Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 10

ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

THE PASSIVE VOICE


INTRODUCTION
The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active verb
and adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes the ‘agent’ of the
passive verb. The agent is very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by and placed
at the end of the clause.
Active: My grandfather planted this tree.
Passive: This tree was planted by my grandfather.

PASSIVE VERB TENSES


ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
Present Simple He delivers the letters. The letters are delivered.
Past Simple He delivered the letters. The letters were delivered.
Future Simple He will deliver the letters. The letters will be delivered.
Present Continuous He is delivering the letters. The letters are being delivered.
Past Continuous He was delivering the letters. The letters were being delivered.
Going to He is going to deliver the letters. The letters are going to be delivered.
Present Perfect He has delivered the letters. The letters have been delivered.
Past Perfect He had delivered the letters. The letters had been delivered.
Infinitive He has to deliver the letters. The letters have to be delivered.
Modals He must deliver the letters. The letters must be delivered.

1 SIMPLE CONTINUOUS PERFECT

+ S + am/is/are + Ptp S + am/is/are + being + Ptp S + have/has + been + Ptp

PRESENT - S + am/is/are + not + Ptp S + am/is/are + not +being + Ptp S + have/has + not + been + Ptp

? Am/Is/Are + S + Ptp ? Am/Is/Are) + S + being + Ptp ? Have/Has) + S + been + Ptp ?

+ S + was/were + Ptp S + was/were + being + Ptp S + had + been + Ptp

PAST - S + was/were + not + Ptp S + was/were + not + being + Ptp S + had + not + been + Ptp

? Was/Were + S +PtpV ? Was/Were + S + being + Ptp? Had + S + been + Ptp

+ S + will + be + Ptp

FUTURE - S + will + not + be + Ptp

? Will + S + be + Ptp ?

+ S + V to be (am/is/are) + going to +
be + Ptp
GOING TO - S + V to be (am/is/are) + not + going
to + be + Ptp
? V to be (am/is/are) + S + going to +
be + Ptp ?
Short answers
To make short answers:
 we use the verb to be (am/is/are/was/were) for Present Simple, Past Simple, Present
Continuous, Past Continuous and Going To questions.
 we use the verb have (have/has/had) for Present Perfect and Past Perfect questions.
 we use will for Future Simple questions.

USE
The Passive is used:
1. when the agent (=the person who does the action) is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the
context.
Jane was shot. (We don’t know who shot her.)
This church was built in 1815. (Unimportant agent)
He has been arrested. (Obviously by the police)
2. to make more polite or formal statements.
The car hasn’t been cleaned. (more polite)
(You haven’t cleaned the car. – less polite)
3. when the action is more important than the agent, as in processes, instructions, events, reports,
headlines, new items, and advertisements.
30 people were killed in the earthquake.
4. to put emphasis on the agent.
The new library will be opened by the Queen.

AGENT
2 To say who did the action that we are talking about, ie. to refer to the agent, we use the preposition by
and the name (by Peter) , noun (by the teacher) or pronoun (by him) at the end of the sentence.
We usually only refer to the agent when it gives us some important information which otherwise would be
missing from the sentence.
Our house was designed by a famous architect.
We don’t mention the agent:
1. if we don’t know who has done what we are talking about.
Our car was stolen last night. (We don’t know who stole it)
2. if we are not interested in who has done what we are talking about or it is not important to
mention it.
He has been taken to hospital. (What we are interested in is the fact that he has been taken
to hospital and not who has taken him.)
3. if it is easy to understand who did something without it being mentioned.
The murderer was arrested last night. (It is not necessary to mention that he has been
arrested by the police because it is self-evident.)
4. if the subject of the active voice sentence is something like somebody, people, they, you, etc.
Someone broke the window. → The window was broken.

ACTIVE TO PASSIVE
To change a sentence from the active voice to the passive voice:
 the object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice sentence.
Agatha Christie wrote this book.
This book was written by Agatha Christie.
 we change the main verb of the active voice sentence into the passive voice. The tense remains
unchanged.
 the subject of the active voice sentence becomes the agent of the passive sentence. It is placed
after the past participle and it is preceded by the preposition by.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

Agatha Christie wrote this book.


This book was written by Agatha Christie.

Leslie took this photograph yesterday.


SUBJECT ACTIVE VERB OBJECT TIME COMPLEMENT

This photograph was taken by Leslie yesterday.


SUBJECT PASSIVE VERB AGENT TIME COMPLEMENT

BY OR WITH?
In the passive voice, we use:
 by with the agent to refer to by whom the action is being done.
The door was opened by Mr Black. (Mr Blak = agent)
 with to refer to the instrument, object or material that was used for something to be done.
The door was opened with a key. (a key = the object that was used)
The omelette was made with eggs, cheese and peppers. (eggs, cheese and peppers = the
material that was used)

DOUBLE OBJECT VERBS


When we have verbs that take two objects like, for example, give somebody something, we can convert
the active sentence into a passive one in two ways:
a. by making the indirect (animate) object the subject of the passive voice sentence, which is also the
way that we usually prefer.
b. By making the direct (inanimate) object the subject of the passive voice.
Rick gave me (indirect object) this book (direct object).
I was given this book by Rick.
3 This book was given to me by Rick.
Some of the verbs that take two objects are: give, tell, send, show, bring, write, offer, pay, etc.
When the indirect object is alone after the verb in the passive voice sentence, it needs the preposition to.
If the indirect object of the active voice sentence is a personal pronoun it has to be changed into a subject
pronoun to be the subject of the passive voice sentence.

SUBJECT OBJECT
I ←→ me SUBJECT OBJECT
You ←→ you We ←→ us
He ←→ him You ←→ you
She ←→ her They ←→ them
It ←→ it

BIBLIOGRAPHY
- A. J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University Press, 1986
- V. Evans, Round-Up (English Grammar Practice), Longman, 1995
- M. Carling and S. Jervis, Grammar Time 4, Longman, 2003
- S. Jervis, Grammar Time 5, Longman, 2003
- M. Carling, Grammar Time 6, Longman, 2003
EXERCISES
1. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Present
Simple.
a. English ____________________
is spoken (speak) in many countries.
b. The post ______________________
is delivered (deliver) at about 7 o’clock every morning.
c. ______________________________
Is the building used (the building/use) any more?
d. How often ______________________________
is the Olympic Games held? (the Olympic Games(hold)?
e. How _______________________
is your name spelled? (your name/spell)?
f. My salary _____________________
is paid (pay) every month.
g. These cars _________________________
are not made (not make) in Japan.
h. The name of the people who committed the crime _____________________
are not known (not know).
i. His travel expenses ________________________
are not paid (not pay) by his company.

2. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple.
a. My car ______________________
was repaired (repair) last week.
b. This song ________________________
was not written (not write) by John Lennon.
c. ________________________________
Was the phone answered (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
d. The film ________________________
was made (make) ten years ago.
e. When ______________________________
was tennis invented (tennis/invent)?
f. The car ________________________
was not damaged (not damaged) in the accident.
g. The original building _________________________
was pulled (pull) down in 1965.
h. Where ______________________________
was this pot made (this pot/make)?
i. When _______________________________
was this bride built (this bridge/build)?
4
3. Choose the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
FIAT
Fiat 0 was started (started/was started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899. In 1903, Fiat,
1
_________________
produced (produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of these cars
2
_____________________
were exported (exported/were exported) by the company to the United States and Britain.
In 1920, Fiat 3_________________
started (started/was started) making cars at a new factory at Lingotto, near
Turin. There was a track on the roof where the cars 4____________________
were tested (tested/were tested) by
5
technicians. In 1936, Fiat launched the Fiat 500. This car ____________________
was called (called/was called)
the Topolino – the Italian name for Mickey Mouse. The company grew, and in 1963 Fiat
6
_____________________
exported (exported/was exported) more than 300,000 vehicles. Today, Fiat is based in
7
Turin, and its cars _________________
are sold (sold/are sold) all over the world.

4. Change the following sentences into passive sentences using the words in brackets.
a. We sell tickets for all shows at the Box Office. (Tickets for all shows/sell/at the Box Office)
_________________________________________________________________________________
Tickets for all shows are sold at the Box Office.
b. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. (The electric light bulb/invent/by Thomas Edison)
_________________________________________________________________________________
The electric light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison.
c. Someone painted the office last week. (The office/paint/last week)
_________________________________________________________________________________
The office was painted last week.
d. Several people saw the accident. (The accident/see/by several people)
_________________________________________________________________________________
The accident was seen by several people.
e. Where do they make these video recorders? (Where/these video recorders/make)
Where are these video recorders made?
_________________________________________________________________________________
ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

5. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.


a. Someone built this house 200 years ago.
This house was built 200 years ago.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. A thief stole my purse.
My purse was stolen.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. The police will arrest the robbers.
The robbers will be arrested.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. They produce cars in this factory.
This factory is produced cars.
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. They serve breakfast at eight o’clock every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Breakfast is served at eight o'clock every day.
f. People throw away tones of rubbish every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Tones of rubbish were thrown every day.
g. They make coffee in Brazil.
Coffee is made in Brazil.
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. Someone stole Jim’s bike lat night.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Jim's bike was stolen last night.

6. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.


a. They will build a new bridge next year.
A new bridge will be built next year.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.
The Ultimate Space Adventure was directed by Brain Brody.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. Pierre Matie will design her costume.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Her costume will be designed by Pierre Matie.
d. Someone found my wallet.
5
_________________________________________________________________________________
My wallet was found.
e. One of the students broke the window.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The window was broken.
f. They will deliver my computer on Monday.
My computer will be delivered on Monday.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Paul was invited to her birthday party by Mary.
h. British astronomers discovered a new planet.
_________________________________________________________________________________
A new planet was discovered by British astronomers.

7. Form the question.


a. Paper is made from wood. Is paper made from wood ?
b. The telephone was invented by Mr Bell. Was the telephone invented by Mr Bell
___________________________________________?
c. This picture was painted by Peter. ___________________________________________?
Was this picture painted by Peter?
d. The thieves will be arrested by the police. ___________________________________________?
Will be the thieves arrested by the police
e. Champagne is made in France. ___________________________________________?
Is champagne made in France
f. The letters will be sent next week. ___________________________________________?
Will be the letters sent next week?
g. The animals are fed three times a day. ___________________________________________?
Are the animals fed three times a day
h. This article was written by Stanley. ___________________________________________?
Was this article written by Stanley
i. CDs are made of plastic. Are CDs made of plastic
___________________________________________?
j. The party was organised by Paul. Was the party organised by Paul
___________________________________________?

8. Read and complete. Use Past Simple.


a. The toothbrush / invent / in the 15th century.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The toothbrush was invented in the 15th century.
b. The first public basketball game / play / in 1892.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The first public basketball game was played in 1892.
c. The first eyeglasses / wear / in the 1200s.
The first eyeglasses were worn in the 1200s.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. The first bicycle / ride in 1791.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The first bicycle was ridden in 1791.
e. The first hot dog / eat / in the 1860s.
The first hot dog was eaten in the 1860s.
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. The first CDs / sell / in the 1980s.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The first CDs was sold in the 1980s.
g. The first electric guitar / play / in 1923.
The first electric guitar was played in 1923.
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. The first computer mouse / use / 1964.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The first computer mouse was used in 1964.

6 9. Complete with the passive. Use Present Simple.


a. This programme _______________________
is watched (watch) by millions of people.
b. Paper __________________________
is made (make) from wood.
c. Hundreds of people _______________________
are killed (kill) in accidents every year.
d. London __________________________
is visited (visit) by thousands of tourists every year.
e. The biology class _________________________
is taught (teach) by Mr Green.
f. English _____________________
is spoken (speak) all over the world.
g. Lunch _____________________
is served (serve) at twelve o’clock.
h. Books _____________________
are written (write) by authors.

10. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple Passive.


Two men _________________________
were seen (see) breaking into a house in my street last night. The police
_____________________
was called (call) and they arrived very quickly. One man _____________________
was caught
(catch) immediately. The other escaped, but he ______________________
was found (find) very soon. Both men
_____________________
were taken (take) to the police station where they _________________________
were questioned
(question) separately by a police officer. The two men ________________________
were charged (charge) with
burglary.

11. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.


Somebody has stolen a bus from outside the school. Some children saw the thief. The police are
searching for the bus now. They will use the children’s descriptions to catch the thief.
____________________________________________________________________________________
A bus has been stolen by somebody outside the school. The thief was seen by some children.
The bus is being searched. Children's descriptions will be used to catch the thief.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

12. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.


Some people saw a UFO in the sky above London last night. They reported it to the police. The army
sent a helicopter to look at it more closer. The UFO shot the helicopter down and killed both men in it.
People have given photographs of the UFO to the police. Experts are looking at them now.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
A UFO was seen by some people in the sky above London last night. The police were reported. A helicopter
____________________________________________________________________________________
was sent by the army to look at it closer. The helicopter was down shot by UFO and killed both men in it.
Photographs of UFOs have been given to the police by people. They are being looked.
____________________________________________________________________________________

13. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.


Someone broke into a local jewellery shop yesterday. The owner had just locked up the shop when a
robber with a gun threatened him. The robber told him to unlock the shop and give him all the
diamonds in the safe. Then the robber tied him up. The police have organized a search for the robber.
They hope they will find him in a few days. Doctors are treating the owner of the shop for shock.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
A local jewelry shop was broken yesterday. The shop had been locked when a robber with a gun threatened him.
The robber told the shop will be unlocked by him and give him all the diamonds in the safe. Then the robber tied
____________________________________________________________________________________
him up. A search has been organized for the robber. They hope they will find him in a few days. The owner of the
____________________________________________________________________________________
shop is being threatened with shock.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

14. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.


My uncle painted this picture. Someone has offered him a lot of money for it. He will deliver the
painting tomorrow. When they give him the money, he will tell them the truth. He painted it one night
while he was sleepwalking!
____________________________________________________________________________________
7 ____________________________________________________________________________________
The picture was painted by my uncle. A lot of money has been offered to him. The painting will be
delivered by tomorrow. When the money is given, the truth will be told to them. One night it was
____________________________________________________________________________________
painted while he was sleepwalking!
____________________________________________________________________________________

15. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.


Our school is organizing a contest. The teachers will choose the best project about the environment.
The students must include pictures and drawings in their projects. The students will also have to do all
the writing themselves. The school will give the winner a set of encyclopaedias.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
A contest is being organized by our school. The best project will be chosen about the environment. Their projects
must be included pictures and drawings. The writing will also have to be written by themselves. A set of
____________________________________________________________________________________
encyclopedias will be given to the winner.
____________________________________________________________________________________

16. Turn from Active to Passive in two ways.


a. He gave me a present. ______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
A present was given to me.
b. The waiter will bring us the bill. _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
The bill will be brought to us.
c. Her mother bought Mary some sweets. _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Some sweets were bought for Mary.
d. Bob has sold Ted a second-hand car. ___________________________________________________
A second-hand car has been sold to Ted by Bob.
_________________________________________________________________________________
A letter is going to be sent to Tom by Larry.
e. Larry is going to send a letter to Tom. __________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

17. Turn from Active to Passive.


a. Someone is helping her with the housework.
The housework is being helped for her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. The mail-order company sent Mrs Green a parcel.
A_________________________________________________________________________________
parcel was sent to Mrs. Green by the mail-order company.
c. My friend sent me an invitation.
An invitation was sent to me.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. The secretary has given Mrs Jones some letters.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Some letters have been given to Mrs. Jones.
e. The traffic warden had already given him a ticket for illegal parking.
_________________________________________________________________________________
A ticket for illegal parking had been given to him.
f. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
_________________________________________________________________________________
That beautiful ring was given to Elizabeth by John.
g. Her students have sent her flowers.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The flowers have been sent to her.
h. He must give the message to the right person.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The message must be given to the right person.
i. We teach our students English and French.
_________________________________________________________________________________
English and French are taught to our students.

8 j. Someone bought flowers for the bride.


Flowers were bought for the bride.
_________________________________________________________________________________
k. They showed the tourists the sights of Athens.
The sights of Athens were shown to the tourists.
_________________________________________________________________________________
l. They pay her an excellent salary.
An excellent salary is paid to her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
m. They paid the artist £1,000 for his painting.
_________________________________________________________________________________
£1,000 was paid to the artist for his painting.

18. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.


1. They sell oysters in the shop next door.
Oysters are sold in the shop next door.
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. They haven’t delivered the food yet.
The food has not been delivered yet.
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Shakespeare wrote King Lear.
King Lear was written by Shakespeare.
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. They have to answer the questions on this sheet.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The questions have to be answered on this sheet.
5. Has anybody put the cases upstairs?
_________________________________________________________________________________
Have the cases been put upstairs?
6. Someone should take this rubbish away.
This rubbish should be taken away.
_________________________________________________________________________________
7. They’ll ask you a lot of questions.
_________________________________________________________________________________
A lot of questions will be asked.
8. Someone’s going to send her some flowers.
Some flowers are going to be sent to her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

9. They didn’t pay me much for that job.


_________________________________________________________________________________
That job was not paid me much.
10. Have they offered him a better job?
Has a better job been offered to him?
_________________________________________________________________________________
11. They told us a secret.
A secret was told to us.
_________________________________________________________________________________
12. Would they lend me their car?
_________________________________________________________________________________
Would be their car lent to me?
13. People should send their complaints to the head office.
Their complaints should be sent to the head office.
_________________________________________________________________________________
14. They had to postpone the meeting because of illness.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The meeting had to be postponed because of illness.
15. They are going to hold next year’s congress in San Francisco.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Next year's congress in San Francisco is going to be held.
16. The bill includes service.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Service is included in the bill.
17. People don’t use this road very often.
This road was not used very often.
_________________________________________________________________________________
18. They cancelled all the flights because of fog.
All the flights were canceled because of fog.
_________________________________________________________________________________
19. Somebody accused me of stealing the money.
The money is being stolen and accused by somebody
_________________________________________________________________________________
20. They are building a new ring-road round the city.
A new ring-road round the city is being built.
_________________________________________________________________________________
21. I didn’t realize that someone was recording our conversation.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Our conversation was recorded when I was not realized
22. They have changed the date of the meeting.
9 The date of the meeting has been changed.
_________________________________________________________________________________
23. Brian told me that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street.
_________________________________________________________________________________
24. You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Brain told me that he had been attacked and robbed in the street.
25. Somebody had cleaned my shoes and brushed my suit.
My shoes had been cleaned and my suit was brushed.
_________________________________________________________________________________
26. We use this room only on special occasions.
This room is only used on special occasions.
_________________________________________________________________________________
27. In some districts farmers use pigs to find truffles.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Truffles were found with used pigs by some district farmers.
28. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
_________________________________________________________________________________
That beautiful ring was given to Elizabeth by John.
29. They have offered Sarah a very good job.
A very good job has been offered to Sarah.
_________________________________________________________________________________
30. The estate agent showed the house to the young people.
The house was shown to the young people by the estate agent.
_________________________________________________________________________________
31. We will pay the gardener a lot of money.
_________________________________________________________________________________
A lot of money will be paid to the gardener.
32. Someone is going to repair the roof next week.
The roof is going to be repaired next week.
_________________________________________________________________________________
33. They can’t find Joanna.
Joanna can not be found.
_________________________________________________________________________________
34. They should decorate the room with flowers.
The room with flowers should be decorated.
_________________________________________________________________________________
35. Archaeologists have discovered an ancient temple.
An ancient temple has been discovered by Archaeologist.
_________________________________________________________________________________
36. We will put all these things into boxes.
All these things will be put into boxes.
_________________________________________________________________________________
37. The firefighters rescued the teenagers from the burning building.
The teenagers were rescued from the burning building by the firefighters.
_________________________________________________________________________________
38. The youngest student in the class has written the best composition.
The best composition has been written by the youngest student in the class.
_________________________________________________________________________________
39. The children send me messages every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Messages are sent to me everyday.
40. The villagers gave the travellers food and water.
Food and water were given to the travelers by the villagers.
_________________________________________________________________________________
41. A very talented young girl wrote the story.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The story was written by a very talented young girl.
42. They are going to finish the new road in a few days.
The new road is going to be finished in a few days.
_________________________________________________________________________________
43. They cancelled the match because of the rain.
The match was canceled because of the rain.
_________________________________________________________________________________
44. You must not cross this line.
This line must not be crossed.
_________________________________________________________________________________
45. They had picked the oranges before the storm.
10 The oranges had been picked before the storm.
_________________________________________________________________________________
46. Professor Smith should write the book.
The book should be written by Professor Smith.
_________________________________________________________________________________
47. Mr Elliot will pay the workers.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The workers will be paid by Mr. Elliot.
48. Two men were following Tom.
Tom was being followed by two men.
_________________________________________________________________________________
49. Millions of people use the Internet every day.
The internet is used every day by millions of people.
_________________________________________________________________________________
50. They gave Bob a CD player for his birthday.
A CD player was given to Bob for his birthday.
_________________________________________________________________________________
51. The prime minister will give a medal to the winners.
A medal will be given to the winners by the prime minister.
_________________________________________________________________________________
52. She is telling the children a story.
A story is being told to the children by her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
53. They’ve offered Sally a job.
A job has been offered to Sally.
_________________________________________________________________________________
54. Poisonous chemicals have polluted the river.
The river has been polluted with poisonous chemicals.
_________________________________________________________________________________
55. Doctor Simms is examining her.
She is being examed by doctor Simms.
_________________________________________________________________________________
56. You must stop him now.
He must be stopped now.
_________________________________________________________________________________
57. Someone gave them free tickets for the concert.
Free tickets for the concert were given to them.
_________________________________________________________________________________

You might also like