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Form 1 English-- Passive voice

Name: _____________ Class: ______ ( ) Date: ________________


After studying these worksheets, you will…
 know the form of passive voice construction
 convert a sentence from active voice to passive voice and vice versa
 write sentences in the passive voice in simple present and simple past tenses
 explain the use of the correct voice in the appropriate situations

Verbs “to be”


Fill in the blanks with the correct versions of the verb to ‘be’.

Past participle
Fill in the table with past participles (p.p.)
Infinitive Simple past Past participle (p.p.)
ask asked asked
begin began begun
break broke
clean cleaned
cook cooked
do did
eat ate
find found
go went
hold held
prepare prepared
write wrote
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Active and passive voices


Active voice: Jeremy eats hamburgers.
Passive voice: Hamburgers are eaten by Jeremy/ Hamburgers are eaten.

 When the doer of the action is the subject, the verb is active.
 When the doer is not the subject, the verb is passive. In the passive voice, the doer is
usually at the end of the sentence, put after “by”, or is not shown in the sentence.
 Passive voice is used when the action is the focus, not the subject. In the passive
voice, the doer of the action is not important or not known.

Fill in the words ‘active’ or ‘passive’ in the right place.


(a) The tea is served by the waiter. _________ voice
(b) The waiter serves the tea. _________ voice

(c) Peter broke the window. _________ voice


(d) A window was broken by Peter. _________ voice

Choose a sentence from above to talk about the pictures below.

The tea is served by the waiter.


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Form
The form of passive voice construction is verb ‘to be’ + p.p.
Fill in the following table.
Active voice Passive voice
verb ‘to be’ + p.p
Sam eats a cake. A cake is eaten (by Sam).
Sam eats two cakes. Two cakes are eaten (by Sam).
Sam ate a cake yesterday.
Sam ate two cakes yesterday.

Some sentences in this passage are written in the passive voice. Underline the verb
to ‘be’ + p.p. construction. Some has been done for you:

2000-year-old kitchens were found

in Sha Tin-Central MTR site


by Raoul Tam, SCMP
During the construction of the new MTR
Shatin to Central Link, more old buildings from
the past were discovered. Some old houses were
found. A plan is developed to find all the houses.
The public is asked to be patient. Some experts
are asked to help by the MTR Company.

The houses were built about 2000 years


ago. Later, the houses were extended and
kitchens were added. According to historians, bread was baked in the kitchens. Some
kitchens were decorated with stones. It is known that many houses were destroyed by
fire.

The SCMP is told that some more ancient kitchens are underground. More time
is needed to determine the exact amount of these underground kitchens.

Changing the voice


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Jeremy eats hamburgers.

Hamburgers are eaten by Jeremy.


verb ‘to be’ + p.p

Hamburgers are eaten.

1. Su
bject  at the back of the sentence, behind ‘by’/ omit the subject
2. Object  becomes the subject in the new sentence
3. Verb: verb ‘to be’ + past participle (e.g. gone, seen, sent, written, built)

Convert these sentences into passive voice.

Kelly does homework.

Kelly did homework yesterday.

Eric writes stories.

Eric wrote some ghost stories last year.


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Convert these sentences into the passive voice.

The place was a teahouse from 2005 to 2007.

(a) The waiters brewed the tea.


(b) In 2008, the owner built two new kitchens.

The teahouse became a Chinese restaurant.

(c) Now, the chef prepares some small dishes.


(d) Some singers perform traditional music.

You can enjoy the multisensory enjoyment here!

(a) The waiters brewed the tea.


_______________________________________.

(b) The owner built two new kitchens.


_______________________________________.

(c) In the recent years, the chef prepares some small dishes.
In the recent years, _____________________.

(d) Some singers perform traditional music.


_______________________________________.
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Convert these sentences into the active voice.

(e) The coffee and tea are freshly brewed. (subject: the waiters)
The waiters brew the coffee and tea fresh.

(f) The cookies were eaten by Ashley.


____________________________________

(g) The dishes are carefully prepared by the chef.


The chef carefully ____________________

(h) We were attacked. (subject: somebody)


___________________________________

(g) His neck was broken (subject: somebody)


___________________________________

(i) Terrible mistakes were made. (subject: the government)


___________________________________

(j) Fork was invented in Germany. (subject: somebody)


_________________________________

(k) Pizzas were eaten by poor people in the 19th century.


_________________________________

(l) Ramen is originally produced in Japan. (subject: somebody)


_________________________________
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Choose a dish that you can cook using the following ingredients. Write 3-5
sentences to talk about the ingredient.

Then, read the sentences to your neighbor and ask your neighbor to guess your
dish.

Let’s cook!
Starch Vegetables Meat Seasoning

Flour Peppers Beef Soy sauce


Rice Cucumber Pork Sugar
Noodles Cabbage Chicken Salt
Soba Lettuce Fish Pepper
Bread Onion Wasabi
Pasta Tomato
Carrot

1. ________________________________is used.

2. _______________________________________.

3. _______________________________________.

4. _______________________________________.

5. _______________________________________.

I made ___________________________!

Your neighbor’s guess: ___________________________


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Answer the following questions using complete sentences in passive voice.

Are some dim sum dishes prepared by frying?


____________________________________________

Were pizzas eaten by rich people in the 19th century?


____________________________________________

Where is ramen originally produced?


____________________________________________

Was the fork invented in Germany?


____________________________________________

Create some more questions about food in the passive voice, and ask your
neighbor.

Your question: ____________________________________________


Correct answer: ___________________________________________
Your neighbour’s answer: ___________________________________

Your question: ____________________________________________


Correct answer: ___________________________________________
Your neighbour’s answer: ___________________________________

Your question: ____________________________________________


Correct answer: ___________________________________________
Your neighbour’s answer: ___________________________________

Your question: ____________________________________________


Correct answer: ___________________________________________
Your neighbour’s answer: ___________________________________

Your question: ____________________________________________


Correct answer: ___________________________________________
Your neighbour’s answer: ___________________________________
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Usage

Watch the video clips from some TV shows and fill in the blanks. Circle the
correct choice.

1st clip
Man 1: Hey! What happened?
Man 2: We ________________. _________ voice
Man 1: By whom?
Man 2: I don’t know

Man 2 used this voice…


(a) to sound more formal
(b) because the speaker did not know the doer

2nd clip
Man 1: His neck has been broken. __passive__ voice
Man 2: That’s because I ________ it. __________ voice

Man 2 used this voice because it sounded…


(a) direct
(b) polite
(c) unsure
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3rd clip
(Talking about Tom)
Male lawyer: Well, how ___ he ____ Wagner? _______ voice
Female lawyer: Objection.
Male lawyer: Withdrawn! How ___ Wagner ____? _______ voice

The female lawyer thinks the question is unfair to Tom because…


(a) it suggests Tom killed Wagner
(b) it suggests Wagner killed Tom

4th clip
(Talking about torture in American prisons)
Obama: So, there were a lot of people who did a lot of
things right, and _______ very hard to keep us _______ voice
safe, but I think that any fair-minded person
looking at this would say that some terrible
mistakes __________. _______ voice

By using these voices, Obama…


(a) sounded more negative
(b) avoided saying who made the mistakes
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Active and passive voices--which one do you prefer and why?

(a) “What did Ashley eat for   “The cookies were eaten (by
dinner?” Ashley).”

(b) “Where are the cookies?”   “Ashley ate the cookies.”

Explanation: The focus of Question (b) is on the cookies. It is not important to know
who ate them.

Draw lines to match the questions on the left with the correct answers on the right.
Explain your choice to your neighbour.

(c) “I am a new chef to this   “The dishes are carefully


restaurant? What is my duty?” prepared by the chef and the
coffee and tea are freshly
brewed.”

(d) “I am a new customer of this   “The chef carefully prepares


restaurant? How do you prepare the dishes, and the waiters
your food?” brew the coffee and tea fresh.”
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Draw lines to match the sentences on the left with the correct intention or effect on
the right. Explain your choice to your neighbour.

(e) “A window was broken.”   The speaker spoke with a


responsible tone.

(f) “I broke the window.”   The speaker did not want to tell
who broke the window.

Draw lines to match the sentences on the left with the correct intention or effect on
the right. Explain your choice to your neighbour.
(g) “My parents buy me the new   The speaker sounded like a
iPhone 6S.” spoilt child.

(h) “A new iPhone 6S is bought.”   The speaker did not want to tell
who buys the new phone.
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Choose the passage which is more suitable in the situation. Explain your reason.
You may use the following words to help you.

direct polite formal focus tone avoid doer optional action

(1) Live commentary of a football match on TV:


A B
Ashley Young gets the ball. He is kicking The ball is gotten. It is being
it. He passes the ball to Anthony Martial, and kicked. The ball is passed. The ball
then to Juan Mata. He is steering the ball is being steered forward. The way
forward. He is leading the way. James Wilson is being led. The goalpost is being
is aiming for the goalpost… He has scored a aimed at... A point has been scored!
point!

Passage ____ (A/B) is more suitable because _______________________


____________________________________________________________

(2) An article titled The Legislative Council Building written by the Antiques and
Monuments Office taken from p. 8, History textbook
A B
Someone built The Old Supreme The Old Supreme Court was built
Court on reclaimed land. The governor on reclaimed land. The building was
opened the building. Some stone opened by the governor. The two-story
columns support the building. granite building is supported by some
stone columns.

Passage ____ (A/B) is more suitable because _______________________


____________________________________________________________
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(3) An article titled Life in Stone Age from p. 36-37, History textbook
A B
Old Stone Age people built simple huts. Simple huts were built. Animals were
They hunted animals. They used spears hunted. Spears and axes were used.
and axes. New Stone Age people made Pottery was made. Livestock, such as
pottery. They kept livestock, such as chickens and pigs were kept. Ploughs
chickens and pigs. They also used were used to farm.
ploughs to farm.
Passage ____ (A/B) is more suitable because _______________________
____________________________________________________________

(4) An article titled The Bunsen Burner from p. 38, IS textbook


A B
The Bunsen burner was invented in 1855 A German chemist Robert Bunsen
by a German chemist Robert Bunsen. It invented the Bunsen burner in 1855.
was used for heating. Later, the design People in 1800s used it for heating. Later,
was modified into a stove. A stove is Latia Schroff modified the design into a
used for cooking in the kitchen. stove. People use stove for cooking in the
kitchen.
Passage ____ (A/B) is more suitable because _______________________
____________________________________________________________

(5) An article titled How We Study History from p. 17, History textbook
A B
Historians divides history into different History is divided into different historic
historic periods. Historians collect periods. Different kinds of sources are
different kinds of sources. Historians collected. Primary sources are mainly
mainly use primary sources when used when studying history.
studying history.
Passage ____ (A/B) is more suitable because _______________________
____________________________________________________________
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This is a draft welcoming speech for the school Food Week. It contains sentences
written in the passive voice. You think that using the active voice is more appropriate in
speeches.
Good morning Ms Lo, Mr Yee, teachers, and fellow schoolmates,

The Food Week is coming!


(a)
First of all, I am excited to announce some good news. Ms Lo Mik Suet is
(b)
invited by us. Ms Lo is a famous Taipei food specialist. Some interesting ideas

about food are shared by her.


(c)
There are a lot of food-related activities during the Food Week. Some games

can be played by you. You can come to the covered playground during recess time
(d)
to play games about food. Also, TV shows about food can be watched by you. For

any enquiries, please contact Chairman of the Food Club. Thank you.
Rewrite the underlined sentences in active voice.
(a) _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(b) _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(c) _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(d) _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Why is the active voice more appropriate in this passage?

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________
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These sentences are from a tray liner from the KFC fast food restaurant. Convert
the sentences from active voice to passive voice, or vice versa.

Our chickens are purchased from quality suppliers. (Use subject ‘we’)
 _____________________________________________

We use computerized fryers in all KFC restaurants.


 _____________________________________________

KFC staff will discard those products which are not up to standard.
 _____________________________________________

The Hygiene Manager trains staff to follow food safety procedures.


 _____________________________________________

Do you think the active and passive voices are used appropriately on the tray liner?
Explain.
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Fill in the blanks in the newspaper.

Local news Education news

A new piece of voice recording Eddie Ng said TSA will not be


of top Hong Kong University _____________ (cancel)
meeting is _____________
(upload) online!

Sports news International new

All tickets to the China vs Hong More than 2500 people are
Kong football match are _____________ (kill) in an
_____________ (sell) earthquake in Iran.
Gossip column Science

A Batman movie was A new kind of animal is


_____________ (film) in Hong _____________ (discover) in
Kong the Pacific Ocean

Choose one piece of new item from above, write 3-5 sentences about it in the
passive voice. Then, discuss the news item with your neighbor.

(1) ________________________________________________
(2) ________________________________________________
(3) ________________________________________________
(4) ________________________________________________
(5) ________________________________________________
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Challenging Questions

Fill in the blanks with the correct verbs to complete the proverbs. Search the
internet for help if you need. Make sure the tense and voice are correct.

The road to hell_________ with good intentions. (pave)


A liar _________ when he tells the truth. (not believe)
Desires _________ by delays. (nourish)
Danger foreseen __ half ______. (avoid)

What ____ cannot be undone. (do)

Rome _____________in a day. (not build)


Ask no questions and you _________ no lies. (tell)

Fill in the blanks.


This restaurant sells many kinds of food.
 Many kinds of food are sold _____(in / by) this restaurant.

The waitress gave me some tea.


 I _____ _____ some tea.
 Some tea __________ _________ to me.

He baked the bread.


 The bread was baked by _________.
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Which sentence is better, A or B? Why?


- Alice grows many vegetables in the garden.
 A. Many vegetables are grown by Alice in the garden.
 B Many vegetables are grown in the garden by Alice.
_____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

What is the problem with this sentence?


- The mealtime was finished at 12 p.m.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Turn these sentence into the active voice. If you cannot, why not?
- Dim sum are prepared by either frying or steaming.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

- She was drawing a picture when I arrived.


_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

- Hong Kong is a paradise of food.


_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Rewrite these ungrammatical sentences into grammatical sentences in the passive


voice.
- I was eaten an ice cream. (X)

- The hamburger was eat by Calvin. (X)

- He was prepared a dish. (X)

- I have been managed a restaurant since 2004. (X)

To know more about passive voice, look for the topics ‘voice’,
‘adverbials’, ‘end weight’, ‘end focus’, ‘agency’, ‘transitivity’ and
‘indirect objects’ in an advanced grammar book.
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Sources
Graphs and photos adapted from South China Morning Post,
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1644516/discovery-relics-sha-tin-centr
al-mtr-site-has-cost-hk3-billion; www.lightbulbbooks.com; and internet sources.

Texts adapted from ‘Britain’s Roman Villas’ from “Mosaica”,


http://englishstandarts.blogspot.hk/2012/06/passive-voice-texts-proverbs-and.html;
JHS textbook; New journey through history(1A), - Kan & Tang, Aristo, 2012;
Understanding Integrated Science for the 21st Century Book 1A (3rd Edition) – W.K.
Chan, W.Y. Luk, A. Kai, K.S. Lam, Aristo, 2012.

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