Grammar

Lesson 2: Active and passive voice exercise

Passive voice verbs are used in writing much more often than in speech, and they are used
in some types of writing much more often than in others. Passives are used more in
journalism (newspapers, magazines) than in fiction (novels, stories), but most journalists
and fiction writers use far more active than passive sentences.

A. Relationship between active and passive:

1. The object of the active verb is the subject of the passive verb ("English" in the example sentences
below). Therefore, verbs which cannot be followed by objects (intransitive verbs) cannot be used in
passive voice.

These are some common intransitive verbs: appear, arrive, come, cry, die, go, happen, occur,
rain, sleep, stay, walk. These verbs cannot be used in passive voice.

Rules to form passive:

1- Present simple O + am/ is/ are + P.P

Ahmed plays football. ----- Football is played.

2- Present Progressive O + am/ is/ are being + P.P

Ahmed is playing football. ----- Football is being played by Ahmed.

3- Present Perfect O + has / have been + P.P

Ahmed has played football. ----- Football has been played by Ahmed.

4- Past simple O + was/ were + P.P

Ahmed played football. ----- Football was played.

5- Past Progressive O + was /were being + P.P

Ahmed was playing football. ----- Football was being played by Ahmed.

6- Past Perfect O + has / have been + P.P

Ahmed had played football. ----- Football had been played by Ahmed.

7- Future simple O + will be + P.P

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 Ahmed will play football. ----- Football will be played.

O + am/ is/ are going to be + P.P

Ahmed is going to play football. ----- Football is going to be played.

1. This house ————— in 1970 by my grandfather.

(a) built

(b) was built

(c) was build

(d) has built

2. The robbers ————— by the police.

(a) have arrested

(b) have been arrested

(c) was arrested

(d) had arrested

3. We ————— for the examination.
(a) have preparing

(b) are preparing

(c) had preparing

(d) have been prepared

4. It ————— since yesterday.
(a) is raining

(b) has been raining

(c) have been raining

(d) was raining

5. I ————— for five hours.

(a) have been working

(b) has been working

(c) was working

(d) am working

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6. This rumor ————— by our competitors.
(a) started

(b) has started

(c) must start

(d) must have been started

7. The students ————— to submit their reports by the end of this week.

(a) have asked

(b) are asked

(c) has asked

(d) are asking

8. The teacher ————— the student for lying.

(a) has been punished

(b) punished

(c) is punished

(d) was punished

9. All the halls ————— at the moment.

(a) paint

(b) are painting

(c) are painted

(d) are being painted

10. I ————— to become a successful writer.
(a) have always wanted

(b) am always wanted

(c) was always wanted

(d) am always wanting

11. As the patient could not walk he ————— home in a wheel chair.
(a) has carried

(b) has been carrying

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(c) was carried

(d) was carrying

12. Letters ————— by the postman at 8:00 a.m. every day.

(a) deliver

(b) delivered

(c) are delivered

(d) were delivered

II. Change the following sentences from active to passive voice. Be sure to keep
the same tense with each change:
1. The teacher punished the child severely.

The child was severely punished by the teacher.

2. They make these tools of plastic.

These tools are made of plastic.

3. He returned the money last night.

The money was returned last night.

4. Someone has stolen all his money.

All his money has been stolen.

5. Many students attended the lecture.

The lecture was attended by many students.

6. They have finished the new product design.

The new product design has been finished.

7. The postman is going to deliver the letter soon.

The letter is going to be delivered soon by the postman.

8. People think highly of him.

He is thought highly of by people.

9. An earthquake destroyed the village.

The village was destroyed by an earthquake.

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 10. The committee is going to hold its next session next week.

The committee's next session is going to be held next week.

11. My grandfather built this house in 1943.

This house was built by my grandfather in 1943.

12. By this time tomorrow we will have signed the deal.

By this time tomorrow, the deal will have been signed.

13. The traffic might have delayed Jimmy.

Jimmy might have been delayed by the traffic.

14. May God bless you with happiness!

May you be blessed with happiness by God.

15. No one responded to my sales ad.

My sales ad was not responded to by anyone.

III. Change the following sentences from passive to active voice:

1. An award-winning novel was written by her.

She wrote an award-winning novel.

2. The entire city was destroyed by a hurricane.

A hurricane destroyed the entire city.

3. The town will be captured by our army in a few days.

Our army will capture the town in a few days.

4. When the manager arrived, the problem had already been solved.

When the manager arrived, someone had already solved the problem.

5. You’ll be punished if you don’t do your homework.

They’ll punish you if you don’t do your homework.

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6. You’ll be given two hours to make your decision.

They’ll give you two hours to make your decision.

7. Have you been shown the new magazine?

Has someone shown you the new magazine?

8. Our plan is being considered by the members of the committee.

The members of the committee are considering our plan.
9. Traces of ice have been discovered on the surface of Mars.
Scientists have discovered traces of ice on the surface of Mars.

10. A prize will be given to whoever solves this equation.

They will give a prize to whoever solves this equation.

11. Instructions will be given to you by the director.

The director will give you instructions.

12. By whom was the last cookie eaten?

Who ate the last cookie?

13. The students’ questions are always answered by the teacher.

The teacher always answers the students’ questions.

14. Dennis was asked a question by Kevin.

Kevin asked Dennis a question.

15. English is not spoken in this shop.

People do not speak English in this shop.

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Writing
Read the following sentences and put (T) if they are true or (F) if they are incorrect:

1- A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single
topic. (T)
2- Every paragraph should include a topic sentence that identifies the main idea of the paragraph( T )
3- The topic sentence should come at the end of the paragraph. ( F )
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4- A concluding sentence summarizes the supporting ideas in the paragraph or restates the writer’s
point of view. (T)
5- The concluding sentence usually comes at the beginning of the paragraph. ( F )
6- Unity means that all sentences in the paragraph directly support the topic sentence. ( T)
7- Coherence means that all the information of the paragraph is well-organized, logically ordered and
easy to follow. ( T)
8- To show addition in a paragraph, you use transitional words such as ( finally, in brief, to sum up)
(F)
9- Almost every piece of writing you do that is longer than a few sentences should be organized into
paragraphs. ( T)
10- Paragraphs show a reader where the subdivisions of an essay begin and end. ( T)
11- Paragraphs don’t help the reader see the organization of the essay and grasp its main points. ( F )
12- Paragraphs can contain many different kinds of information about a single topic. ( T)
13- Supporting sentences in a paragraph usually come to support the main idea of the paragraph by
using examples and illustrations. ( T)
14- To add further information in a paragraph, you can use transitional words such as (also,
furthermore, moreover). ( T)
Grammar True/ False
15- When I say “While I was going home, I stopped to buy a newspaper”. It means I gave up buying
newspapers. (F)
16- The sentence “I regret telling you the truth” means I will inform you bad news in a formal polite
way. ( F )
17- The sentence “I regret to tell you the truth” means I will inform you bad news in a formal polite
way. ( T)
18- “After university, he went on studying law” means that after finishing university; he continued his
high studies in the same field. ( T)
19- “After university, he went on to study law” means that after finishing university; he continued his
high studies in the same field. ( F )
20- In changing sentences into passive voice, the object of the active verb becomes the subject of the
passive verb. ( T)
21- The sentence “The teacher punished the child severely” is in a passive voice. ( F)
22- The sentence “ Instructions will be given to you by the director” is in an active voice. ( F)