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 ____is delivered_________________ (deliver) at about 7 o’clock 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 ______aren’t made___________________ (not make) in Japan.
h. The name of the people who committed the crime _are not known____________________ (not know).
i. His travel expenses ____is not 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 _____was repaired _________________ (repair) last week.
b. This song _______was not written_________________ (not write) by John Lennon.
c. _____was the phone answered___________________________ (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
d. The film ____________was made____________ (make) ten years ago.
e. When ___was the tennis invented___________________________ (tennis/invent)?
f. The car __was not damaged______________________ (not damaged) in the accident.
g. The original building __was pulled_______________________ (pull) down in 1965.
h. Where ___________was this pot made___________________ (this pot/make)?
i. When ____was built this bridge___________________________ (this bridge/build)?

3. Choose the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

FIAT
Fiat 0 was started (started/was started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899. In 1903, Fiat,
1_________produced________ (produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of these cars 2___________were
exported__________ (exported/were exported) by the company to the United States and Britain. In 1920, Fiat
3_________started________ (started/was started) making cars at a new factory at Lingotto, near Turin. There
was a track on the roof where the cars 4_________were tested___________ (tested/were tested) by
technicians. In 1936, Fiat launched the Fiat 500. This car 5___________was called_________ (called/was called)
the Topolino – the Italian name for Mickey Mouse. The company grew, and in 1963 Fiat
6__________exported___________ (exported/was exported) more than 300,000 vehicles. Today, Fiat is based in
Turin, and its cars 7_______are sold__________ (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) _______the_ tickets
for all shows are sold at the box office
_________________________________________________________________________
b. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. (The electric light bulb/invent/by Thomas Edison)

____The electric light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison ___________

c. Someone painted the office last week. (The office/paint/last week)

____ The office was painted last week_________________________________________

d. Several people saw the accident. (The accident/see/by several people)

______ the accident was seem by several people ___________

e. Where do they make these video recorders? (Where/these video recorders/make)

_____Where/these video recorders/make ___________________________

ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice 5

5. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.
a. Someone built this house 200 years ago.

_______ this house was built 200years ago by someone___________________

b. A thief stole my purse.

______my purse was stolen by a thief______________________________________________________

c. The police will arrest the robbers.

__the robbers will be arrested by the police______________________________

d. They produce cars in this factory.

____the cars are produced in this factory _______________________________________________

e. They serve breakfast at eight o’clock every day.

________the breakfast is served at eight o’clock every day

________________________________________________________________________
f. People throw away tones of rubbish every day.

_______ tones of rubbish are thrown every day by people___________________________________

g. They make coffee in Brazil.

__________the coffee is made in brazil________________________________________________

h. Someone stole Jim’s bike last night.

____the Jim’s bike was stolen last night by some one____________________

6. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.
a. They will build a new bridge next year.

______ a new bridge will be built next year_____________________________

b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.

_________ The Ultimate Space Adventure was directed by Brian Brody ___________________
c. Pierre Matie will design her costume.

______ her costume will be desingned by Pierre Matie _________________________

d. Someone found my wallet.

______my wallet was found by someone______________________________________________

e. One of the students broke the window.

______ the window was broken by One of the students ____________________________________________

f. They will deliver my computer on Monday.

______ my computer will be delivered by they______________________

g. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.

____ Paul was invited to the birthday party by

Mary___________________________________________________________________________
h. British astronomers discovered a new planet.

________the new planet was discovered by British astronomers

7. Form the question.
a. Paper is made from wood. Is paper made from wood ?
b. The telephone was invented by Mr Bell. __ was the telephone invented by Mr Bell. _?
c. This picture was painted by Peter. ___ was this picture painted by Peter?
d. The thieves will be arrested by the police. ___ will the thieves be arrested by the police _?
e. Champagne is made in France. _______ is the Champagne made in France __ ?
f. The letters will be sent next week. ____ will the letters be sent next week ___________________?
g. The animals are fed three times a day. Are the animals fed three times a day __?
h. This article was written by Stanley. ___ was this article written by Stanley. This article was written by Stanley.
_?
6
i. CDs are made of plastic. _____ are the CDs made of plastic______________________________________?
j. The party was organized by Paul. __ was the party organized by Paul ________________?

8. Read and complete. Use Past Simple.

a. The toothbrush / invent / in the 15th century.

____ the toothbrush was invented in the 15th century ____________________________

b. The first public basketball game / play / in 1892.

______ The first public basketball game was played in 1892____________________________________

c. The first eyeglasses / wear / in the 1200s.

_____________ The first eyeglasses was worn in the 1200s______________________

d. The first bicycle / ride in 1791.

_______ The first bicycle was ridden in 1791

____________________________________________________________
e. The first hot dog / eat / in the 1860s.

_________ The first hot dog was eaten / in the 1860s

_______________________________________________________________________
f. The first CDs / sell / in the 1980s.

____________ The first CDs were sold in the 1980s

____________________________________________________________________
g. The first electric guitar / play / in 1923.

______________ The first electric guitar was played in 1923____________________________________

h. The first computer mouse / use / 1964.

________ The first computer mouse was used in 1964_____________________________________________

9. Complete with the passive. Use Present Simple.
a. This programme _______________________ (watch) by millions of people.
b. Paper __________________________ (make) from wood.
c. Hundreds of people _______________________ (kill) in accidents every year.
d. London __________________________ (visit) by thousands of tourists every year.
e. The biology class _________________________ (teach) by Mr Green.
f. English _____________________ (speak) all over the world.
g. Lunch _____________________ (serve) at twelve o’clock.
h. 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 children’s descriptions to catch the thief.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________ ENGLISH GRAMMAR
The Passive Voice 7
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!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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. ______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
b. The waiter will bring us the bill. _______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
c. Her mother bought Mary some sweets. _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
d. Bob has sold Ted a second-hand car. ___________________________________________________
e. Larry is going to send a letter to Tom. __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
17. Turn from Active to Passive.
a. Someone is helping her with the housework.

_________________________________________________________________________________
b. The mail-order company sent Mrs Green a parcel.

_________________________________________________________________________________
c. My friend sent me an invitation.

_________________________________________________________________________________
d. The secretary has given Mrs Jones some letters.

_________________________________________________________________________________
e. The traffic warden had already given him a ticket for illegal parking.

_________________________________________________________________________________
f. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.

_________________________________________________________________________________
g. Her students have sent her flowers.

_________________________________________________________________________________
h. He must give the message to the right person.

_________________________________________________________________________________
i. We teach our students English and French.

_________________________________________________________________________________
j. Someone bought flowers for the bride.

_________________________________________________________________________________
k. They showed the tourists the sights of Athens.

_________________________________________________________________________________
l. They pay her an excellent salary.

_________________________________________________________________________________
m. They paid the artist £1,000 for his painting.

_________________________________________________________________________________
18. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.
1. They sell oysters in the shop next door.

_________________________________________________________________________________
2. They haven’t delivered the food yet.

_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Shakespeare wrote King Lear.

_________________________________________________________________________________
4. They have to answer the questions on this sheet.

_________________________________________________________________________________
5. Has anybody put the cases upstairs?

_________________________________________________________________________________
6. Someone should take this rubbish away.

_________________________________________________________________________________
7. They’ll ask you a lot of questions.
_________________________________________________________________________________
8. Someone’s going to send her some flowers.

_________________________________________________________________________________ ENGLISH
GRAMMAR The Passive Voice 9
9. They didn’t pay me much for that job.

_________________________________________________________________________________
10. Have they offered him a better job?

_________________________________________________________________________________
11. They told us a secret.

_________________________________________________________________________________
12. Would they lend me their car?

_________________________________________________________________________________
13. People should send their complaints to the head office.

_________________________________________________________________________________
14. They had to postpone the meeting because of illness.

_________________________________________________________________________________
15. They are going to hold next year’s congress in San Francisco.

_________________________________________________________________________________
16. The bill includes service.

_________________________________________________________________________________
17. People don’t use this road very often.

_________________________________________________________________________________
18. They cancelled all the flights because of fog.

_________________________________________________________________________________
19. Somebody accused me of stealing the money.

_________________________________________________________________________________
20. They are building a new ring-road round the city.

_________________________________________________________________________________
21. I didn’t realize that someone was recording our conversation.

_________________________________________________________________________________
22. They have changed the date of the meeting.

_________________________________________________________________________________
23. Brian told me that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street.

_________________________________________________________________________________
24. You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.

_________________________________________________________________________________
25. Somebody had cleaned my shoes and brushed my suit.

_________________________________________________________________________________
26. We use this room only on special occasions.

_________________________________________________________________________________
27. In some districts farmers use pigs to find truffles.

_________________________________________________________________________________
28. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.

_________________________________________________________________________________
29. They have offered Sarah a very good job.

_________________________________________________________________________________
30. The estate agent showed the house to the young people.

_________________________________________________________________________________
31. We will pay the gardener a lot of money.

_________________________________________________________________________________
32. Someone is going to repair the roof next week.

_________________________________________________________________________________
33. They can’t find Joanna.

_________________________________________________________________________________
34. They should decorate the room with flowers.

_________________________________________________________________________________
35. Archaeologists have discovered an ancient temple.

_________________________________________________________________________________
36. We will put all these things into boxes.

_________________________________________________________________________________
37. The firefighters rescued the teenagers from the burning building.

_________________________________________________________________________________
38. The youngest student in the class has written the best composition.

_________________________________________________________________________________
39. The children send me messages every day.

_________________________________________________________________________________
40. The villagers gave the travellers food and water.

_________________________________________________________________________________
41. A very talented young girl wrote the story.

_________________________________________________________________________________
42. They are going to finish the new road in a few days.

_________________________________________________________________________________
43. They cancelled the match because of the rain.

_________________________________________________________________________________
44. You must not cross this line.

_________________________________________________________________________________
45. They had picked the oranges before the storm.

_________________________________________________________________________________
46. Professor Smith should write the book.

_________________________________________________________________________________
47. Mr Elliot will pay the workers.

_________________________________________________________________________________
48. Two men were following Tom.

_________________________________________________________________________________
49. Millions of people use the Internet every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
50. They gave Bob a CD player for his birthday.

_________________________________________________________________________________
51. The prime minister will give a medal to the winners.

_________________________________________________________________________________
52. She is telling the children a story.

_________________________________________________________________________________
53. They’ve offered Sally a job.

_________________________________________________________________________________
54. Poisonous chemicals have polluted the river.

_________________________________________________________________________________
55. Doctor Simms is examining her.

_________________________________________________________________________________
56. You must stop him now.

_________________________________________________________________________________
57. Someone gave them free tickets for the concert.

_________________________________________________________________________________