LANGUAGE IN USE TEACHER: MAITE GANDIA

FLIPPED CLASSROOM: Did you watch the online video tutorial about the Passive
Voice? Do you have any questions? Could you explain it to your partners?

THE PASSIVE VOICE

 These products are made in Spain.

 Linda has been given her presents.

 This novel was published in 1901.
 The vase has been broken by the children.
 An important research is being carried out in this field.
 New computers will be invented during the next years.
 More attention should be paid to these children.

The passive voice is used when:

a. We don’t know who or what does something.
b. We know who does it but it isn’t as important as what is done.

1. Complete the rule:

The passive voice is formed with the appropriate tense of the verb .......... and the .......... of
the main verb.

2. Transform the sentences from active to passive. Write the by-agent when
necessary.
- We make shoes in Spain.
………………………………………………………………………………
- The students are doing a new project.
………………………………………………………………………………
- Verdi wrote the opera La Traviata.
………………………………………………………………………………
- They will publish this new magazine next month.
………………………………………………………………………………
- Alexander Graham Belt invented the telephone in 1876.
………………………………………………………………………………
 - They have not given Mary the Physics Prize.
………………………………………………………………………………
- They spent more money in advertising than in production.
………………………………………………………………………………
- If they had built that house properly, the hurricane wouldn’t have destroyed it.
………………………………………………………………………………

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets.
- Right now, money …………………………. (collect) to help the poor.
- While he …………………………. (chase) by the police, the body…. (find)
- Her new book …………………………. (publish) soon. (going to)
- She …………………………. (consider) to be the country’s best singer.
- I wonder which candidate …………………………. (elect) PM next Sunday.
- Fresh sandwiches …………………………. (sell) in my office every day.
- Jim didn’t go to the party because he …………………………. (not invite).
- To record, the red and black button …………. (must press) at the same time.

4. Decide whether the following sentences are active or passive. Then fill in the
blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
- English …………………………. (teach) all over the world now.
- The demonstrators ……………… (stand) in the middle of the road yesterday.
- My house …………………………. (burgle) last night.
- The soldier …………………………. (salute) the general.
- When …………………………. (the parcel/ send) to Greece?
- The eggs …………………………. (add) after you mix the sugar and butter.
- The newspaper …………………………. (print) your story tomorrow.

5. Write a short text describing an event. You may want to make it up. Use the
passive voice.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
 HAVE/ GET SOMETHING DONE

 My parents had this house built 20 years ago.

 I must get my car repaired.

6. Rewrite the sentences using have/get something done:

- She asked her assistant to prepare the contract.
- We are going to ask someone to paint our house.
- The hairdresser is going to cut my hair.
- They are repairing my computer at the moment.
- I must ask the optician to test my eyes.

FAST FINISHERS. Transform these sentences from passive to active. Write five more
sentences in the passive.
- Oscar Wilde was awarded the Berkley Gold Medal by the university.
- Shaw was given an Oscar for his adaptation of Pygmalion.
- Guiness beer has been drunk since the 18th century by Dubliners.

REINFORCEMENT

1. Make the sentences passive. The subject of the passive voice has been
underlined.

- I bought a yellow umbrella yesterday

morning………………………………………..

- They made the building last

year………………………………………………………

- The director has opened the museum this

morning…………………………………….

- We will find new renewable

energies........................................................................

- Rafa Nadal is playing a great

match……………………………………………………
 - The tornado destroyed almost all the

houses…………………………………………

- The Spanish Challenge has won many

competitions…………………………………

- The students of 4th course are preparing their

graduation………………………………

- The boys will win the match next

Saturday..............................................................

- They play a football match every

Saturday………………………………………………

2. Make the sentences active. Remember that the subject will be now the noun
introduced by “by”. The main verb has been underlined.

- The bread is eaten by the

dogs…………………………………………….

- The books was written by

Hemingway………………………………………………….

- The newspaper has been created by the

students………………………………………

- The concerts have been attended by many

fans………………………………………

- Lentils aren’t eaten very often by

John………………………………………………

- We were driven to the school by our

parents…………………………………………

- The bags have been filled by the shop-

assistant………………………………………