PASSIVE VOICE

ACTIVE FORM: S + V + O

PASSIVE FORM: S + BE + V3ed + by O

Active: Susan writes a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by Susan.
TENSES ACTIVE PASSIVE EXAMPLE

Simple
present

Simple past

Present
continuous

Past
continuous

Simple
perfect

Simple future

Near future

Modal Verbs

 NOTE:

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Ex: 1. People speak English all over the world.
→ ...............................................................................................................
2. They built the museum in 1990.
→ ...............................................................................................................
3. Ann is washing our clothes.
→ ...............................................................................................................
4. We have watched this film several times.
→ ...............................................................................................................
5. She is going to give us another chance.
→ ...............................................................................................................
6. No one stole the picture in the local museum last night.
→ ...............................................................................................................
7. The council should consider the issue again.
→ ...............................................................................................................
8. The workers were repairing the road, so I had to take another way.
→ ...............................................................................................................
9. My classmates have celebrated a surprise birthday party for me recently.
→ ...............................................................................................................
10. My mother is preparing delicious dishes in the kitchen at the moment.
→ ...............................................................................................................

Let’s Practice!
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Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer to form complete passive sentences.
1. They were interviewing her for the job.
She ________________ for the job.
A. was being interviewed B. was interviewed
C. has been interviewed D. have been interviewed
2. Tom is writing the letter.
The letter ________________ by Tom.
A. was written B. is being written
C. has been written D. is going to be written
3. Everyone understands English.
English ________________ by everyone.
A. is understood B. has been understood
C. was understood D. is being understood
4. The employees brought up this issue during the meeting.
This issue ________________ by the employees during the meeting.
A. has been brought up B. is brought up
C. was brought up D. was being brought up
5. The professor told him not to talk in class.
He ________________ by the professor not to talk in class.
A. has been told B. was told
C. was being told D. will be told
6. They say that women are smarter than men.
Women ________________ to be smarter than men.
A. were being said B. were said
C. are said D. have been said
7. The fire has destroyed the house.
The house ________________ by the fire.
A. has been destroyed B. was being destroyed
C. is destroyed D. will be destroyed
8. She loved you.
You ________________ by her.
A. are being loved B. will be loved
C. were loved D. were being loved
9. She will reject the offer.
The offer ________________ by her.
A. is going to be rejected B. is rejected
C. will be rejected D. was rejected

10. This surprises me.

I ________________ by this.

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 A. will surprised B. will be surprised
C. am surprised D. was surprised
11. The children ____________ by the story.
A. frightened B. were frightened C. frightens D. was frightened
12. The scandal is certain ______________ in all the newspapers.
A. to report B. report C. to be reported D. reports
13. This newspaper __________ by an Italian company.
A. is published B. publishes C. publish D. are published
14. Rice __________ in this area for hundreds of years.
A. grows B. grew C. has grown D. has been grown
15. My shoes _________ in America.
A. made B. has been made C. were made D. is made
16. The driver __________ by the police for speeding.
A. have fined B. fined C. is being fined D. fines
17. The news ___________ by James Cook today.
A. is read B. are read C. have read D. has read
18. A new supermarket __________ next week.
A. is opened B. has been opened
C. is going to be opened D. will open
19. Wine __________ too much.
A. can’t drink B. mustn’t be drank C. drinks D. drunk
20. The witnesses ____________ by the police.
A. may be questioned B. has been questioned
C. question D. may questioned

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences with passive voice.

1. He has delivered letters for weeks.
 _________________letters has been delivered for weeks____________________ .
2. The lights went out when they were serving the meal.
 _______________the lights went out when the meal were being
served________________________ .
3. She bought a pretty kaleidoscope.
 ____________________a pretty kaleidoscope was bought ___________________.
4. Two reporters from Washington Post shouldn’t uncover the scandal.
 _________________the scandal should not be uncovered by the two
reporters____________________ .
5. According to the report, crocodiles attack people every week.
 _________________according to the report, people are attacked by crocodiles every
week___________________ .
6. They didn’t question him about the accident.
 _________________he wasnot questioned____________________ .

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7. Journalists are asking the prime minister about his scandals.
 ____________________the prime minister is being asked about his scandal by
journalists___________________ .
8. Nobody has told me what to do.
 __________________i hasnot been told what to do____________________ .
9. John covers English songs every weekend.
 _________________english songs is covered by John every weekend______________________ .
10. Thomas should read the book before he watches the film.
 ________________the book should be read by Thomas before he watches the
film______________________ .
11. They discuss important subjects at lunchtime every day.
 ____________________important subjects are discussed at lunchtime
everyday___________________ .
12. They couldn't use the car because the garage was servicing it.
 ____________________the car couldnot be used because the garage was servicing
it___________________ .
13. Our leaking roof is being fixed by the builders.
 _______________________________________ .
14. They have already finished their work .
 _____________their work has already been finished __________________________ .
15. You will be protected by a bodyguard 24 hours a day.
 _______________________________________ .
16. The award is being presented by a famous scientist.
 _______________________________________ .
17. Dinosaur skeletons have been found by a team of archaeologists.
 ______________________________________ .
18. They are still considering this matter.
 ________________________________________ .
19. Several members of the class were punished by the teacher.
 ________________________________________ .
20. How often do your teachers ask you?
 ________________________________________ .

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