PASSIVE VOICE

I. Put the sentences into the passive voice. Do not mention the agent unless it seems necessary.
1. It was blowing the leaves all over the pavement.
The leaves was being blown all over the pavement
2. We are painting our house at the moment.
Our house are being painted at the moment
3. Does the hotel provide clean towels?
Are clean towels be provided?
4. An ambulance took the sick man to hospital.
The sick man was taken to hospital by the ambulance
5. Visitors must leave umbrellas and sticks in the cloakroom.
Umbrellas and sticks must be left in the cloakroom by visitors
6. They make these artificial flowers of silk.
These artifical flowers are made of silk
7. You should pack such items carefully in tea chests.
Such items should be carefully packed in tea chets
8. Has someone posted the letters?
Have the letters been posted?
9. They used to start these engines by hand.
These engines used to be started by hand
10. People speak Spanish differently in Spain and in Colombia.
Spanish are spoken in Spain and in Colombia.
11. The police will ask you several questions.
You will be asked several question by the police
12. Why didn’t they mend the roof before it fell in.
Why wasn’t the roof mended before it fell in?
13. My little brother has drunk all the milk in the fridge.
All the milk in the fridge has been drunk by my little brother
14. Someone will serve refreshments soon.
Refreshments will be served soon
15. We are going to hold our wedding feast in New World.
Our wedding feast is going to be held in NW
16. People are spending a lot of money on food now.
A lot of money is being spent on food now
17. Jessica’s friends gave her a present.
A present was given to Jessica by her friends
18. Nobody swept this street yesterday.
This street wasn’t be swept yesterday
19. She was driving the children to school when the accident happened.
The children were being driven to school when the accident happened
20. Someone has already told him the whole truth.
He has been already told the whole truth.
II. Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning to the first one.
1. The lawyer gave him the details of his father’s will.
The details of his father’s will were given to him by the lawyer...........................................................
2. He expected US to offer him the job.
He expected to be offered the job .........................................................................................................
3. People know that he is armed.
He is known to be armed.......................................................................................................................
4. Someone saw him pick up the gun.
He was seen to pick up the gun..............................................................................................................
5. Her husband offered her a bunch of flowers on her birthday.
She was offered a bunch of flowers by her husband on her birthday.....................................................
6. They have stopped the traffic going into the crowded streets.
The traffic has been stopped going into the crowded streets .................................................................
7. Do you wish me to serve dinner now?
Do you wish dinner to be served by me now? .......................................................................................
8. I prefer you to call me by my first name.
I prefer to be called by my first name....................................................................................................
9. Why don’t you get an optician to test your eyes?
Why don’t you get your eyes to be tested by an optician? ....................................................................
10. They made the children do a lot of housework.
The children were made to do a lot of housework ................................................................................
11. We heard him shouting at his children.
He was heard shouting at his children ...................................................................................................
12. People believe that he was killed by terrorists.
He is believed to have been killed by terrorists......................................................................................
13. You don’t need to wind this watch.
This watch doesn’t need to be wound....................................................................................................
14. David is going to have the dentist fill his tooth.
David is going to have his tooth filled by the dentist ............................................................................
15. People say that she is a talented actress.
She is said to be a talented actress.........................................................................................................
16. They suggested making the tests easier. (Use should)
They suggested that the test should be made easier...............................................................................
17. We never heard him say ‘Thank you’ in his life.
He was never heard to say ‘Thank you’ in his life ................................................................................
18. Nobody has used this room for ages.
This room hasn’t been used for ages......................................................................................................
19. My brother helped me do my homework.
I was helped to do my homework by my brother..................................................................................
20. He likes people to call him by his first name.
He likes to be called by his first name...................................................................................................
III. Put the correct form or tense of the verb in brackets.
1. Paper (was made) …………………………………………………… in China centuries ago.
2. Three tests (have been taken) …………………………………………………… since last month.
3. The Statue of Liberty (is visited) …………………………………………………… by millions of
people each year.
4. The bridge over the river (is being painted) …………………………………………………… at the
moment.
5. You (are going to be given) …………………………………………………… a present when you
go to the party next Saturday.
6. Medicine (must be kept) …………………………………………………… out of the reach of
children.
7. While the furniture (is being moved) ……………………………………………………, I went into
the room.
8. When we got to the stadium, we found that the game (had been canceled)
……………………………………………………
9. A lot of trees (were blown) …………………………………………………… down in the storm last
night.
10. The Reader (was published) …………………………………………………… in Germany in 1995.
11. The Da Vinci Code (has been translated) …………………………………………………… into 44
languages so far.
12. The lion is said (to have been escaped) …………………………………………………… from its
cage last night.
13. John must have his tooth (taken) …………………………………………………… out soon.
14. When are you going to get the roof (repaired) ……………………………………………………?
15. We were made (to wait) …………………………………………………… for three hours at the
airport.
16. Steve hates (to be kept) …………………………………………………… waiting long.
17. She is said (to be) …………………………………………………… a woman of property.
18. Jane hopes her paintings (will be shown) …………………………………………………… at the
National Gallery.
19. Mary has her car (washed) …………………………………………………… every week.
20. He dislikes (being told) …………………………………………………… what to do.