Passive Voice

Have something done

 Choose the correct form for each gap below and translate the sentence
1. We had a web designer ________ our website. 5. She told me that she'd had ________ with a titanium
a) To make prosthesis.
b) Make a) Her hip replace
c) Made b) Her hip replaced
c) Replaced her hip
2. We should get ________ before we can launch the new
product. 6. We got an approved mechanic ________ our car.
a) A new logo designed a) To inspect
b) To design a new logo b) To have inspected
c) A new logo to design c) Inspect
3. From now on, I'm going to have ________ more often. 7. Call us and you will get ________ for free.
a) My car washed a) Your old fridge collected
b) My car to wash b) Your old fridge collect
c) My car wash c) To collect your old fridge
4. You should have ________ to your hair. It looks horrible. 8. We ________ while we were away on holiday.
1. Something done 1. Got our flat burgled
2. To do something 2. Had our flat to burgle
3. Something to do 3. Had burgled our flat
 Choose the correct option for each gap below.
1 I don't have my watch. I'm
____ at the shop.
A having to repair it
B having it repaired
C having it repair
D repairing
2 We need to _______. They
are really dirty.
A have the windows clean
B have the windows to clean
C get to clean the windows
D get the windows cleaned
3 I'll get _______ my tires.
A someone to replace
B someone replace
C to replace
D someone replacing
4 I'm _______ by a local
dressmaker.
A having my dress made
B getting to make my dress
C having my dress make
D making my dress
5 I _______ at the pub last night.
A had stolen my jacket
B got my jacket to steal
C got my jacket stolen
D stole my jacket
6 We _______ to our house every
week.
A have our food to delivered
B have delivered our food
C get to deliver our food
D have our food delivered
7 We should _______ soon.
A have our grass cut
B have to cut our grass
C got our grass to cut
D got cut our grass
8 You should have _______ the
engine.
A a mechanic check
B a mechanic to check
C a mechanic checking
D a mechanic to have checked
9 We are going to _______ before
the trip.
A have the oil to change
B have changed the oil
C get the oil change
D get the oil changed
 Complete the sentences using the correct form of have something
done and the words in brackets.

1. I've just called my hairdresser and next Monday I’m _________ (cut/my

hair).
2. We normally  _________  (paint/our house) every other year.
3. The storm damaged our roof and we needed to  _________  (repair/it).
4. There is a lot of noise now because the neighbours _________ (build/a
new wall).
5. You should  _________  (pull out/this tooth) if it hurts so much.
 Complete the sentences using the correct form of have something
done and the words in brackets.

6. We _________ (install/an alarm) last October.

7. David _________(remove/his tonsils) when he was 9.
8. I think you don't see too well. Tell me, _________ (you/ever/test/your
eyes)?
9. Are you going to redecorate the house yourselves or  _________
 (redecorate/it) by a professional?
10. I  _________  (never/service/my car) yet.
Complete each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar meaning to the
first sentence. Write between two and five words in each gap.
1. Someone has scratched my car on the door! been
My car...................on the door!
2. Tommy is having an operation right now. being
Tommy …………………….. right now.
3. Has Fiona invited you to her party? been
................................................... party?
4. Shakespeare probably wrote this play in 1587. written
This play ……………………………. Shakespeare in 1587.
5. The government is considering a new law to ban smoking following new research. considered
A new law to ban smoking......................................... following new research.
6. My mum told me to go to Megagrocers. sent
I ……………………………........ my mum.
7. I didn't understand a word, so I asked my teacher, and she explained it to me. got
I didn't understand a word so I ............................................ it to me.
 Complete the sentences using the correct form of have something
done and the words in brackets.

1. We usually __________ (the bedrooms / redecorate) every two years.

2. Sarah isn't making her own wedding dress, she __________ (it /
make) by a designer in Italy.
3. ________ (you / ever/ anything / steal) from your house?
4. He didn't fix his car himself, he ______(it / fix) at the garage.
5. Your hair is too long. You need _________ (it / cut).
6. I'm going to do my food shopping online and I _______ (the food /
deliver) to my house.
7. If you can't see properly, you should ______ (your eyes / test).
8. Are they going to paint the kitchen themselves, or ______ (it / paint)?
Rewrite the following using have or get

1. The washing machine was repaired by an engineer last week.

2. Is your hair done at Ebony’s?
3. Somebody stole Liz’s passport.
4. Some hooligans slashed John’s tires.
5. Out of the blue, the board of directors approved Mark’s plans yesterday.
6. Tell someone to clean up this mess!
7. Don’t worry. I’ll arrange for someone to finish the report before the board
meeting.
 Have Have your
your car eyes
checked
washed

Have your Have things

teeth delivered
How often do you cleaned at when you
(or your family)… the go
dentist’s shopping

Have
your Have prints
made of
clothes your digital
dry- photos
cleaned
 Had Had the
your locks
changed at
fortune your house
or flat
told

Had Had your

Have you ever …
clothes photo taken
made by a
professional
for you

Had Had your

your words
bones misinterp
reted
broken
 Forming passive sentences
Verbs such as give take both a direct object (DO) and an indirect object (IO) in
two patterns: V + IO + DO or V + DO + preposition + IO. These verbs have two
corresponding passives:
active passive Also: award, hand,
V + IO + DO
lend, offer, send,
V + DO + prep + IO
throw (= ‘giving' verbs);
Alice gave us that vase. ✔ We were given that vase (by Alice). ✔
ask, read,
Alice gave that vase to us. ✔ That vase was given (to) us (by Alice). ✔ teach (= 'telling' verbs)

Verbs that can't be followed by IO + DO in the active have only one of these
passive forms:
active passive Also: announce,
V + DO + prep + IO demonstrate, describe,
He explained me the problem. × I was explained the problem. × introduce, mention,
propose, report, suggest
He explained the problem to me. ✔ The problem was explained to me. ✔
(= ‘reporting' verbs)
Verbs followed by object + complement in the active have one
passive form:
Also: appoint, declare,
active passive make, nominate, vote (to
V + object + complement do with giving a particular
They elected her president. She was elected president. position); call, name,
title (= ‘naming' verbs)

Some verbs that are followed by object + bare infinitive (= an infinitive without
‘to') in the active are followed by a to-infinitive in the passive:

active
V + object + bare infinitive
They have made him return
the money.
passive
Also: feel, hear, help (also +
object + to-infinitive), observe,
He has been made to return the see
money.
 Direct / Indirect Objects
Some verbs can be followed by both a direct and an indirect object (usually a
person). These verbs include bring, buy, get, give, lend, make, offer, owe,
pass, promise, send, show, take, teach, tell, write, etc.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
We can put the indirect object either immediately The subject of the sentence can be either the
after the verb, or at the end of the sentence with a indirect object or the direct object of the active
preposition (for/to, etc). sentence.

A friend gave my sister this cookery book. My sister was given this cookery book by a friend.

A friend gave this cookery book to my sister. This cookery book was given to my sister by a
friend.
Rewrite with the indirect object at the end of the sentence.

1. My dad got me a great computer game!

My dad got a great computer game for me.
2. Dave sent Jill a really nice letter.
3. I threw Colin the ball.
4. The waiter offered us a menu.
5. The hotel provides its guests with satellite television.
6. My grandma taught me this song.
Rewrite the sentences using one or, if possible, two passive
forms. Look carefully at the tense.
1. Someone handed me a note.
I was handed a note. / A note was handed to me.
2. Someone offered her a second-hand bicycle.
3. Someone has proposed improvements to the developers.
4. Someone suggested some interesting changes to me.
5. Someone awarded him a prize.
6. Someone will announce the President's arrival to the waiting journalists.
7. Someone had mentioned the password to the thieves.
8. Someone has lent me some skis.
9. Someone is sending me a lot of spam emails.
10.Someone is going to explain the changes to the students.
 Transitive two- and three-word verbs
Some have passive forms:
ACTIVE PASSIVE Also: carry out (= put into practice), disapprove of, hold
Ella looked after him. He was looked after. over (= delay), talk down to (= patronise)

Some don’t:
ACTIVE PASSIVE Also: brush up on (= revise), cast (your mind) back (= try
We came up against A problem was come to remember), get (something) down (= write), take after
a problem. up against. (= resemble)

Some can be only used in the passive with

certain senses:
ACTIVE PASSIVE Also: (passive possible meaning / no passive meaning):
They put out the The fire was put call (someone) up (order to join the army / telephone);
fire. out. call (someone) back (ask to return / telephone);
I put out a hand to A hand was put out let in (allow into a place / allow rain, etc. in);
steady myself. to steady myself. let out (allow to leave / let out a sound)
Complete each first sentence with a suitable form of a verb from the box. Then complete the
second sentence using the same verb and the passive.
Appoint declare demonstrate help introduce see

1. People helped Rob to his feet after the accident.

Rob was helped to his feet after the accident.
2. Tony ________ me to Mr. Rossi at his birthday party.
I ______________________________________ .
3. Has anyone ___________ Chris this morning?
Has Chris ____________________________?
4. They _______Sven Larsen Regional Sales Director for Scandinavia.
Sven Larsen _________________________.
5. I am certain that Sarah _________ her suitability as company director to those who still have
any doubt.
I am certain that Sarah’s suitability as company director ______________________ .
6. They ___________ Alan Watson winner of the election after a recount.
Alan Watson _____________________________.
If possible, rewrite each sentence using a passive form of the italicised two- or
three-word verb.

1. Children often look up to strict teachers.

Strict teachers are often looked up to by children.
2. The company phased out the product over a period of three years.
3. The students got the information down as fast as they could.
4. The decision has deprived many people of the right to vote.
5. People often brush up on a foreign language just before a holiday.
6. Ben called Mrs. Patel back as soon as he got home.
7. The chairperson held over the last two items until the next committee meeting.
8. The farmer prevented walkers from crossing the field after he fenced it off.
 Answer the question using a phrasal verb in the passive
1. What must be done with a bad tooth? (pull)
2. What has to be done with a dirty crockery and cutlery at the end of a meal? (wash)
3. What should be done if a mistake appears in a student’s work? (point)
4. What might happen if you crossed a busy road without looking? (run)
5. What would happen to a lighted candle if there were a sudden gust of wind? (blow)
6. What happens to traffic in a traffic jam? (hold)
7. What happens to workers if they become redundant? (lay)
8. What must be done if a plan or an idea proves unworkable? (give)
9. I dropped a note in the street and can’t find it. What must have happened? (take)
10. No one can attend a meeting on that date. What could be done to solve the
problem? (put)
 Change the sentences into the passive. Pay attention to the prepositions
1. The government has called out 10. They threw him out.
troops.
11. They will have to adopt a different attitude.
2. Fog held up the trains. 12. He’s a dangerous maniac. They ought to lock
3. You are to leave it here. Someone will him up.
call for it later. 13. Her story didn’t take them in.
4. We called in the police. 14. Burglars broke into the house.
5. They didn’t look after children 15. The manufacturers are giving away small
properly. plastic toys with each packet of cereal.
6. They are flying in reinforcements. 16. They took down the notice.
7. Everyone looked up to him. 17. They frown on smoking here.

8. All the ministers will see him off at the 18. After the government had spent a million
airport. pounds on the scheme, they decided that it
was impracticable and gave it up. (leave the
9. He hasn’t slept in his bed. bold as it is)
Answer the questions using Passive Voice
1. What’s your favorite book? Who was it written by?
2. What’s your favorite song? Who was it sung by?
3. Talk about when you were given bad service at a restaurant.
4. Where were you first exposed to English?
5. Who was your favorite game made by?
6. In what country were the greatest works of art created?
7. What’s the greatest invention? Who was it invented by?
Where was it invented?
8. What’s the most important building in your country's history?
Who was it built by? When was it built?
Forming passive sentences
Verb + -ing or to-infinitive
 Active patterns with verb + -ing
Verbs followed by object + -ing in the active are made passive with
'be' + past participle + -ing. Also: bring, catch,
hear, find, keep, notice,
+ They saw the monkey climbing over the fence. (= active) observe, send, show.
+ The monkey was seen climbing over the fence. (= passive)

Some verbs that can be followed by an -ing form can be used with a
passive form being + past participle: Also: avoid, deny, describe,
dislike, face, hate, (not) imagine,
+ I really love being given presents. like, remember, report, resent.
+ The children enjoyed being taken to the zoo.

Verbs which in the active are followed by an object consisting of a noun

phrase and -ing clause usually have no passive:
+ I dread him (or his) finding out. Also: anticipate, appreciate,
dislike, forget, hate, imagine, like,
(but not ‘He is dreaded finding out’)
(not) mind, recall, remember.
 Active patterns with verb + to-infinitive
The active pattern verb + object + to-infinitive is made passive with 'be'
+ past participle + to-infinitive. Compare: Also: advise, allow, ask, believe,
consider, expect, feel, instruct, mean,
+ Mr. Wang has taught Peter to sing for years. and order, require, tell, understand
+ Peter has been taught to sing (by Mr. Wang) for years.
Note that in some contexts it is possible to make both verbs passive:
+ Changes to the taxation system are expected to be proposed.
(compare the active “We expect the government to propose changes to the taxation
system.”)
Some verbs followed by an object + to-infinitive in the active have no
passive: Susan liked Karl to be there. (but not “Karl was liked to be there.”)
Also: (can't) bear, hate, love, need, prefer, want, wish (‘liking' and wanting' verbs)
The active pattern verb + to-infinitive + object is made passive with verb + to be + past
participle. Compare:
+ Supermarkets started to sell fresh pasta only in the 1990s.
And
+ Fresh pasta started to be sold by supermarkets only in the 1990s.
Also: (i) appear, begin, come, continue, seem, tend;
(ii) agree, aim, arrange, attempt, hope, refuse, want

The verbs in group (i) (and start) have corresponding meanings in active and passive
sentences, but the verbs in group (ii) do not. Compare:
+ People have come to see organic food as something only the wealthy eat. (active)
corresponds to
+ Organic food has come to be seen as something only the wealthy eat. (passive)
+ Petra wanted to help me. (active) does not correspond to
+ I wanted to be helped by Petra. (passive)
Complete each sentence using one pair of verbs from the box. Use either was / were + past
participle + -ing or past simple + being + past participle.

avoid – take deny – involve leave – hold observe – hide face – expel find – wander
keep – wait remember – bite resent – give send – tumble

1. Inger was kept waiting for over three hours when she went for her dental appointment.
2. When the police first questioned him, Wayne _______ in the robbery.
3. I __________ the baby while Karen went to answer the door.
4. When I woke up in hospital, I _______ by the snake but nothing after that.
5. They ________ prisoner by pretending to be dead.
6. The man _________ a suspicious package under a seat in the train.
7. When the bike hit her, Ana ___________ to the ground.
8. Two teenagers yesterday ___________ from school after they were found with over a
hundred stolen mobile phones.
9. The man was taken to hospital when he _________ lost and alone in the forest.
10.Tarik had worked in the company for 30 years and he rather ___________ orders by
people who had been there only weeks.
Rewrite the sentences using one pair of words from the box. Use passive forms with past participle + -
ing, past participle + to-infinitive, or past simple + being + past participle.
ask – show catch – shoplifting expect – attract hear – argue hate – tease
mind – criticize observe – enter require – complete
1. They wanted us to show our passports at the border.
We were asked to show our passports at the border.
2. They could hear Emil and Laura shouting at each other next door.
Emil and Laura________________________
3. The other children made Ollie unhappy when they teased him.
Ollie ________________________
4. They saw the burglar getting into the museum through a window.
The burglar ________________________
5. They think that over 20,000 people will go to the pop concert.
The pop concert ________________________
6. They criticized her but she wasn't unhappy about it. She __________________
7. They said I had to fill in two copies of the customs declaration. I ______________
8. They caught Mrs. Dee taking things from the shop. Mrs. Dee ________________
 Make passive sentences beginning with the italicized word(s).

1. Kay's questions began to irritate Marco.

Marco began to be irritated by Kay’s questions. (Corresponding meaning)
2. The team captain hopes to select Omar.
3. Alastair arranged to take Kathy to the station.
4. Critics have come to recognise Galdos as one of Spain's
greatest novelists.
5. The south coast continues to attract holidaymakers.
6. Harris has agreed to interview the Finance Minister.
Do the sentences you have written have a corresponding meaning to the original,
or a different meaning? Look carefully at the tense in the sentences given.
Reporting with passives;
It is said that …
 it + passive verb + that-clause
Using this pattern allows us to put important information at the end of the sentence:
+ It is reported that the damage is extensive. ( compare ‘The damage is extensive, according to
government sources.’)
+ It was decided that the meeting should be cancelled, (or ‘It was decided to cancel the meeting.’)

Also: allege, announce, assume, believe, calculate, claim, consider, demonstrate,

discover, establish, estimate, expect, feel, find, know, mention, recommend, reveal,
say, show, suggest, suppose, think, understand; agree, decide, hope, intend, plan,
propose (can also be followed by a to-infinitive clause)
Many other verbs connected with reporting are not used with it + passive verb + that-clause,
but can be used in the next way:
+ We have been informed that we have to leave. (but not It has informed us ...)
These verbs need a personal object before the that-clause in an active form (e.g. They have
informed us that ...)
Also: : encourage, persuade, reassure, remind, tell, warn
An alternative to it + passive verb + that-clause is to use subject +
passive verb + to-infinitive if we want the subject to be the topic of
the sentence. Compare:
+ It’s reported that the damage is extensive.
+ The damage is reported to be extensive.
Most of the verbs listed in the first white box can also be used in this
pattern except for announce, decide, mention, propose, recommend,
suggest.
We can only use tell in this pattern when it means ‘order'. So we can say:
+ I was told (= ordered) to go with them to the railway station. But not
+ The accident was told (= said) to have happened just after midnight'.
 With some verbs we can also use it + passive verb + wh-clause to report information
given or found out:
+ It has now been revealed who was responsible for the accident.
+ The decision to build the bridge was taken before it was established whether it was
actually needed.

Also: discover, explain, find, know, reveal, show, understand

When a that-clause begins that + there ..., we can make a corresponding passive form
there + passive verb + to be / to have been. Compare:
+ It is thought (that) there are too many obstacles to peace.
+ There are thought to be too many obstacles to peace.

We can use the same verbs in this pattern as with subject + passive verb + to-infinitive
Which of the verbs in brackets can complete the
sentence? Choose one or both.
1. It was _____ to hold new negotiations next month, (agreed / announced)
2. It has been _____ that the crash was the result of pilot error, (proposed / shown)
3. It was ______ that Mrs. Ho would chair the meeting, (hoped / explained)
4. It has been ______ to appoint Dr Ahmadi as head teacher, (decided / suggested)
5. It has not yet been _____ who was responsible for the error, (claimed / explained)
6. It has now been ____ that half of cancer cases are lifestyle-related. (established / revealed)
7. It is ______ to employ 500 people in the factory, (expected / intended)
8. It is ______ to close the library permanently from next April, (planned / recommended)
9. It is ______ that another moon landing will take place next year, (assumed / thought)
10.It has been _____ how spiders are able to travel across the sea. (discovered / said)
If possible, rewrite these newspaper headlines as passive sentences with
it. If not, put ×.

Write two new sentences for each numbered sentence
below, using it + passive verb + that-clause in one
sentence and subject + passive verb + to-infinitive in the
other. (The second pattern may not always be possible.)
(1) We have discovered that a mechanical fault caused the
problem. (2) We don't think that the fault is serious. (3) We
expect that it will take several weeks to correct the fault.
(4) We have decided to postpone the next rocket launch,
and (5) we suggest that the next launch should take place
in May.

It has been discovered that a mechanical fault caused the problem.

A mechanical fault was discovered to have caused the problem.
Some extracts from radio news reports are given below. Rewrite them using passive forms in
which the italicized word is the subject of each clause. If that is italicized, use a passive
construction with it or there.
Examples: Picasso encouraged her to paint. —» She was encouraged to paint by Picasso.
People believe that the Prime Minister will resign tomorrow. —» It is believed that the Prime
Minister will resign tomorrow.

A. People are encouraging the Prime Minister to sack the Environment Minister, Maria Long, after someone
revealed that she had received payments from a major oil company. However, in a statement today, the
Prime Minister said: ‘My advisors tell me that the company paid Mrs. Long the money before she joined the
government. I have no intention of dismissing her.’
B. A tropical storm has caused severe flooding in the city of Chittagong in southern Bangladesh. Although we
understand that there are no casualties, the floods have made many thousands of people homeless, and
people estimate the damage to property as running into millions of dollars.
C. Protesters have continued to block the construction of the new ring road by tying themselves to trees along
the proposed route. Police say that they have given the protesters two days to leave the area or they will
arrest them.
D. Conservation groups have demanded that the government should close down the nuclear power station
after a report which said that investigators have found unacceptable levels of radiation in the local area.
E. The Commissioner of the Dublin police force has revealed that they have
received a death threat against the life of President Nabon, who is visiting the
capital this weekend. He says that they are taking the threat very seriously.
People expect that security levels will be increased during the President's visit.
F. Someone found a man injured on a Scottish hillside this morning. People think
that he fell while coming down a hillside in bad weather. Medical staff are
treating him in hospital for leg and head injuries. Someone reported him
missing last night when he failed to return home after a day's walking.
G. And now football. People expect that there will be a record crowd at tonight's
match between Barcelona and Real Madrid. People report that the club will
give the Barcelona players a huge financial bonus if they win and people have
even suggested that the club might pay them as much as €50,000 each.