PASSIVE VOICE – WORKSHEET

Exercices à faire en utilisant le cours sur le passif. Les exercices sont progressifs : le premier vous demande
de reconnaître le passif, le deuxième vous demande de choisir la bonne forme parmi plusieurs, le troisième
vous demande de former le passif quand c’est nécessaire, ou la voix active autrement. Enfin le dernier vous
laisse en autonomie avec seulement un verbe donné pour faire une phrase à la voix passive.
I) Tick all the verbs which are at the passive voice
A 30 St. Mary Axe is a 40-story building. It is recognised as one of the more distinctive
skyscrapers in the financial district of London. Its form is so unique, that it has been given the
nickname "the Gherkin." It is essentially an elongated, curved shaft with a rounded end that
is reminiscent of a stretched egg. It is covered uniformly around the outside with glass panels
and is rounded off at the corners.
The design of the Gherkin is heavily influenced by the need for energy efficiency and there
are a number of building features that enhance its efficiency by pulling warm air out of the building
during the summer and using heat from the sun to bring heat into the building during the winter.
The sunlight is also able to penetrate deep into the building, thus cutting down on light costs.
It has been said that 30 St. Mary Axe uses only half of the energy that a similarly-sized tower
would use.
The beginning of the Gherkin's birth starts in 1992 as an explosion rocked the financial
district of London. The Provisional IRA detonated an explosive device nearby and terribly
injured the building that was then there. It was torn down and city officials
decided to put a larger tower in its place. Construction began in 2001 and the Gherkin
was finished in December of 2003. It didn't open for the public until almost half of a year later.
Today, the Gherkin is primarily an office building. It is the headquarters of many large
companies. Some very popular television shows and radio shows are filmed here or near this
building today.

II) Choose the right verb for each sentence

Buckingham Palace is the London home and the administrative centre of the British royal family.
The enormous building and extensive gardens are an important site of ceremonial and political
affairs in the United Kingdom, as well as a major tourist attraction.
Buckingham Palace ---has achieved--- iconic status as the official London residence of the reigning
was achieved

British monarch, but it --hasn’t always

isn't always served-- in that role. It ---is
served was bought
sayssaid--- that the land ---was bought-
by King James I so that it would be used as a garden for members of the royal families.
There was a house on this land which ---had----
has several owners over the years until 1689 when it
was sold
---was sold--- to a man who became the Duke of Buckingham. He then ---decided---
decided that the house
was too old and he ---started---
started the building of a new one. The new house ---was designed--- by
was designed

Winde and Fitch. It ---was completed--- in 1705 and almost became the site for the British Museum
was completed

but it was too expensive.

King George III ---bought---
buys started started--- by him.
Buckingham House in 1763 and renovations ---were
Over the year, several parts ---were added--- and many modifications ---were
was added made--- until 1853
were maked

when the last renovations ---were completed---.

are completed

III) Conjugate the verb in parenthesis with the right tense (present/preterit)
and the right voice (active/passive).
This summer, we went to London with my family. It (be) WAS a great holiday but many
things happened. Our first plane (cancel) so we had to wait 12 hours. When we finally
(arrive) to London, our hotel (close) because it was so late. My father (call)
several times before someone (answer) the phone and opened. Then, my room
(take) so a new room (prepare) for me.
Fortunately, the rest of the week was awesome! We (start) with Westminster because it is in
the middle and you have many important places there. My favourite was Buckingham palace
because we saw the Changing of the Guards. It is when the Queen’s guards (replace) by
other guards. It looked so cool. Also, Buckingham is where the Queen (live) . Trafalgar Square
was also a nice place because we (take) many selfies with the statue of a lion. We also
visited Westminster Abbey but it was so boring!
I also enjoyed Camden Market. It’s a part of London where you have many great shops and a lot
of different foods (prepare) there. All the museums we (see) were
interesting but my favourite was the Tate Modern. It’s an art gallery where many modern paintings
and sculptures (exhibit) .

IV) Make complete sentences with the verbs given.

Burn :

Eat :

Cut :

Write :

Watch :