Passive voice

PRACTICE
Ex. A
1 was caught
traffic jam
be/get caught/stuck in, sit in Our coach was caught in a traffic jam and got to Heathrow
forty minutes late.
2 is read 3 was cut off
cut sb/sth off [often passive] to stop the supply of something to somebody
Our water supply has been cut off.
They were cut off for not paying their phone bill.
+ cut off discontinue, break off, disconnect
break sth off to end something suddenly
Britain threatened to break off diplomatic relations.
They've broken off their engagement.
4 was being cleaned / had been cleaned
5 is going to be built
build construct, erect, put up
erect something to build something
The church was erected in 1582.
next to beside, next door to, alongside, at the side of, by the side of, abreast of, by,
adjacent to
6 have already been typed 7 ought to be typed
letterhead the name and address of a person, a company or an organization printed
at the top of their writing paper
stationeryn U special paper for writing letters on
The logo featured on the letterhead stationery for the Association.
handmade wedding stationery
8 is being taught 9 are caused
cause bring about, give rise to
dangerous hazardous, perilous, risky
10 has been repaired
repair mend, fix, fix up
fix sth up to repair, decorate or make something ready
They fixed up the house before they moved in.
work [intransitive] to function; to operate
The phone isn't working.It works by electricity.
11 were invited 12 was written; was translated
originally at first, at the beginning, initially
13 are shown 14 is cleaned 15 are employed
It is a big factory where/in which five hundred people are employed.
16 are produced
employ hire, engage, recruit, take on
engage somebody (as something) | engage something | engage somebody to do
something (formal) to employ somebody to do a particular job
He is currently engaged as a consultant.
We will have to engage the services of a translator.
+ produce manufacture, make
17 be done 18 are being followed 19 have been taken
take something to remove something without permission or by mistake
Someone has taken my scarf.
Did the burglars take anything valuable?
(figurative) The storms took the lives of 50 people.
20 have been asked
Ex. B
nylon [uncountable] a very strong artificial material, used for making clothes, rope,
brushes, etc.
a nylon fishing line This material is 45% nylon.
man-made adj made by people; not natural
SYNONYM ARTIFICIAL a man-made lake
man-made fibres such as nylon and polyester
a totally man-made environment
Opposite natural, real
1 was invented
invent originate, create, innovate, devise, think up
originate something to create something new
Locke originated this theory in the 17th century.
2 worked 3 was introduced
introduce to make something available for use, discussion, etc. for the first time
SYNONYM bring somebody/somethingin
introduce something The company is introducing a new range of products
this year.
introduce something into/to something We want to introduce the latest
technology into schools.
strong adj (of objects) not easily broken or damaged; made well
a strong chair
+ strong durable, long-lasting,hard-wearing, tough, sturdy
4 became
successful
 successful (in something/in doing something) They were successful in
winning the contract.
successful (at something/at doing something) I wasn't very successful at
keeping the news secret.
5 was 6 was used
use utilize, make use of, employ
employ hire, engage, recruit, take on
engage somebody (as something) | engage something | engage somebody to do
something (formal) to employ somebody to do a particular job
He is currently engaged as a consultant.
We will have to engage the services of a translator.
parachute (also informal chute) a device that is attached to people or objects to make
them fall slowly and safely when they are dropped from an aircraft. It consists of a
large piece of thin cloth that opens out in the air to form an umbrella shape.
Planes dropped supplies by parachute.
a parachute drop/jump a parachute regiment
tyre (also tire) a thick rubber ring that fits around the edge of a wheel of a car, bicycle,
etc.
a front tyre a back/rear tyre to pump up a tyre
a flat/burst/punctured tyre bald/worn tyres
7 is found 8 spare
spare part (plural) a new part that you buy to replace an old or broken part of a car,
machine, etc.
We have to get our spare parts from abroad.
9 have played 10 will be manufactured
+ manufacture produce, make
Ex. C
1 Ann will be invited to the party.
C. Change these sentences into passive sentences.
1. Bill will invite Ann to the party.
 Ann ..............................................................................................................................................
2. I didn’t write that letter.
 That letter ...................................................................................................................................

3. Hundreds of people visit the White House every day.

 The White House ........................................................................................................................
4. Everyone doesn't know this fact very well.
 This fact.......................................................................................................................................
5. Do you wash the dishes every day?
 Are
...........................................................................................................................................................
?
6. She bought some tulips yesterday.
 Some tulips .................................................................................................................................
7. He usually washes his car every Sunday morning.
 His car .........................................................................................................................................
8. Somebody cleans the room every day.
 The room .....................................................................................................................................
9. They cancelled all the flights because of fog.
 All the flights ..............................................................................................................................
10. People do not use this road very often.
 This road ....................................................................................................................................
11. That company will publish a textbook next year.
 A textbook ...................................................................................................................................
12. My friends told me to change the way.
 I ...................................................................................................................................................
13. Shakespeare wrote many famous plays.
 Many famous plays ...................................................................................................................
14. Bill is driving his brother to the airport.
 His brother .................................................................................................................................
15. Alex is preparing that report.
 That report ................................................................................................................................
16. The teacher is going to explain the lesson.
 The lesson ...................................................................................................................................
17. Kathy had returned the book to the library.
 The book ....................................................................................................................................
18. Does professor Jackson teach that course?
 Is that course
...........................................................................................................................................................
?

19. Is Mrs. Brown painting your house?

 Is your house
...........................................................................................................................................................
?
20. Doctor Ikeda developed that theory.
 That theory ................................................................................................................................