Select the options in Passive Voice

1. Will the teacher test our English?

a. Will our English be tested by the teacher?
b. Would our English be tested by the teacher?
c. Will our teacher test our English?
d. Our English will be tested by the teacher?
2. Could Jenny lock the door?
a. Will you please close the door?
b. Did Jenny remember to lock the door?
c. Could the door be locked by Jenny?
d. Could Jenny have locked the door?
3. The construction crew will build the house in five months.
a. The house will be constructed in five months
b. The house will be built by the construction crew in five months.
c. The house is being constructed by the crew
d. The house will be readied by the crew in five months from now.
4. The dolphins had learned many tricks.
a. The dolphins have learnt many tricks.
b. Many tricks were learnt by dolphins.
c. Many tricks are learnt by dolphins
d. Many tricks had been learned by the dolphins.
5. A shark has eaten the swimmer
a. The swimmer has been eaten by a shark.
b. The swimmer had been eaten by the shark.
c. The shark ate the swimmer.
d. The swimmer has been eaten by the shark.
6. Farmers sow maize in the rainy season.
a. Maize is sown in the rainy season.
b. We sow maize in the rainy season
c. Farmers have always sown the maize in the rainy season.
d. Farmers are known to sow maize only in the rainy season
7. They believe that he writes good poems.
a. He writes good poems
b. He is known to write good poems
c. He is believed to have written good poems.
d. It's believed that he writes good poems.
8. Manjari puts the rucksack on the floor.
a. The rucksack is being put on the floor
b. The rucksack is put on the floor.
c. The rucksack was put on the floor by Manjari
d. The rucksack was put on the floor


9. Would my mum have packed the bag?
a. Would the bag have been packed by my mum?
b. Will my mum pack my bag?
c. Will my mum have packed my bag by now?
d. Will my mum have packed the bag by now?
10. Would you have accepted that offer?
a. Would that offer have been accepted by you?
b. Will you have accepted the offer?
c. Will you accept the offer?
d. Would this offer have been accepted by you?
11. Ram answered the question.
a. The question was answered by Ram.
b. The question will be answered by Ram.
c. The question would have been answered by Ram.
d. The question is answered by Ram.
12. I will finish the job by the end of this week.
a. The job will be finished by me by the end of this week.
b. The job will finish in a weeks time.
c. The job needs to finish in a weeks time.
d. The job should be finished in a weeks time.
13. The company shipped the material to Japan
a. The material was shipped to Japan.
b. The material was being shipped to Japan
c. The material is being shipped to Japan.
d. The material has shipped the material to Japan.
14. My neighbor alerted the police.
a. The police were alerted by my neighbors.
b. The police has been alerted by my neighbours.
c. The police had been alerted.
d. The police have been alerted
15. The mechanic has not repaired the DVD recorder.
a. The DVD recorder has not been repaired by the mechanic.
b. The DVD recorder could not be repaired by the mechanic.
c. The mechanic has not been able to repair the DVD recorder.
d. The mechanic could not repair the DVD recorder.

16. The child is not going to open the window.
a. The window is not going to be opened.
b. The window will not be opened
c. The window is not being opened
d. The child is not able to open the window.
17. Someone will take me to the airport at 2am
a. I ' l l be t aken t o t he ai r por t at 2am by someone.
b. I will reach the airport at 2am.
c. I will be reaching the airport at 2am.
d. I would reach the airport at 2am.
18. Our dog did not bite the cat.
a. The cat was not bitten by our dog.
b. The cat did not bite the dog.
c. The dog did not bite the cat.
d. The cat has not been bitten by our dog.
19. I can answer the question.
a. The question can be answered by me.
b. The question could have been answered by me.
c. The question will be answered by me.
d. The question would be answered by me.
20. She would carry the box.
a. The box would be carried by her.
b. The box will be carried by her.
c. The box can be carried by her.
d. The box should be carried by her.
21. You should open the window.
a. The window should be opened by you.
b. The window will be opened by you.
c. Please open the window.
d. I order you to open the window.
22. We might play cards.
a. Cards might be played by us.
b. The cards might be played.
c. The cards might have been played.
d. Let us play cards.
23. You ought to wash the car.
a. The car ought to be washed by you.
b. The car should be washed by you.
c. The car will be washed by you.
d. The car needs to be washed by you.
24. He must fill in the form.
a. The form must be filled in by him.
b. The form should be filled by him.
c. The form would be filled in by him.
d. The form should be filled.
25. They need not buy bread.
a. Bread need not be bought by them.
b. Bread would not be bought by them.
c. Bread should not be bought by them.
d. Bread must not be bought by them.
26. He could not read the sentence.
a. The sentence could not be read by him.
b. The sentence was not readable.
c. The sentence should not be read.
d. The sentence would not be read by him.
27. The boy gave the stale cream cake to the teacher.
a. The stale cream cake was given to the teacher [by the boy]. - Passi ve
b. The teacher was given the stale cream cake [by the boy].
28. Peopl e thi nk he was a geni us.
a. It is thought he was a genius.
b. It is bei ng thought he was a genius
c. It was thought that he was a genius
29. Were you writing the essay?
a. Was an essay being written by you?
b. Di d you write the essay?
c. Do you write an essay?
30. Had you wri tten a l etter?
a. Had a letter been written by you?
b. Have a letter been written by you?
c. Has a letter been written by you?
31. Why di d you write such a letter?
a. Why was such a letter written by you?
b. Why was a letter written by you?
c. What made you write such a letter?
32. Where can we hi de this chocol ate?
a. Where can this chocol ate be hi dden by you?











Rewrite the sentences in Active Voice
1. Let the radio be switched off
a. Switch off the radio
b. You must be switch off the radio
c. You need to be switch off the radio
2. Let him be punished
a. Punish him
b. Punish to him
c. Punish him for sure
3. This book was written by an Indian.
a. An Indian wrote this book.
b. An Indian writes this book.
c. An Indian has written this book.

4. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
a. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone
b. Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone
c. Alexander Graham Bell was invented the telephone



5. The computer is used by Lata.
a. Lata uses the computer
b. Lata has used the computer
c. Lata had used the computer
6. The child was hit by the car.
a. A car hit the child
b. A car was hit the child
c. A car were hit the child
7. The club was founded by Kabir and Mahesh.
a. Kabir and Mahesh founded the club
b. Kabir and Mahesh together founded the club
c. Kabir and Mahesh found the club together
8. The exercise is completed by the teacher.
a. The teacher completes the exercise
b. The teacher had completed the exercise
c. The teacher will complete the exercise.

9. Coffee is sold by Sudeshna.
a. Sudeshna sells coffee
b. Sudeshna will sell coffee
c. Sudeshna sold coffee
10. The bag was packed by his mother.
a. His mother packed the bag
b. His mother packs the bag
c. His mother was packed the bag

11. The prime minister was elected by the people.
a. The people elected the prime minister
b. The people elect the prime minister
c. The people should elect the prime minister
12. The children play football.
a. The children play football
b. The children have played football
c. The children have been playing football

Choose the correct Passive forms


1. She
a. Is supposed to be in Delhi
b. Is supposed be in Delhi
c. Is supposed to being in Delhi
2. The project of the state
a. Is said to have failed
b. Is said to fail
c. Is said to be failed
3. Yesterday a boyin an accident
a. Has been injured
b. Was injured
c. Will be injured
4. The first computerin the 1940s.
a. Is invented
b. Will be invented
c. Was invented

5. The homework.by tomorrow.
a. Must be done
b. Will be done
c. Will have been done
6. The manager ..about the problem.
a. Should been told
b. Should have been told
c. Should has been told
7. She.to Manishas birthday party.
a. Are invited
b. Has been invited
c. Have been i nvited
8. I .
a. Was let go to.
b. Was let go.
c. Was let to go.
9. With ..
a. what was that note written?
b. note was written with what.
c. note was written what with

Put in the correct form of the verb in Passive into the gaps. Use the verb and the tense given in brackets.


Toggle example
1) The words by the teacher today. (to explain - Simple Present)
2) We a letter the day before yesterday. (to send - Simple Past)
3) This car . It's too old. (not/to steal - will-future)
4) This street because of snow. (already/to close - Present Perfect)
5) A new restaurant next week. (to open - will-future)
6) He to the party yesterday. (to invite - Simple Past)
7) The blue box . (can/not/to see - Simple Present)
8) I the book by my friend last Sunday. (to give - Simple Past)
9) The dishes by my little brother. (not/to wash - Present Perfect)
10) I by Robert. (not/to ask - will-future)







1) The words are explained by the teacher today.
2) We were sent a letter the day before yesterday.
3) This car will not be stolen. It's too old.
4) This street has already been closed because of snow.
5) A new restaurant will be opened next week.
6) He was invited to the party yesterday.
7) The blue box cannot be seen.
8) I was given the book by my friend last Sunday.
9) The dishes have not been washed by my little brother.
10) I will not be asked by Robert.
Rewrite the sentences using Passive voice.


Toggle example
1) Julia rescued three cats.
.
2) The students handed in the reports.
.
3) Maria crashed into the blue car.
.
4) Alex learned the poem.
.
5) Steven has forgotten the book.
.
6) The mechanic has not repaired the DVD recorder.
.
7) They play handball.
.
8) Sue puts the rucksack on the floor.
.
9) The girls had lost the match.
.
10) The teacher is not going to open the window.
.

Julia rescued three cats.
Three cats were rescued.
2) The students handed in the reports.
The reports were handed in.
3) Maria crashed into the blue car.
The blue car was crashed into.
4) Alex learned the poem.
The poem was learned.
5) Steven has forgotten the book.
The book has been forgotten.
7) They play handball.
Handball is played.
9) The girls had lost the match.
The match had been lost.


"Passive to active voice"

1. A novel is being read by Mary = Mary a novel.
2. A stone was being thrown by the kid = The kid a stone
3. A car has been bought by him = He a car.
4. The door had been knocked at by someone = Someone the
door.
5. Yam is eaten by people in my country = People yam in my
country.
6. The jackpot will be won by her = She the jackpot
7. The mother tongue would be taught to him by her.= She him the
mother tongue.
8. The fish is eaten by the cat = the cat the fish.
9. A book was offered to them by her = she them a book
10. A letter was written to him by her =she him a letter
1. A novel is being read by Mary = Mary has read is reading a novel.
2. A stone was being thrown by the kid = The kid was throwing a stone
3. A car has been bought by him = He is buying has bought a car.
4. The door had been knocked at by someone = Someone had knocked at the
door.
5. Yam is eaten by people in my country = People was eaten eat yam in my
country.
6. The jackpot will be won by her = She will win the jackpot
7. The mother tongue would be taught to him by her.= She will teach would
teach him the mother tongue.
8. The fish is eaten by the cat = the cat eats the fish.
9. A book was offered to them by her = she has offered offered them a book
10. A letter was written to him by her =she wrote him a letter.
Complete the sentences in passive voice with the verbs in brackets.
Example:Ten houses .............. here last year. (build) - Ten houses were built here last year.

clear showcheck

Letters by the postman at 8 every day. (deliver)
Right: are delivered

This bag in the bus yesterday. (find)
Right: was found

The dress in hot water. (cannot wash)
Right: cannot be washed

your motorbike yet? (repair)
Right: Has; been repaired

The message tomorrow. (send)
Right: will be sent

These offices now. (clean)
Right: are being cleaned

This report in time if you didn't help me. (not finish)
Right: would not be finished

Why the TV ? (turn on)
Right: is; turned on

This building since the 1930's. (not reconstruct)
Right: has not been reconstructed

Bags in the cloakroom. (must leave)
Right: must be left

The engine just when the manager saw it. (test)
Right: was; being tested

The last umbrellas in the morning. (sell)
Right: were sold

You to arrive so late if you worked for me. (not allow)
Right: would not be allowed

The plan in two days. (announce)
Right: will be announced

All the halls at the moment. (paint)
Right: are being painted

What were we doing at 11 o'clock? We . (interview)
Right: were being interviewed

After the window pane someone smashed the window again. (replace)
Right: had been replaced
Active: We saw them come. She made him do it.
Passive: They were seen to come. He was made to do it.
Use
The passive is used:
1. If the action is more important then the agent.
A demonstration has been held. This theatre was built in 1868.
The important thing is what happened, not who did it.
2. If the agent is not known.
He was offered a job. (Someone offered him the job.)
They are supposed to be good students. (Some teachers suppose that.)
The difference in meaning between the simple and continuous
A new house is built in our street. (The house is finished.)
A new house is being built in our street. (They are building it these days, it is not finished.)
I was being introduced to Mrs. Jones when her husband arrived. (Her husband arrived in the middle of the introduction.)
When her husband arrived I was introduced to Mrs. Jones. (Her husband arrived first and then she introduced me.)
Notes
This form is typical of an impersonal and formal style, that is why you can often find it in public notices, announcements, instructions or
scientific articles.
English is spoken in this shop. Visitors are not allowed to smoke. The seal must be removed.
In a less formal style the active voice is more usual.
English is spoken in this shop. - We speak English in this shop.
He was seen in Dover. - They saw him in Dover.
The seal must be removed. - You must remove the seal.
In the English language this form is more frequent than in many other languages. Moreover, you can find some stuctures in English which
are not possible in some languages.
I am told that you are going to have a baby. It is thought that the crises will end soon.