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 was delivered (deliver) at about 7 oclock every morning.
c. Is the building used(the building/use) any more?
d. How often are 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 arent made (not make) in Japan.
h. The name of the people who committed the crime isnt known(not know).
i. His travel expenses arent 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 ______________________ (repair) last week.
b. This song ________________________ (not write) by John Lennon.
c. ________________________________ (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
d. The film ________________________ (make) ten years ago.
e. When ______________________________ (tennis/invent)?
f. The car ________________________ (not damaged) in the accident.
g. The original building _________________________ (pull) down in 1965.
h. Where ______________________________ (this pot/make)?
i. When _______________________________ (this bridge/build)?
4
3. Choose the correct form of the verbs in
brackets. FIAT
0
Fiat
was started (started/was started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899. In 1903, Fiat,
1
2
_________________ (produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of these cars _____________________
(exported/were exported) by the company to the United States and Britain. In 1920, Fiat
3
_________________ (started/was started) making cars at a new factory at Lingotto, near Turin. There was a
4
track on the roof where the cars ____________________ (tested/were tested) by technicians. In 1936, Fiat
5
launched the Fiat 500. This car ____________________ (called/was called) the Topolino the Italian name
6
for Mickey Mouse. The company grew, and in 1963 Fiat _____________________ (exported/was exported)
more than 300,000 vehicles. Today, Fiat is based in
7
Turin, and its cars _________________ (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)
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. (The electric light bulb/invent/by Thomas Edison)
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. Someone painted the office last week. (The office/paint/last week)
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. Several people saw the accident. (The accident/see/by several people)
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. Where do they make these video recorders? (Where/these video recorders/make)
_________________________________________________________________________________

ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive

Voice
5. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.
a. Someone built this house 200 years ago.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. A thief stole my purse.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. The police will arrest the robbers.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. They produce cars in this factory.
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. They serve breakfast at eight oclock every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. People throw away tones of rubbish every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. They make coffee in Brazil.
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. Someone stole Jims bike lat night.
_________________________________________________________________________________
6. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.
a. They will build a new bridge next year.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. Pierre Matie will design her costume.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. Someone found my wallet.
5 _________________________________________________________________________________
6
One of the students broke the window.
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. They will deliver my computer on Monday.
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. British astronomers discovered a new planet.
_________________________________________________________________________________
7. Form the question.
a.
Paper is made from wood.
b.

The telephone was invented by Mr Bell.

c.

This picture was painted by Peter.

d.

The thieves will be arrested by the police.

e.

Champagne is made in France.

f.
g.

The letters will be sent next week.

The animals are fed three times a day.

Is paper made from wood

?
__________________________________________
_?
__________________________________________
_?
__________________________________________
_?
__________________________________________
_?
__________________________________________
_?
__________________________________________

h.
i.
j.

This article was written by Stanley.

CDs are made of plastic.
The party was organised by Paul.

_?
__________________________________________
_?
___________________________________________?
___________________________________________?

8. Read and complete. Use Past Simple.

th
a. The toothbrush / invent / in the 15 century.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
b. The first public basketball game / play / in 1892.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
c. The first eyeglasses / wear / in the 1200s.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
d. The first bicycle / ride in 1791.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
e. The first hot dog / eat / in the 1860s.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
f. The first CDs / sell / in the 1980s.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
g. The first electric guitar / play / in 1923.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
h. The first computer mouse / use / 1964.
______________________________________________________________________________
___
6

9. Complete with the passive. Use Present Simple.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

This programme _______________________ (watch) by millions of people.

Paper __________________________ (make) from wood.
Hundreds of people _______________________ (kill) in accidents every year.
London __________________________ (visit) by thousands of tourists every year.
The biology class _________________________ (teach) by Mr Green.
English _____________________ (speak) all over the world.
Lunch _____________________ (serve) at twelve oclock.
Books _____________________ (write) by authors.

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

Two men _________________________ (see) breaking into a house in my street last night. The
police
_____________________ (call) and they arrived very quickly. One man _____________________
(catch) immediately. The other escaped, but he ______________________ (find) very soon. Both
men
_____________________ (take) to the police station where they _________________________

(question) separately by a police officer. The two men ________________________ (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 childrens descriptions 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.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
16. Turn from Active to Passive in two ways.
a. He gave me a present.
A present was given to me.
I was given a present.
b. The waiter will bring us the bill.
The bill will be brought to us.
We will be brought the bill.
c. Her mother bought Mary some sweets.
Some sweets were bought to Mary by her
mother.

Mary was bought some sweets by her mother.

d. Bob has sold Ted a second-hand car.
A second-hand car has been sold to Ted by
Bob.
Ted has been sold a second hand car by Bob.
Larry is going to send a letter to Tom.
A letter is going to be sent to Tom by Larry.
Tom is going to be sent a letter by Larry.
17. Turn from Active to Passive.
a. Someone is helping her with the

housework.
She is being helped with the housework.
b. The mail-order company sent Mrs Green a
parcel.
Mrs Green was sent a parcel by the mailorder company.
A parcel was sent by the mail-order
company to Mrs. Green.
c. My friend sent me an invitation.
An invitation was sent to me by my friend.
I was sent an invitation by my friend.
d. The secretary has given Mrs Jones some
letters.
Some letters have been given to Mrs Jones.
Mrs Jones has been given some letters.
e. The traffic warden had already given him a
ticket for illegal parking.
A ticket had been given to him for illegal
parking.
He had been given a ticket for illegal
parking.
f. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
That beautiful ring was given to Elizabeth
by John.
Elizabeth was given that beautiful ring by
John.
g. Her students have sent her flowers.
Her flowers have been sent by her
students.
She has been sent her flowers by her
students.
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.
Our student are taught English and French.
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 showed to the
tourists.
The tourists were showed the sights of
Athens.
l. They pay her an excellent salary.
She is paid an excellent salary.
An excellent salary is paid to her.
m. They paid the artist 1,000 for his painting.
The artist was paid 1,000 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 havent delivered the food yet.
The food has been delivered.
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 by them on
this sheet.
5. Has anybody put the cases upstairs?
Were the cases put upstairs by anybody?
6. Someone should take this rubbish away.
This rubbish should be taken by someone.
7. Theyll ask you a lot of questions.
You will be asked a lot of questions by them.
8. Someones going to send her some flowers.
She is going to be sent some flowers.
9. They didnt pay me much for that job.
I wasnt paid much for that job.
10. Have they offered him a better job?
A better job was offered to him.
11. They told us a secret.
A secret was told to us.
We were told a secret.
12. Would they lend me their car?
Would their car be 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 years congress
in San Francisco.
Next years congress is going to be held
in San Francisco.
16. The bill includes service.
Service is included by the bill.
17. People dont use this road very often.
This road isnt used very often.
18. They cancelled all the flights because of fog.
All the flights were cancelled because of the
fog.
19. Somebody accused me of stealing the money.
I was accused of stealing the money.
20. They are building a new ring-road round the
city.
A new ring-road is being built round the city.
21. I didnt realize that someone was recording
our conversation.
That
someone
was
recording
our
conversation wasnt realized by me.

22. They have changed the date of the meeting.

The date of the meeting has been changed.
23. Brian told me that somebody had attacked
and robbed him in the street.
That somebody had attacked and robbed
Brian in the street was told to me by him.
24. You should open the wine about three hours
before you use it.
The wine should be opened about three hours
before you use it.
25. Somebody had cleaned my shoes and
brushed my suit.
My shoes had been cleaned and my suit had
been brushed.
26. We use this room only on special occasions.
This room is used only on special occasions.
27. In some districts farmers use pigs to find
truffles.
In some districts pigs are used by farmers to
find truffles.
28. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
Elizabeth was given by John that beautiful
ring.
That beautiful ring was given to Elizabeth by
John.
29. They have offered Sarah a very good job.
Sarah has been offered 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 showed to the young people
by the estate agent.
31. We will pay the gardener a lot of money.
The gardener will be paid a lot of money.
32. Someone is going to repair the roof next
week.
The roof is going to be repaired next week.
33. They cant find Joanna.
Joanna cant be found.
34. They should decorate the room with flowers.
The room should be decorated with flowers.
35. Archaeologists have discovered an ancient
temple.
An ancient temple has been discovered by
archaeologists.
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 by the firefighters
from the burning building.
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 were sent to me by the children
every day.
I was sent messages by the children every
day.
40. The villagers gave the travelers food and
water.
The travelers were given food and water.
Food and water were given to the travelers.
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 cancelled 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.
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 followed by two men.
49. Millions of people use the Internet every day.
The Internet is used by millions of people
every day.
50. They gave Bob a CD player for his birthday.
Bob was given 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.
52. She is telling the children a story.
The children are being told a story.
A story is being told to the children.
53. Theyve offered Sally a job.
Sally has been offered a job.
A job has been offered to Sally.
54. Poisonous chemicals have polluted the river.
55. The river has been polluted by poisonous
chemicals.
56. Doctor Simms is examining her.
She is being examined by doctor Simms.
57. You must stop him now.
He must be stopped now.

58. Someone gave them free tickets for the

concert.

Free tickets were given to them for the concert.

They were given free tickets for the concert.