THE PASSIVE – Exercises
1. Complete the missing information to write passive sentences with the information provided.
Our car / service / a mechanic / at the moment. A man / shoot / an air gun / outside the petrol station last night. Gunpowder / invent / the Chinese. At the surgery yesterday, I / examine / Dr Peterson / and I / give / a prescription. I went to see it because I / tell / it was a good film / all my friends. This photograph / take / my grandfather. It looked like the window / break / a hammer / sometime before. Our dog / give / an injection / a special syringe / the vet. The winning goal in last night’s match / score / Donatello / a brilliant free kick. Your cheque / send / last Friday and / should / deliver / to you tomorrow.
2. Rewrite in the passive starting with the words given.
People say that Bali is a beautiful island. It… People generally think that life won’t be found on Mars. It… It is generally said that Christmas is too commercialised. Christmas… People often argue that prison doesn’t work. It… People have suggested that the school should start to produce a magazine. It… People say that crocodile tastes like squid. Crocodile… It is said that the Vikings discovered America before Columbus. The Vikings… People think that heart disease is caused by eating the wrong things. Heart disease…
3. Rewrite these sentences using a causative sentence.
The mechanic changed the oil in my car. The hairdresser cut my hair in a completely different style. A decorator has repainted our house. A friend of mine, who´s an electrician, is going to repair my DVD player next week. My jacket is being cleaned at a specialist cleaner´s. The town hall has just been rebuilt for the council.
4. Write a passive sentence using the words given.
Someone has scratched my car on the door! (been) Tommy is having an operation right now. (being) Has Fiona invited you to her party? (been) Shakespeare probably wrote this play in 1587. (written) The government is considering a new law to ban smoking following new research. (considered) My mum told me to go to Megagrocers. (sent) The examiner tells candidates the regulations at the beginning of the exam. (told) Did we send that letter to Mr Thomas? (was) We haven't arranged a date for the wedding yet. (been) They will have given him the news by now. (told) The police have cancelled the demonstration. (has)
THE PASSIVE – Key 1. Our car is being served (by a mechanic) at the moment. A man was shot with a gun outside the petrol station last night. Gunpowder was invented by the Chinese. I was examined by Dr Peterson and (I was) given a prescription at the surgery yesterday. I went to see it because I had been told it was a good film by all my friends. This photograph was taken by my grandfather. It looked like the window had been broken with a hammer some time before. Our dog was given an injection with a special syringe by the vet. The winning goal in last night’s match was scored by Donatello with a brilliant free kick. Your cheque was sent last Friday and should be delivered to you tomorrow. 2. It is said that Bali is a beautiful island. It is generally thought that life won’t be found on Mars. Christmas is generally said to be too commercialised. It is often argued that prison doesn’t work. It has been suggested that the school start to produce a magazine. Crocodile is said to taste like squid. The Vikings are said to have discovered America before Columbus. Heart disease is thought to be caused by eating the wrong things. 3. I had the oil in my car changed. I had my hair cut in a completely new style. We have had our house repainted. I’m going to have my DVD player repaired by a friend of mine, who’s an electrician, next week. I’m having my jacket cleaned at a specialist cleaner’s. The council have just had the town hall rebuilt. 4. My car has been scratched on the door! Tommy is being operated on right now. Have you been invited to Fiona’s party? This play was probably written by Shakespeare in 1587. A new law to ban smoking is being considered following new research. I was sent to Megagrocers by my mum. The candidates are told the regulations at the beginning of the exam. Was that letter sent to Mr Thomas? A date hasn’t been arranged for the wedding yet. He will have been told the news by now. The demonstration has been cancelled by the police.