PASSIVE VOICE
Exercises on Passive Use of Passive Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action. Example: My bike was stolen. In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it. Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made. In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.). Form of Passive Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs) Example: A letter was written. When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped) Examples of Passive Tense
Subject
Simple Present Active: Passive : Simple Past
Active: Passive :
Present Perfect Active: Passive : Future I
Active: Passive :
Hilfsverben
Active: Passive :
Verb
Object
writes
a letter.
is written
by Rita.
wrote
a letter.
A letter
was written
by Rita.
Rita
has written
a letter.
has been written
by Rita.
will write
a letter.
will be written
by Rita.
can write
a letter.
can be written
by Rita.
Rita A letter Rita
A letter Rita A letter Rita A letter
Examples of Passive Tense
Present
Subject
Active:
Verb
Rita
is writing
Object a letter.
Passive :
Progressive
A letter
Past Progressive Active:
Rita
Passive : Past Perfect
A letter
Active:
Rita
Passive : Future II
A letter
Active:
Rita
Passive : Conditional I
A letter
Active:
Rita
Passive : Conditional II
A letter
Active:
Rita
Passive :
is being written
by Rita.
was writing
a letter.
was being written
by Rita.
had written
a letter.
had been written
by Rita.
will have written
a letter.
will have been written
by Rita.
would write
a letter.
would be written
by Rita.
would have written
a letter.
A letter would have been written by Rita.
Passive Sentences with Two Objects Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on. Subject
Active:
Rita
Verb
Object 1
Object 2
wrote
a letter
to me.
Passive:
A letter
was written
to me
by Rita.
Passive:
I
was written
a letter
by Rita.
. As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped. Personal and Impersonal Passive Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built. Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive. Example: he says – it is said Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know). Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men. Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common. Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men. The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped). Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence. 1) Personal Passive When we put an object of an active sentence into passive, it becomes subject of the passive sentence. Active voice: The professor explained the students the exercise. The professor explained the exercise to the students. Passive voice: The students were explained the exercise. The exercise was explained to the students. We sometimes use a pronoun for "the students" or "the exercise" in its subject form (here: they/it). Passive voice: They were explained the exercise. It was explained to the students. We very often leave out the by-agent in the passive sentence (here: by the professor).
2) Impersonal Passive - It is said ... The phrase It is said ... is an impersonal passive construction. We often use it in news. Passive sentence - version 1: It is said that children are afraid of ghosts. Passive sentence - version 2: Children are said to be afraid of ghosts. The correct active sentence would be: Active sentence: People say that children are afraid of ghosts. EXERCISES Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. 1.
John collects money. -
2.
Anna opened the window. -
3.
We have done our homework. -
4.
I will ask a question. -
5.
He can cut out the picture. -
6.
The sheep ate a lot. -
7.
We do not clean our rooms. -
8.
William will not repair the car. -
9.
Did Sue draw this circle? -
10.
Could you feed the dog? -
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. 1.
I can answer the question. -
2.
She would carry the box. -
3.
You should open the window. -
4.
We might play cards. -
5.
You ought to wash the car. -
6.
He must fill in the form. -
7.
They need not buy bread. -
8.
He could not read the sentence. -
9.
Will the teacher test our English? -
10.
Could Jenny lock the door? Rewrite the passive sentences using the words in bold as a subject of the passive sentence. Rachel will give you some advice.
1. →
I sent him a letter.
2. →
The police officer showed us the way.
3. →
Our neighbour gave me a lift.
4. →
We have asked him a favour.
5. →
She told me a lie.
6. →
They have written her a postcard.
7. →
Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.
8. →
The waiter has not brought us the coffee.
9. →
They did not offer her a seat.
10. →
Now using the verbs of perception build up passive sentences. 11. People know that she is a good swimmer. → 12. They say that Francis is in hospital. → 13. They think that the children are in bed. → 14. People believe that the robber has worked in the bank. → 15. People believe that nuclear power stations are dangerous. → 16. His collegues thought that he was on holiday. →
17. People know that cars pollute the environment. → 18. They suppose that the new product will come out soon. → 19. They found that the mission was impossible. → 20. They believe that she will win a gold medal. Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. 1.
Frank will have ordered the drinks. -
2.
You will have spent all the money. -
3.
I will have taken the dog for a walk. -
4.
She will have sold the car. -
5.
They will have solved the problem. -
6.
She will not have read the book. -
7.
They will not have trusted him. -
8.
He won't have rung Barbara. -
9.
Will they have paid the bill? -
10.
Will you have washed my socks? -
The drinks
Exercise on Passive Voice - Conditional I Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. 1.
Jenny would congratulate you. -
2.
We would pick you up. -
3.
She would order a pizza. -
4.
He would build a new house. -
5.
They would take the opportunity. -
6.
You would not recognize Jim. -
7.
I would not do that kind of job. -
8.
Would they decorate the room? -
9.
Would the DJ play this song? -
10.
Would Simon open the window? -
You w ould
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice. You w ould
1.
They would have told you. -
2.
We would have spoken English. -
3.
Mario would have bought a paper. -
4.
She would have called the police. -
5.
We would have painted the walls green. -
6.
She would not have noticed the mistake. -
7.
I would not have given this book away. -
8.
Would my mum have packed the bag? -
9.
Would you have accepted that offer? -
10.
Would they have given the right answer? -
PASSIVES WITH BY PHRASES The agent is the person or thing that does or causes the action. In passive sentences we don’t usually mention the agent. We can include the agent in a by phrase after the verb when the meaning is not complete without it : 1) Hamlet was written by Shakespeare. or for emphasis or contrast.: 2) Was the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo Da Vinci or Michelangelo? We don’t usually include nouns or pronouns with general meaning such as people in a byphrase: 3) Equipment is stored in the basement. – People store the equipment in the basement. We can use a by-phrase for information about cases: 4) The girl was bitten by a snake. 5) Flu was caused by a virus. and the method of doing something: 6) The temperature can be controlled by adjusting the thermotast. We use a with- phrase for the thing used to perform an action 7) The box was locked with a gold key. After verbs like cover or decorate used in the passive for description purposes: 8) The Christmas tree was covered with ornaments. EXERCISES
Exercise 1 Complete the sentences with appropriate forms of the verbs plus by or with. CONSIDER ESTABLISH EXPERIENCE FILL PERFORM NOT WRITE 1. Shakespeare was born in 1564 and ……………………. many the greatest English writer. 2. His early reputation …………………..writing and appearing in his own plays. 3. His plays ………………………… interesting characters and memorable speeches. 4. Today at the new Globe Theater, the plays ………………….in conditions similar to those which ………………………audiences in Shakespeare’s time. 5. Some people have claimed that many of the plays ……………………………. Shakespeare.
Exercise 2 Underline the correct word in each sentence : a) The busy shopping street was thronged by / with people. b) The emergency exut was concealed a by/from a red curtainc) The price of excursions is included in/with the cost of the holiday. d) All through January the fields were covered by /from snow e) The room was crammed with/by furniture of all descriptions. f) Two of the climbers were injured by/from falling rocks. g) The island is inhabited by/from people of mainly Chinese origin. h) The bank was quickly surrounded from/with armed police. i) The window has been smashed from/with a hammer taken from the shed.