Passive or Active

EXERCISE 9B: More Practice with Active and Passive Verbs: Cross the correct answer. Then, on the line provided,
write (P) for passive or (A) for active according to the verb form needed in each sentence.
1 A B C D
This can ….. enough soup for three people. containing contains to contain is contained
2 A B C D
This watch ….. to me by a friend. gave is giving was given to give
3 A B C D
Bryan’s house ….. into several times. broken was broke had been had broken
broken
4 A B C D
Olivia ….. when her attorney arrived. questioning questions being was being
questioned questioned
5 A B C D
The message ….. on an envelope. writing wrote had written was written
6 A B C D
These parrots ….. several words. to say can say saying can be said
7 A B C D
The pants that he wanted …... sold to sell have sold have been sold
1 A B C D
Some people ….. to have allergies to cats. to think thinks are thought are thinking
9 A B C D
He …. his old clothes to the Salvation Army. gave is giving was given were given
10 A B C D
The window ….. yesterday by the wind. broke breaks to break was broken

Modified from: Mahnke, M.K.; Duffy, C.B. 1996. The Heinemann TOEFL Preparation Course. Great Britain: Heinemann pp. 163,164
Exercise 2: Read these sentences and underline the correct form of the verb, active or passive.

1. A lot of students suffer/are suffered from stress.

2. Social pressures on teenagers have not always recognized/have not always been recognized.
3. The causes of teenage stress examined/were examined at a conference last week.
4. The experts will publish/will be published a report of their findings soon.
5. Ways of dealing with stress are researching/are being researched by another group of experts.

Exercise 3: Rewrite these sentences in the passive, using the words underlined as the subject of the sentence. Omit
the agent if it is not necessary.
Example: *Exams cause a huge amount of stress.  A huge amount of stress is caused by exams.

1
Arguments with friends frequently worry teenagers.
Teenagers frequently are worried by arguments with friends.
2
Pressure from parents has stressed out many teenagers.
Many teenagers have been stressed for pressure from parents.
3
Advertisers are always pressuring young people to spend money.
Young people always are pressured to send money by advertisers
4
They have recently issued new guidelines on coping with stress.
New guidelines have been recently issued on coping stress with them
5
They should advise students to do regular exercise.
Students should be advised to do regular exercise by them.
6
You can reduce stress by chatting to a friend.
Stress by chatting to a friend can be reduced by you.

7
Positive stress will improve your performance.
1
 Your performance will be improved by positive stress.

Retrieved from: Stanton A. & Stephens M. (2001). Fast Track to FCE Students Book. Longman p. 80