PASSIVES

La pasiva normal

Se forma poniendo el objeto directo de la oracin activa de sujeto de la

pasiva. El sujeto de la activa pasar a ser el complemento agente de la
pasiva. El verbo hay que cambiarlo: Ponemos el verbo to be en el tiempo
de la activa y le aadimos el participio del verbo de la activa. El
complemento agente va precedido por la preposicin by. Ejemplo:

The man bought a car

Sujeto

verbo

OD

A car was bought

Sujeto

verbo to be + participio

by the man
complemento agente

Pasivas con dos objetos

En las pasivas con dos objetos, el OI de la activa pasa a ser el sujeto de
la pasiva y el OD se queda como est. El sujeto de la activa pasar a ser
el complemento agente. Ejemplo:

Peter has given me the book.

Sujeto

verbo

OI

OD

I have been given the book by Peter

Sujeto

verbo

OD

Complemento Agente

La pasiva con verbos de pensar y hablar

Se hace de dos maneras:
1. It + verbo de pensar o hablar en pasiva + that ..................
A
P

People think that he works a lot.

It is thought that he works a lot.

2. Sujeto de la oracin subordinada + verbo de pensar o hablar

+ to infinitive phrase.
A
P

People think that he works a lot.

He is thought to work a lot.

*Si en este 2 tipo el verbo est en pasado, no importa en qu pasado, entonces lo

haremos poniendo to have + participio.

People think that he worked a lot

He is thought to have worked a lot.

Put the sentences into the passive.

1. Someone broke the window last night.
2. Someone has repaired the window now.
3. Someone has redecorated this room.
4. Someone posted the letters yesterday.
5. Someone invited Jim to the party.
6. Someone has cut down the tree.
7. Someone stole my bicycle last week.
8. Someone has locked all the doors.

Change these active sentences to the passive.

1. We use a compass for showing direction.
2. They make those photocopies in Italy.
3. We use a saw for cutting wood or metal.
4. They make these mattresses in France.
5. They speak Spanish in Argentina.
6. We use a kettle for boiling water.
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. (PASSIVE)
1.

Elisha Otis invented the lift in 1852. The lift

2.

The work wasnt being done properly. He

3.

My mother will wake me up early tomorrow morning. I .

4.

Many people are working on new inventions. New.

5.

Is someone reading these books? Are?

6.

Millions of people around the world own computers. Computers.

7.

He isnt going to finish developing his invention on time. His.

8.

Did Leonardo design the first aeroplane? Was..

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THERE ARE MISTAKES IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

FIND AND CORRECT THEM.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
now.
7.
8.

Television invented John Baird.

Thomas Edison was invented the electric light in 1879.
Potato chips were first being made in 1853.
Will spaceships found near everybodys houses in the next century?
Early bicycles werent rode by women.
Large-screen televisions will be watch by most people 10 years from
When did the first aeroplane designed?
Did he was told about the new invention?

FILL IN THE ACTIVE OR PASSIVE FORM OF THE VERB.

Money is anything that 1. .(accept) people in return for the things they 2.
.. (sell) or the work they 3. (do). Today, banknotes 4.
. (make) of paper and coins 5. . (produced) from metal. In modern
societies, credit cards or plastic money, 6. .. (use) more and more.
In the past, before money 7. (use) people made use of many other
things to buy what they 8. ..(need). Among these things 9.
(be) salt, cocoa, shells, beans, stones and tobacco. Some American
Indians 10. (give) each other seashells when they 11.
..(want) to buy and sell things. In Asia tea-leaves 12.
..(mix) with animal blood 13. ..(make) into the shape of bricks and
dried. Pieces of bricks 14. ..(break) off and given to someone else in order
to pay for something. As time 15. (pass) various metals 16. ..
(use), especially gold.
And what 17...(happen) to money in the future? Many people think
that money 18. (not use) in the same way as today. They think that
banknotes and coins 18. ..(become) a thing of the past.

TURN THESE SENTENCES INTO PASSIVES.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

People think that he is a fool.

Everybody knows that the Earth is round.
Mary is tall.
There is a rumour that Nixon wont be re-elected.
Everybody assumes that a teacher must know everything about everything.
People believe that he has been wasting his time.

CHANGE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES FROM THE ACTIVE TO THE

PASSIVE.
1. By next year, most people will have seen a Virtual Reality film.
A Virtual Reality film
1. They had made the film before 1990.
The film.
2. Many filmmakers have already used this system.
This system
3. She has written many film scripts.
Many film scripts..
4. After he had designed the special effects, they started making them.
After the special effects.
5. By the time we get to the cinema, they will have started the film.
By the time we get to the cinema, the film.
6. He has directed many great films.
Many great films
7. They had invented the camera before the end of the 19th century.
The camera
FINISH EACH SENTENCE SO THAT IT MEANS THE SAME AS THE
SENTENCE BEFORE IT.
1. Someone has calculated that the water of the River Rhine contains over 2,000
chemicals. It
2. People consider that one in three bathing beaches is unfit for swimming. One in
three bathing beaches.
3. About 1,500 sea otters are thought to have been killed. People.

4. People say that fewer than 1,000 blue whales survive in the southern
hemisphere. Fewer
5. At least 130,000 dolphins are reported to be caught in the nets of tuna fishers
every year. It is reported.
6. It is estimated that in the past 15 years about 10 million dolphins have been
killed. About 10 million dolphins..
7. In Ancient Greece people thought dolphins were men who had abandoned life on
land. In Ancient Greece it..
8. In Ancient Rome it was believed that dolphins carried souls to heaven. In
Ancient Rome dolphins

REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES, CONVERTING THE VERBS

FROM ACTIVE TO PASSIVE OR PASSIVE TO ACTIVE.
1. The Indians protect the forests.
2. The Indians are being wiped out by guns and disease.
3. Children will be robbed of the Earths beauty by human greed.
4. Very few white people have seen this place.
5. Alcohol destroyed thousands of Indians.

FINISH EACH SECOND SENTENCE SO THAT IT MEANS THE SAME AS

THE SENTENCE ABOVE IT.
1. Factories pollute rivers and lakes.
Rivers and lakes..
2. Fire destroyed the forest.
The forest.
3. Many countries were affected by the nuclear explosion.
The nuclear explosion..
4. Thousands of sea birds are killed by oil from tankers.
Oil from tankers..
5. Gases have damaged the ozone layer.
The ozone layer
6. People will probably be killed by skin cancer.
Skin cancer..
7. Some countries have been affected by changes in weather.
Changes in the weather

Put these sentences into the passive.

1. They showed Sarah the photographs.
2. Normally, they pay me my salary every month.
3. I think that they have sent us the wrong tickets.
4. I hope that someone will give Sally the message.
5. They didnt ask me for my address.
6. I thought that someone had told you about the meeting.
7. People say that inflation is getting out of control.
8. Well have finished all the redecorating by the weekend.
9. Someone should have informed her about the delay.
10. The council is building a new underground car park here.
11. The descendants of the Mina tribe still inhabit the island.
12. No one knows whether there are any survivors.
13. A friend lent George the motorbike he rode in the race.
14. People expect that the strike will end soon.
Underline any uses of the agent which are unnecessary.
1. My jewellery has been stolen by a thief.
2. It has been decided by the school that Wednesday will be a school holiday.
3. Harry was pushed over by someone standing next to him in the queue.
4. The goods are transported by rail to our warehouse in the Midlands.
5. I was told by someone that you had a vacancy for a computer operator.
6. Sue has been picked by the selectors for the national team.
7. The letter was sent by post on the 21st of last month.
8. The larger portrait was painted by a little-known Flemish artist.
9. I has been agreed by everyone that no smoking should be allowed.
10. As I arrived at the conference a note was handed to me by one of the delegates.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER.

1. By next year, the new cinema
a. has been completed
b. will have been completed
c. had been completed
1. The filmbefore the bad weather started.
a. has been made
b. will have been made
c. had been made
2. The problem..and we can go home now.
a. has been solved
b. will have been solved
c. had been solved
3. I enjoyed the speech which..for the Oscar ceremony.
a. has been written
b. will have been written
c. had been written
4. By the end of this year, the film
a. has been finished
b. will have been finished
c. had been finished
5. The filmingbecause of the bad weather.
a. has been stopped
b. will have been stopped
c. had been stopped
Passives.
1. Somebody cleans the room every day.
2. They cancelled the flights because of the fog.
3. People dont use this road very much.
4. Somebody accused me of stealing the money.
5. How do people learn languages?
6. Somebody warned us not to go alone.
7. Somebody has cleaned the room.
8. They have postponed the meeting.
9. Somebody is using the computer at the moment.
10. Somebody was recording our conversation.

11. They had cancelled the match.

12. They are building a new road round the city.
13. They have built a new hospital near the airport.
14. They didnt give me the information I needed.
15. They asked me some difficult questions at the interview.
16. Lindas colleagues gave her a present for her birthday.
17. Nobody told me about the meeting.
18. They should have offered Tom the job.
Turn the following sentences into passives.
1. They will ask you lots of questions.
2. They told us a secret.
3. They didnt pay me much for that job.
4. It was said that these ghosts inhabited this palace.
5. It is said that these documents belong to the Prime Minister.
6. It is said that the government will reduce taxes.
7. It is known that this food is healthy.
8. Everybody knows that Picasso is a good painter.
9. People think that the thieves have been arrested by the police.
10. People consider James Joyce a good writer.
11. People rumoured that his behaviour was caused by alcohol.
Choose the active or passive form.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Sorry the shop closes / is closed now.

The prize was given / gave to the student with the highest marks.
Dave couldnt save / couldnt be saved enough money to go on the trip.
Dont look now, but you are being followed / are followed.
followed.
When Nina performs on the radio, her singing will be heard / will hear by
thousands of people.
6. Margaritas ears pierced / were pierced when she was three years old.

Turn the following sentences into the passive voice.

1. The police must have returned your wallet by now.
2. When I came home, I saw that thieves had stolen my car.
3. You should have given Clare more time to complete the project.
4. Someone had opened the box of chocolates, so we didnt buy it.
5. The detective could have arrested the thief.

Rewrite each sentence using the passive form.

1. We found the purse at the bus stop.
2. One of us will meet you at the airport.
3. She suddenly realised that someone had robbed her.
4. The doctor sees patients on Mondays and Thursdays.
5. They have collected 200 for charity.
6. The workers might finish the building by the spring.

Turn the following sentences into the passive voice.

1. She bought a car.
2. Did she found her wallet?
3. Peter sells his car.
4. He didnt buy chicken.
5. Did he buy chicken?
6. They stopped the car.
7. Leonardo painted a lot of paintings.
8. I carry your bag.
9. Did you get aspirins?
10. Do you ask a lot in class?
11. They pollute rivers.
Complete the following sentences with the suitable verb.
I (have) a shower.
The radio (broke).
The bags (carry) home yesterday.
Your telephone (use) last week.
The shoes (fix) by him.
A thermometer (use) for measuring temperature.
A butcher (sell) meat.
The history of the US (study) everywhere.
The window (break) last month.
A new motorway (open) yesterday.
They (write) the invitations.
The stage (paint) yesterday.

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The houses (build) in 1930.

Someone (steal) the money last night.
Several people (take) to hospital last month.
The money (steal) last night.
Jack (shoot) tom.
Tom (shoot) by Jack.
They (open) a new motorway yesterday.
Everyday a lot of people (kill).
My leg (hurt) yesterday.
Nowadays many houses (sell).

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Turn the following sentences into the passive voice

Most students speak English in this class .
An elderly couple sheltered her .
A policeman helped him .
She finished her work by nine o'clock .
Nobody can repair this broken chair .
They carried him into the hospital .
Are they typing the letters? .
They have not taken the car into the garage .
Someone has spilt some milk on the carpet .
Did anyone answer your question? .
They showed me the cathedral .
They told the children to leave the room .
They allowed her to go to the dining room .
They didn't tell me the truth .
Someone will give you a new notebook .
Someone is teaching him English .
They had offered me a job .
Someone has read her the letter .
Nobody has slept in this bed .
They looked after the baby .
They have been looking at her for hours .
They smiled at the girl as she walked by .
We must look for the key .

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