ENGLISH COURSE

FULLNAME: _______________________________________________________________________ DATE:_______________

TEACHER : ATALA TICERAN ISMENA CAREER:____________________________________________________

PASSIVE VOICE
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)

TRANSITIVE VERBS HAVE BOTH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE FORMS:

ACTIVE PASSIVE
The hunter killed the lion. >> The lion was killed by the hunter.
Someone has cleaned the windows >> The windows have been cleaned

The passive forms are made up of the verb be with a past participle:

BE PAST PARTICIPLE
English is spoken all over the world
The windows have been cleaned
Lunch was being served
The work will be finished soon
They might have been invited to the party

 WE SOMETIMES USE THE VERB GET TO FORM THE PASSIVE:

Example:
Be careful with the glass. It might get broken.
Peter got hurt in a crash.

 IF WE WANT TO SHOW THE PERSON OR THING DOING THE ACTION WE USE BY:
Example:
She was attacked by a dangerous dog.
The money was stolen by her husband.
We can use the indirect object as the subject of a passive verb:

ACTIVE PASSIVE
I gave him a book for his birthday >> He was given a book for his birthday.
Someone sent her a cheque for a thousand euros >> She was sent a cheque for a thousand euros.

 WE CAN USE PHRASAL VERBS IN THE PASSIVE:

ACTIVE PASSIVE
They called off the meeting. >> The meeting was called off.
His grandmother looked after him. >> He was looked after by his grandmother.
They will send him away to school. >> He will be sent away to school.

 SOME VERBS VERY FREQUENTLY USED IN THE PASSIVE ARE FOLLOWED BY THE TO-INFINITIVE:

be supposed to be expected to be asked to

be scheduled to be allowed to be told to

Example:
John has been asked to make a speech at the meeting.
You are supposed to wear a uniform.
The meeting is scheduled to start at seven.

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.
MODAL Active: Rita can write a letter.
Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.
EXAMPLE OF PASSIVE:

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

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

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.

EXERCISES:

I.-EXERCISES ON PASSIVE (FORM)

1.-WRITE PASSIVE SENTENCES IN SIMPLE PRESENT.
 the documents / print
 the window / open
 the shoes / buy
 the car / wash
 the litter / throw away
 the letter / send
 the book / read / not
 the songs / sing / not
 the food / eat / not
 the shop / close / not
THE DOCUMENTS ARE PRINTED
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2.-WRITE PASSIVE SENTENCES IN SIMPLE PAST.

 the test / write
 the table / set
 the cat / feed
 the lights / switch on
 the house / build
 dinner / serve
 this computer / sell / not
 the car / stop / not
 the tables / clean / not
 the children / pick up / not _____________________________________________
THE TEST WAS WRITTEN
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3.-WRITE PASSIVE SENTENCES IN PRESENT PERFECT.

 the postcard / send
 the pencils / count
 the door / close
 the beds / make
 the mail / write
 the trees / plant
 the money / spend
 the room / book / not
 the rent / pay / not
 the people / inform / not
THE POSTCARD HAS BEEN SENT
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4.-WRITE PASSIVE SENTENCES IN FUTURE I.

 the exhibition / visit THE EXHIBITION WILL BE VISITED
 the windows / clean _____________________________________________
 the message / read _____________________________________________
 the thief / arrest _____________________________________________
 the photo / take _____________________________________________
 these songs / sing _____________________________________________
 the sign / see / not _____________________________________________
 a dictionary / use / not _____________________________________________
  credit cards / accept / not _____________________________________________
 the ring / find / not _____________________________________________

II.-EXERCISES ON PASSIVE (ACTIVE → PASSIVE)

1.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE - SIMPLE PRESENT.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.
 He opens the door THE DOOR IS OPENED BY HIM.
 We set the table _____________________________________________
 She pays a lot of money _____________________________________________
 I draw a picture _____________________________________________
 They wear blue shoes _____________________________________________
 They don't help you _____________________________________________
 He doesn't open the book _____________________________________________
 You do not write the letter _____________________________________________
 Does your mum pick you up? _____________________________________________
 Does the police officer catch the thief? _____________________________________________

2.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE - SIMPLE PAST.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.

 She sang a song A SONG WAS SUNG BY HER.
 Somebody hit me. -
 We stopped the bus. -
 A thief stole my car. -
 They didn't let him go. -
 She didn't win the prize. -
 They didn't make their beds. -
 I did not tell them. -
 Did you tell them? -
 Did he send the letter? -

3.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE - PRESENT PERFECT.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.

 Kerrie has paid the bill.
 I have eaten a hamburger
 We have cycled five miles.
 I have opened the present.
 They have not read the book.
 You have not sent the parcel.
 We have not agreed to this issue.
 They have not caught the thieves.
 Has she phoned him?
 Have they noticed us?
The bill has been paid by Kerrie.
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4.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE - FUTURE I. REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.

 Jane will buy a new computer.
 Her boyfriend will install it
 Millions of people will visit the museum.
 Our boss will sign the contract.
 You will not do it.
 They will not show the new film.
 He won't see Sue.
 They will not ask him.
 Will the company employ a new worker?
 Will the plumber repair the shower?
A NEW COMPUTER WILL BE BOUGHT BY JANE.
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5.-PASSIVE VOICE - EXERCISE WITH AUXILIARY VERBS.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.
  I can answer the question
 She would carry the box
 You should open the window.
 We might play cards.
 You ought to wash the car.
 He must fill in the form
 They need not buy bread.
 He could not read the sentence.
 Will the teacher test our English?
 Could Jenny lock the door?
6.-MIXED EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.
 John collects money.
 Anna opened the window.
 We have done our homework.
 I will ask a question.
 He can cut out the picture.
 The sheep ate a lot.
 We do not clean our rooms.
 William will not repair the car.
 Did Sue draw this circle?
 Could you feed the dog?
7.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE - PRESENT PROGRESSIVE.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.
 Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.
 My father is washing the car
 Farmer Joe is milking the cows
 She is taking a picture of him.
 I am writing a poem.
 We are not playing football.
 He is not wearing a tie.
 Is she preparing the party?
 Are they talking about the meeting? _____________________________________________
 Is she watering the flowers?
8.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE - PAST PROGRESSIVE.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.
 We were talking about Francis.
 He was playing the guitar
 She was watching a film.
 I was repairing their bikes.
 They were not eating dinner.
 We were not painting the gate.
 You were not driving him home.
 He was not feeding the dogs.
 Was she reading these lines?
 Were they carrying bags?
9.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE - PAST PERFECT.REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN PASSIVE VOICE.
 I had worn blue shoes.
 Joe had cleaned the tables.
 We had lost the key.
 They had started a fight.
 I had been reading an article.
 I had not closed the window.
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A cup of tea is being drunk by Sheila.
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Francis was being talked about by us.
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Blue shoes had been worn by me.
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  They had not bought the paper. _____________________________________________
 She had not noticed me. _____________________________________________
 Had she solved the problem? _____________________________________________
 Had he recorded that song? _____________________________________________

10.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE – SIMPLE PRESENT.COMPLETE THE SENTENCES (ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE).
USE SIMPLE PRESENT.
 He (sell)__________________________ cars.
 The blue car (sell) _______________________
 In summer, more ice-cream (eat) _____________________________than in winter.
 She (call) ______________________her grandparents every Friday.
 The letters (type)________________________________.
 He (take)________________________________________his medicine every day.
 Jane (take / not)______________________________to school by her father.
 We (go) ________________________to school by bus.
 She (work / not)_______________________________for a bank.
 Milk (keep) ______________________________in the refrigerator.

11.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE – SIMPLE PAST.COMPLETE THE SENTENCES (ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE). USE
SIMPLE PAST.
 They (visit)_______________________________their granny.
 We (visit) ____________________________by our teacher.
 My friend Paul (bear)__________________________in Dallas.
 She (go) _________________________to school in Boston.
 Antony (grow up)___________________________in the country.
 The new shopping centre (build) ___________________________________last year.
 The film (produce / not) __________________________in Hollywood.
 Barbara (know) __________________________________James very well.
 The jewels (hide / not) __________________________________in the cellar.
 We (spend / not) _____________________________all day on the beach.

12.-EXERCISE ON PASSIVE VOICE – PRESENT PERFECT.COMPLETE THE SENTENCES (ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE).
USE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE.
 The car (steal) ______________________________________________________.
 I (bake) ___________________________________________________________a cake.
 My friends (buy)______________________________________________a house.
 The cup (put)_____________________________________________on the table.
 Trees (plant) __________________________________________in the street.
 The boy (fall / not) ________________________________________________off his bike.
 I (bite / not) ________________________________________by a snake.
 He (step)__________________________________________on my toe.
 We (walk) _____________________________________________all the way home.
 She (pick up / not) ___________________________________________by a friend