EXERCISES

1. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Present
Simple.
Is spoken
a. English ____________________ (speak) in many countries.
Is delivered
b. The post ______________________ (deliver) at about 7 o’clock every morning.
Is the building used
c. ______________________________ (the building/use) any more?
d. How often ______________________________
Are held olimpic (the Olympic Games(hold)?
Is spelled your name (your name/spell)?
e. How _______________________
Is paid
f. My salary _____________________ (pay) every month.
Are made
g. These cars _________________________ (not make) in Japan.
Is not known
h. The name of the people who committed the crime _____________________ (not know).
Aren’t paid
i. His travel expenses ________________________ (not pay) by his company.

2. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple.
Was repaired
a. My car ______________________ (repair) last week.
Weren’t written
b. This song ________________________ (not write) by John Lennon.
The phone answered
c. ________________________________ (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
Was made
d. The film ________________________ (make) ten years ago.
Was Invented
e. When ______________________________ (tennis/invent)?
Wasn’t damaged
f. The car ________________________ (not damaged) in the accident.
Was pulled
g. The original building _________________________ (pull) down in 1965.
Was this pot make
h. Where ______________________________ (this pot/make)?
Was this bridge built
i. When _______________________________ (this bridge/build)?
4
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
We’re 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____________________
We’re tested (tested/were tested) by
5
Was called
technicians. In 1936, Fiat launched the Fiat 500. This car ____________________ (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
7
Are sold
Turin, and its cars _________________ (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)
Tickets for all shows are sold at the Box office by us.
_________________________________________________________________________________
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 night
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. Several people saw the accident. (The accident/see/by several people)
The accident was seen by several people
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. Where do they make these video recorders? (Where/these video recorders/make)
Where are these video recorders made?
_________________________________________________________________________________
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

5. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

a. Someone built this house 200 years ago.
This house was built 200 years ago.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. A thief stole my purse.
My purse is stolen a thief.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. The police will arrest the robbers.
The robbers will be arrested 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.
The rubbish of the people is thrown away tones every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. They make coffee in Brazil.
The coffee is made in Brazil.
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. Someone stole Jim’s bike lat night.
Jim´s bike was stolen lats night.
_________________________________________________________________________________

6. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

a. They will build a new bridge next year.
A new bridge is going to be built next year.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.
The Ultimate Space Adventurewas directed by Brian Brody.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. Pierre Matie will design her costume.
Her costume will be designed by Pierre Matie.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. Someone found my wallet.
5
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 on Monday.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.
Paul was invited to Marys birthday party.
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. British astronomers discovered a new planet.
A new planet was discovered by Britishastronomers.
_________________________________________________________________________________

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 Campagne 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
___________________________________________?
 i. CDs are made of plastic. Are CDs made of plastic
___________________________________________?
j. The party was organised 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 invent in the 15thcentury.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. The first public basketball game / play / in 1892.
The first basketball game was played in1892 and published.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. The first eyeglasses / wear / in the 1200s.
Glasses were first worn in the year 1200.
_________________________________________________________________________________
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 came to the sale 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.
_________________________________________________________________________________

6 9. Complete with the passive. Use Present Simple.

watched
a. This programme _______________________ (watch) by millions of people.
made
b. Paper __________________________ (make) from wood.
killed
c. Hundreds of people _______________________ (kill) in accidents every year.
visited
d. London __________________________ (visit) by thousands of tourists every year.
teacher
e. The biology class _________________________ (teach) by Mr Green.
speaking
f. English _____________________ (speak) all over the world.
served
g. Lunch _____________________ (serve) at twelve o’clock.
written
h. Books _____________________ (write) by authors.

10. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple Passive.

were seen
Two men _________________________ (see) breaking into a house in my street last night. The police
were called
_____________________ was caught
(call) and they arrived very quickly. One man _____________________
was found
(catch) immediately. The other escaped, but he ______________________ (find) very soon. Both men
were taken
_____________________ were questioned
(take) to the police station where they _________________________
were charged
(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.
____________________________________________________________________________________
A bus from outside the school was stolen. The thief was seen by some children. The
____________________________________________________________________________________
bus is been searched by the police now. The children's descriptions will be used to
____________________________________________________________________________________
catch the thief.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

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!
____________________________________________________________________________________
7 ____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

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.
_________________________________________________________________________________
8 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. 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.
9 _________________________________________________________________________________
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.
10
_________________________________________________________________________________
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.
_________________________________________________________________________________