary of the United States.

3.The Statue of Liberty (design) ___________________________ by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.

4.It (complete) _____________________________ in France in July 1884.

5.In 350 pieces, the statue then (ship) _______________ to New York, where it (arrive) on 17 June 1885.

6.The pieces (put)_________________ together and the opening ceremony (take) ______________ place on 28 October 1886.

7.The Statue of Liberty (be)______________________ 46 m high (93 m including the base).

8.The statue (represent) ______________________ the goddess of liberty.

9.She (hold) ___________________________ a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand.

10.On the tablet you (see / can)________________ the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).

11.Every year, the Statue of Liberty (visit) ______________________by many people from all over the world.