The Passive Voice - Notes

THE PASSIVE VOICE: REVISION (BE + PAST PARTICIPLE)
REMEMBER: THE PASSIVE VOICE IS NORMALLY USED WHEN WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE
ACTION, NOT THE “DOER” OR WE MAY NOT KNOW WHO DID THE ACTION. THEREFORE,
MANY TIMES, THE AGENT IS NOT MENTIONED.
1) CHANGE THESE SENTENCES FROM ACTIVE TO PASSIVE VOICE.

For example: They have sold the company ------- The company has been sold
1- They are interviewing the president on TV at the moment.
2-The police didn’t arrest anyone after the riots.
3- Did they take the old man to hospital?
4- They were repairing the traffic lights yesterday.
5- Has anyone opened this letter?
6- They should reduce taxes.
7- Did they send the e-mail? Who sent the e-mail?
8- They didn’t catch the thief.
2) Complete the sentences with a PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION, using the verbs given and the forms
suggested.
1- Much of London (destroy) by a fire in the seventeenth century. (Past Simple)
2- The man who (bite) by a snake was given a serum. (Past Perfect)
3- A leader should be a man who can (respect) by everybody.(Infinitive)
4- Many slums (demolish) to make way for new buildings. (Present Continuous)
5- The police (instruct) to take firm action against hooligans. (Present Continuous)
6- He (save) from bankruptcy by the kindness of a friend. (Past Simple)
7- A cease-fire (expect) (declare) later this week. (Present Simple / Infinitive)
8- A great deal of research (do) into the possible causes of cancer. (Present Perfect)
9- The worker claimed that he (victimize) by his employers. (Past continuous)
10- The tenant (evict) for not paying his rent. (Past Simple)
11- It (think) that the Government would do something to help. (Past Perfect)
12-Three hundred new houses (build) by the end of next year. (Future perfect)
3) VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS: DIRECT OBJECT / INDIRECT OBJECT

 VERBS SUCH AS: ask, give, offer, pay, promise, sell, send, show, tell, teach
Change these sentences into the PASSIVE VOICE. Follow the example.
They promised Robert an interview for the job: A) Robert was promised an interview for the job.
I. O. D. O. B) An interview for the job was promised to Robert.
1- I think that they have sent us the wrong tickets.
2- I hope that someone will give Sally the message.
3- They still deny women the right to vote in some countries.
4- Pat may show us the way.
5- Professor Harrison is teaching the students biology.
4) THE PASSIVE WITH PREPOSITIONS.

1. The army called up the soldiers.
2. Larry paid for the groceries.
3. Dave told on Thomas.
4. Mrs. Williams looked after my dog.
5. A lot of kids picked on Johnny.
6. Your brother showed me around.
7. That street vendor ripped her off.
8. Paul asked Sarah out.
9. Mr. Williams mixed up our exams.
1
5) PASSIVE WITH INFINITIVE OR GERUND.
Knock down wake up find take invite
stare interrupt spend laugh attack
1. That building is dangerous. It ought to ….…….……………….. down.
2. Stop looking at me! I don’t like ………………….. at.
3. I told the receptionist that I wanted to …..…….………….…. up at 6:00.
4. Do not cut in. He doesn’t like ……………………………..
5. The missing boy can´t .….…….………..…….anywhere.
6. Less money should .….……..…….…… on weapons.
7. Don’t make jokes about her. She hates ………………………….. at.
8. The injured man had to …………………… to hospital.
9. She came to the party without …………………………. .
10. She doesn’t go out alone after dark. She is afraid of ……………………..
6) PASSIVE WITH PERFECT INFINITIVE

1. A. Did anyone clean the rooms? B. No, they should …………………………… but they weren’t.
2. Why did you throw these documents away? They shouldn’t …………………………………. .
3. They fire yesterday could …………………………. by an electric fault. (cause)
4. The police suspect that the child might ..………….…….……….…….…… by a Chinese gang. (kidnap)
7) WE CAN USE “get” INSTEAD OF “be” WHEN WE MEAN ….

A) SOMETHING HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY OR BY ACCIDENT.
Ex. I was surprised that I didn’t get invited to the party.
B) SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED TO YOU.
Ex. My car got stolen last night.
COMPLETE
Steal break damage hurt catch
1. There was a fight at the party but nobody ……………………………. .
2. How did that window …………………………………..?
3. Did any of the houses ………………………….. in the storm last night?
4. If you break the law, make sure that you don’t ……………………………..
5. I used to have a bicycle, but it ……………………………………
8) NEED + ING (PASSIVE MEANING)

Ex. The house needs to be decorated.
The house needs decorating.
1. My car needs to be serviced. My car …………………………………………….
2. Your passport needs to be renewed. …………………………………………………….
3. The cat is hungry. It needs ……………………………………………… (feed)
9) THE CAUSATIVE PASSIVE: HAVE / GET SOMETHING DONE

a. When you arrange for somebody else (a professional) to do something for you:
• Jill is repairing the roof.
Jill is having / getting the roof repaired.
b. When something “bad” happens to you.
I had / got my car stolen last night.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE VERB TENSES:

Somebody is repairing his car. He is having his car repaired.
Somebody was repairing his car. He was having ...………….…. repaired
Somebody will repair his car. He …………….. ……………….. ………....
Somebody has repaired his car. He …………….. ……………….. ………...
Somebody should repair his car. He …………….. ……………….. ………...
Somebody had stolen his car. He …………….. ……………….. stolen.
2
Somebody stole his car. He …………….. ……………….. ………...
Someona may steal his car. He …………….. ……………….. ………...
Fill the gaps with have and the verb in brackets in their correct forms.
1. We ................... the roof...................................last year. It cost us a fortune. (repair)
2. Anne ................... her hair...................................every Friday afternoon. (do)
3. I ................... the brakes...................................three times a year. (check)
4. The government ................... the whole town...................................yesterday. (evacuate)
5. I ................... my hard drive...................................for a bigger one last week. (change)
6. When did you last ................... the airconditioning.....................? (service)
7. You don't think Liv Tyler's beautiful?! You should ................... your eyes........................(test)
8. After the plague of fleas, the boss ................... the office.......................(disinfect)
9. Your cat's coughing. You need to ................... him.......................for parasites. (treat)
10. Daphne ................... her legs......................right now. (do)
11.I ………………. my house …………………….. last night. (break into)
9) THE PASSIVE WITH REPORTING VERBS: say, believe, think, claim, expect, know,consider
For example.
People say that he is 108 years old
A) It is said that he is 108 years old
B) He is said to be 108 years old
Try these sentences yourself:

1- People expect that the government will lose the election.
2- People say that sunbathing causes cancer.
3- People think that the Queen of England is one of the richest women in the world
4- People believe that the presidents will resign.
5- People said that he was jealous of her.
PAY ATTENTION!!!
They think that the prisoner escaped by climbing over the wall.
It is thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing over the wall.
The prisoner is thought to have escaped by climbing over the wall.
People believed that the thieves had got in through the kitchen window.
It was believed that the thieves had got in through the kitchen window.
The thieves were believed to have got in through the kitchen window.
Try these ones:

1. People alleged that he was a bank robber.
2. People say that he won a lot of money gambling.
Now try these:

1- People believe that he is living abroad.
2- They report that two people were killed in the explosion.

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THE PASSIVE VOICE: REVISION (BE + PAST PARTICIPLE)

1) CHANGE THESE SENTENCES FROM ACTIVE TO PASSIVE VOICE.

3) VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS: DIRECT OBJECT / INDIRECT OBJECT

4) THE PASSIVE WITH PREPOSITIONS.

6) PASSIVE WITH PERFECT INFINITIVE

7) WE CAN USE “get” INSTEAD OF “be” WHEN WE MEAN ….

8) NEED + ING (PASSIVE MEANING)

9) THE CAUSATIVE PASSIVE: HAVE / GET SOMETHING DONE

PAY ATTENTION TO THE VERB TENSES:

1. We ................... the roof...................................last year. It cost us a fortune. (repair)

2. Anne ................... her hair...................................every Friday afternoon. (do)

3. I ................... the brakes...................................three times a year. (check)

4. The government ................... the whole town...................................yesterday. (evacuate)

5. I ................... my hard drive...................................for a bigger one last week. (change)

6. When did you last ................... the airconditioning.....................? (service)

8. After the plague of fleas, the boss ................... the office.......................(disinfect)

9. Your cat's coughing. You need to ................... him.......................for parasites. (treat)

10. Daphne ................... her legs......................right now. (do)

11.I ………………. my house …………………….. last night. (break into)

B) He is said to be 108 years old

Try these sentences yourself:

Try these ones:

Now try these:

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