PASSIVE VOICE

I Read the text and underline all the passive verb forms. Then write them in
the columns below.

Things go better with Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is enjoyed all over the world. 1.6 billion gallons are sold every
year, in over one hundred and sixty countries. The drink was invented by Dr John
Pemberton in Atlanta, on 8 May 1886, but it was given the name Coca-Cola by
his partner, Frank Robinson. In the first year, only nine drinks a day were sold.
The business was bought by a man called Asa Candler in 1888, and the
first factory was opened in Dallas, Texas, in 1895. Coca-Cola is still made there.
Billions of bottles and cans have been produced since 1895.
Diet Coke has been made since 1982, and over the years many clever
advertisements have been used to sell the product. It is certain that Coca-Cola
will be drunk far into the twenty-first century.

Present Simple Past Simple Present Perfect Future Passive

Passive Passive Passive
II Underline the correct form of active or passive in the following
sentences.

1. Portuguese speaks / is spoken in Brazil.

2. That’s the third time he has failed / has been failed the exam.
3. “The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” wrote / was written by Alexander McCall
Smith.
4. A lot of trees cut down / were cut down to build that house.
5. They don’t grow / aren’t grown bananas in Scotland.
6. Some pictures have taken / have been taken from the museum.
7. I have been working / have been worked here for 12 years.
8. Paper makes / is made from wood.
9. The house sold / was sold last October.
10. She will inform / will be informed by the assistant if she gets the job.

III Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense, active or passive, to fit the
meaning of the text.

Nylon – The first man-made fibre

Nylon (a) _______________ (invent) in the early 1930s by an American

chemist, Julian Hill. Other scientists (b) _______________ (work) with his
invention and finally on 27 October 1938, Nylon (c) _______________
(introduce) to the world. It was cheap and strong and immediately (d)
_______________ (become) successful, especially in the making of ladies’
stockings.
During the Second World War, the best present for many women was a
pair of nylon stockings, but more importantly, it (e) _______________ (use) to
make parachutes and tyres.
Today, nylon (f) _______________ (find) in many things: carpets, ropes,
seat belts, furniture, computers. It (g) _______________ (play) an important part
in our lives for over 50 years. Next year about 36 million tons of it (h)
_______________ (manufacture).

IV Change the following sentences, active to passive or passive to active.

Active Passive
a) They make VW cars in Germany. VW cars __________ in Germany.
b) They __________ rice in China. Rice is grown in China.
c) Bell invented the telephone in The telephone __________ by Bell
1876. in 1876.
d) Thieves __________ two pictures Two pictures were stolen from the
from the museum last night. museum last night.
e) They have built three new Three new factories __________ this
factories this year. year.
f) They __________ the picture for The picture has been sold for
3,000$. 3,000$.
g) The factory will produce 10,000 10,000 cars __________ next year.
cars next year.
h) __________ they __________ Were many cars made last year?
many cars last year?
i) Bell didn’t invent television. The television __________ by Bell.

V Complete each sentence with a passive verb.

1. Barcelona won the cup last year.

Last year the cup _______________ by Barcelona.

2. Somebody will meet you at the airport.

You _______________ at the airport.

3. A burglar stole my computer.

My computer _______________ by a burglar.
4. Students write most of this magazine.
Most of this magazine _______________ by students.

5. They have closed the theatre.

The theatre _______________.

6. They are rebuilding the bridge.

The bridge _______________.

7. They have elected a new president.

A new president _______________.

8. They will finish our house at the end of September.

Our house _______________ at the end of September.

9. Millions of people watch this programme.

This programme _______________ by millions of people.

10. The police questioned John.

John _______________ by the police.

VI Underline phrases which are not necessary in some of these sentences.

1. Yesterday a window was broken by someone.

2. Three men have been arrested by the police.
3. Two letters were delivered this morning by the postman.
4. We were shown round the museum by a guide.
5. The meal was served by a waiter in a red coat.
6. John was operated on at the hospital by a doctor.
7. We were taught by a different teacher yesterday.
8. My wallet has been stolen by someone.
VII Rewrite each sentence beginning with the words given.

1. Two million people use the London Underground system every day.
The London Underground system …………………………………………………
2. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Penicillin ………………………………………………………………………………
3. They are building a new museum in the city centre.
A new museum ………………………………………………………………………
4. Our company sells more than a thousand cars every week.
More than a thousand cars …………………………………………………………
5. The police in New York have arrested three terrorists.
Three terrorists ………………………………………………………………………
6. They are redecorating our school during the summer holidays.
Our school ……………………………………………………………………………
7. They will announce the results of the competition tomorrow.
The results ……………………………………………………………………………
8. One of the most famous painters in the world painted this portrait.
This portrait …………………………………………………………………………...
9. The president will open the new sports stadium on Saturday.
The new sports stadium …………………………………………………………….
10. Archaeologists have discovered a new tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
A new tomb……………………………………………………………………………

VIII Make these active sentences passive.

1. Do they still build ships in Scotland?

Are __________________________________________________________

2. The Chinese invented printing.

Printing _______________________________________________________
3. Do you think aliens will ever visit Earth?
Do you think Earth ______________________________________________

4. You mustn’t take photographs in the museum.

Photographs ___________________________________________________

5. They have recently discovered oil near the Falkland Islands.

Oil ___________________________________________________________

6. They’re planning a big celebration to mark the end of the millennium.

A big celebration ________________________________________________

7. The police think that someone might have murdered him.

The police think he ______________________________________________

8. They didn’t know the bones were human until they had carried out a number
of tests.
They didn’t know the bones were human until a number of tests __________

9. In some countries they are going to make soft drugs legal.

In some countries soft drugs ______________________________________

10. If the car is fitted with an alarm, they can’t steal it.
If the car is fitted with an alarm, it __________________________________

IX Correct the mistakes in these sentences.

1. This book was writing by Salinger.

______________________________________________________________
2. The match is playing on Friday evening.
______________________________________________________________
3. Nothing will being decided before next Friday.
______________________________________________________________
4. All the food at the party was ate.
______________________________________________________________
5. A new bridge is be built across the river.
______________________________________________________________
6. The ill man was been taken to hospital.
______________________________________________________________
7. Many pet dogs are losing every day.
______________________________________________________________
8. The children were taking to the picnic for the day.
______________________________________________________________
9. I was send here by the manager.
______________________________________________________________
10. David has been offering a new job in Germany.
______________________________________________________________
11. Jack was borned in 1981.
______________________________________________________________
12. Your order will been sent as soon as possible.
______________________________________________________________
13. Customers are request to ask for a receipt.
______________________________________________________________
14. The hole in the road was been repaired when I came home.
______________________________________________________________
15. An address is writing on the back of the envelope.
______________________________________________________________

X Turn the following sentences into passive voice.

1. Somebody will tell you what time the train leaves.

______________________________________________________________
2. You must keep dogs on leads in the gardens.
______________________________________________________________
3. Nobody had used this room before you came.
______________________________________________________________
4. They threw him out.
______________________________________________________________
5. You must work for success.
______________________________________________________________
6. Helen’s publishers have just published her book.
______________________________________________________________
7. My parents gave me this ring.
______________________________________________________________
8. We appointed a new marketing manager last Monday.
______________________________________________________________
9. Smith Ltd are supplying our company with furniture.
______________________________________________________________
10. They haven’t made a decision yet.
______________________________________________________________

XI Choose the correct verb form to fill in the gaps.

1. This door __________ shut.

a) must keep
b) must kept
c) must be kept
d) must been kept

2. Evening dress __________ at the party.

a) will wear
b) will be worn
c) will be wore
d) will be weared
3. For a long time the earth __________ to be flat.
a) was believed
b) were believed
c) believed
d) was be believed

4. They advised that part-time workers __________.

a) should employ
b) should employed
c) should been employed
d) should be employed

5. She __________ the easiest way to do it.

a) was showed
b) were showed
c) was shown
d) were shown

6. This picture __________ by Picasso.

a) couldn’t have been painted
b) couldn’t been painted
c) couldn’t paint
d) couldn’t painted

7. Children’s books __________ by Madonna.

a) has been written
b) have been written
c) has being written
d) have been writing

8. A lot of good work __________ in this firm.

a) is been done
b) was been done
c) is being done
 d) were being done

9. He __________ two weeks’ notice to pay the fine.

a) was gived
b) were gave
c) was given
d) were given

10. Books __________ to library.

a) must return
b) must to be returned
c) must being returned
d) must be returned

XII Turn the following sentences into passive voice.

1. They promise us higher wages.

______________________________________________________________
2. People will show the visitors the new building.
______________________________________________________________
3. They gave my little sister a ticket, too.
______________________________________________________________
4. Someone has already paid the electrician for his work.
______________________________________________________________
5. Someone taught him French and gave him a dictionary.
______________________________________________________________
6. They will ask the students several questions.
______________________________________________________________
7. Jane’s mother is showing her how to bath a baby.
______________________________________________________________
8. Someone asked the students a very difficult question.
______________________________________________________________
9. We must look into this matter.
______________________________________________________________
10. People speak well of my friend Tom.
______________________________________________________________
11. They told her to be quick.
______________________________________________________________
12. Somebody gave her a box of chocolates for her birthday.
______________________________________________________________
13. Someone reads to the old lady every evening.
______________________________________________________________
14. Nobody has slept in that room for years.
______________________________________________________________
15. People were carrying the chairs out into the garden.
______________________________________________________________
16. Someone had already promised me a watch for my birthday when they
presented me with one as a prize.
______________________________________________________________
17. Nobody can repair this broken vase.
______________________________________________________________
18. They had eaten all the dinner before they finished the conversation.
______________________________________________________________
19. Nobody has ever spoken to me like that before.
______________________________________________________________
20. Teachers should make lessons more interesting for children.
______________________________________________________________