PASSIVE SENTENCES

We often prefer the passive when it is not known or not important to know exactly who or
what performs an action. For examples:

a. My sweater is made in Korea.

b. Indonesian history is being taught.
c. The mails have been delivered.

But if you want to say who or what performs the action use “by”. For examples:

a. The soup is cooked by my mom.

b. My laptop is being used by my sister.
c. Jade was kidnapped by his neighbour.
Exercise 1

Part I. Change the active to passive

1. Shakespeare wrote the play.

_________________________________________________________________________.

2. Waitresses and waiters serve customers.

_________________________________________________________________________.

3. The teacher is explaining the lesson.

_________________________________________________________________________.

4. Two horses were pulling the farmer’s wagon.

_________________________________________________________________________.

5. Toshi will invite Yoko to the party.

_________________________________________________________________________.

6. Alex is preparing that report.

_________________________________________________________________________.

7. Kathy had returned the book to the library.

_________________________________________________________________________.

8. Miriam has designed several buildings.

_________________________________________________________________________.

9. Mrs. Andrews hasn’t signed those papers.

_________________________________________________________________________.

10. His tricks won’t fool me.

_________________________________________________________________________.

Part II. Change the passive to active.

11. The flower was given by Anwar.
_________________________________________________________________________.

12. The theory was developed by Dr. Ikeda.

 _________________________________________________________________________.

13. After class, the board is always cleaned by students.

_________________________________________________________________________.

Exercise 2
Choose the correct answer.

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ______________ by J K Rowling

a. was written
b. written
c. wrote
2. J K Rowling _____________ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
a. was written
b. written
c. wrote
3. The judge ________________ Smith to five years in prison.
a. was sentenced
b. sentenced
4. Smith _____________ to five years in prison.
a. was sentenced
b. sentenced
5. Over a million dollars in cash __________________ from a bank in Los Angeles.
a. has stolen
b. has been stolen
6. Thieves __________________ over a million dollars in cash from a bank in Los Angeles.
a. Stolen
b. Have been stolen
c. have stolen
d. was been stolen
7. I'll have to come by bus as my car __________________ .
a. is repairing
b. is being repaired
8. The gold ____________________ in a cave near the top of the mountain.
a. was discovered
b. discovered
9. Archaeologists _____________ the gold in a cave near the top of the mountain.
a. were discovered
 b. was discovered
c. discovered
10. The meeting ______________ until the end of the month.
a. has postponed
b. has been postponed
c. is been postponed
11. We have ____________ the meeting until the end of the month.
a. been postponed
b. postponed
12. VW cars _____________ in Germany and the Czech Republic.
a. Making
b. Made
c. are made
d. make
13. Many shops _____________ at around nine in the morning.
a. Open
b. are opened
14. Your letter ______________ yesterday morning.
a. was delivered
b. has delivered
c. delivered
15. Helmets must ________________ on the site.
a. Wear
b. are worn
c. be worn
16. Vehicles parked in front of these gates will ________________
a. Removing
b. Remove
c. be removed
d. are removed
17. We will ___________ any vehicles parked in front of these gates.
a. Removing
b. be removed
c. remove
d. have removed
18. A number of people __________________ following a demonstration in central London.
a. have arrested
b. have been arrested
19. Police ________________ a number of people following a demonstration in the central
London.
a. have arrested
b. have been arrested
20. Experts ____________________ that the painting is a fake.
a. Believe
b. is believed
21. All bills must _______________ promptly.
a. Settle
b. be settled
22. Two men ___________________ following a robbery in the city centre this afternoon.
a. are questioning
b. are being questioned
23. Police ___________________ two men following a robbery in the city centre this
afternoon.
a. are being questioned
b. are questioning

Contoh soal TOEFL tentang passive

24. _______________ discussed by the board of directors when it was proposed again by the
suervisors.
a. The problem had already
b. The problem is already
c. The problem had already been
d. The problem has already
25. Much of the carnage of elephants, giraffes, and big cats _______________ uncaring
hunters.
a. Must commit by
b. Must be committed
c. Must have committed
d. Must have been committed
26. The x-ray treatments _______________ up to the time he was dismissed from the hospital.
a. Gave daily
b. Were given daily
c. Basically have given
d. Daily had been given
27. The state seal still used in Massachusetts designed by Paul Revere, who also designed
A B C
the first Continental currency.
D
28. Sapphires weighing as much as two pounds have on occasion mined.
A B C D