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Passive Voice Exercises

I. Rewrite these sentences to put them in the active voice.

a. The sugar water was relished by the hummingbirds.

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b. Jogging is done by many people for exercise.
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c. A standing ovation was given to the guitar player.
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d. The syllabus was handed out by the professor.
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II.Rewrite the following paragraph in the active voice.

Last summer our house was painted by me. The job took about two weeks. First, the
exterior was washed using warm water and a mild detergent. A latex paint was used
because it is easy to apply and clean up with water. A whole week was needed to finish
this part of the job. I was very careful to apply the paint evenly because I did not want
to have to apply two coats. A color was used that was very close to the original color.
Our house is a two-story house, which meant that a tall ladder was needed to do the
second storey. The paint had to be balanced on the top rung of the ladder while I
worked. When the job was finished, a great deal of satisfaction was felt by me. I had to
pat myself on the back. Even my dad said that a good job was done.

III. Fill in all the gaps.

Examples:Paper IS MADE (MAKE) from wood. (Present Simple)

Our passports WERE TAKEN (TAKE) by that man. (Past Simple)

1. This newspaper (READ) by thousands of people.

2. Portuguese (SPEAK) in Brazil.
3. These cars (MAKE) in Japan.
4. Newspaper articles (WRITE) by journalists.
5. Football (PLAY) by two teams of eleven players.
6. This morning I (STOP) by a policeman.
7. This room (CLEAN) by Peter.
8. These sunglasses (FIND) in the library.
9. This car (BUY) by Mark.
10. These books (LEAVE) in the classroom.
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IV.Change the following from passive to active voice.

1. The poem was read aloud by Margaret.

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2. The Yankees were beaten by the Tigers in the playoffs.
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3. Her personal computer was given to Edith by her parents.
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4. Many letters have been sent by me to your office.
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5. Kim was invited to a party by Raymund.
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6. The truth was suddenly realized by the contestents.
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7. The computers were shipped by the Tucson branch on Monday.
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8. Projects were judged by the teachers.
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9. A brialliant performance was given by the choir.
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10. Adam and Joanne were married by the priest.
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11. The test was taken by Amanda last week.
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12. The truck was broken by little Tommy while he was playing.
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13. The movie was seen by the class before the exam.
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Change the following from active into

passive:
1) People speak Portuguese in Brazil
2) The Government is planning a new road
near my house
3) My grandfather built this house in
1943
4) Picasso was painting Guernica at that
time
5)The cleaner has cleaned the office
6) He had written three books before
1867
7) John will tell you later
8) By this time tomorrow we will have
signed the deal
9) Somebody should do the work
10) The traffic might have delayed Jimmy
11) Everybody loves Mr Brown
12)They are building a new stadium near
the station
13) The wolf ate the princess
14) At six oclock someone was telling a
story
15) Somebody has drunk all the milk!
16) I had cleaned all the windows before
the storm
17) A workman will repair the computer
tomorrow
18) By next year the students will have
studied the passive
19) James might cook dinner
20) Somebody must have taken my wallet