Exercises on Passive

Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is
performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a
mistake.).

Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
 the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive

Tense Subject Verb Object

writes a letter.
Simple Present Active: Rita

Passive: A letter is written by Rita.

Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.

Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.

Hilfsverben Active: Rita can write a letter.

Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.

Examples of Passive

Tense Subject Verb Object

is writing a letter.
Present Active: Rita
Progressive
Passive A letter is being written by Rita.
:
Past Progressive Active: Rita was writing a letter.

Passive A letter was being written by Rita.

:
Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.

Passive A letter had been written by Rita.

:
Future II Active: Rita will have written a letter.

Passive A letter will have been written by Rita.

:
Conditional I Active: Rita would write a letter.

Passive A letter would be written by Rita.

:
Conditional II Active: Rita would have written a letter.

Passive A letter would have been written by Rita.

:

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the
subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put
the focus on.

Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2

 wrote a letter to me.
Active: Rita

Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita.

Passive: I was written a letter by Rita.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object
that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you
need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says – it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English,
Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put
into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs
and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to
become the subject of the passive sentence.

Excercises

>Mixed Exercise on Passive Voice

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. John collects money. - Money is collected by John.

2. Anna opened the window. - The window was opened by Anna.

3. We have done our homework. - Our homework has been done by us.

4. I will ask a question. - A question will be asked by me.

5. He can cut out the picture. - The picture can be cut out by him.

6. The sheep ate a lot. - A lot was eaten by the sheep.

7. We do not clean our rooms. - Our rooms are not cleaned by us.

8. William will not repair the car. - The car will not be repaired by William.

9. Did Sue draw this circle? - Was this circle drawn by Sue?

10. Could you feed the dog? - Could the dog be fed by you?

0 out of 10 answers are correct.

Passiv mit 2 Objekten

Bilde Passivsätze und Use das fett geschriebene Objekt als Subjekt des Passivsatzes. (Personal Passive)

1. Rachel will give you some advice.

→ You will be given some advice.

2. I sent him a letter.

→ He was sent a letter.

3. The police officer showed us the way.

→ We were shown the way.

4. Our neighbour gave me a lift.

→ I was given a lift.

5. We have asked him a favour.

→ He has been asked a favour.

6. She told me a lie.

→ I was told a lie.

7. They have written her a postcard.

→ She has been written a postcard.

8. Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.

→ You will be made a cup of tea.

9. The waiter has not brought us the coffee.

→ We have not been brought the coffee.

10. They did not offer her a seat.

→ She was not offered a seat.

Passiv mit 2 Objekten

Bilde Passivsätze und Use das fett geschriebene Objekt als Subjekt des Passivsatzes.

1. Rachel will give you some advice.

→ Some advice will be given to you.

2. I sent him a letter.

→ A letter was sent to him.

3. The police officer showed us the way.

→ The way was shown to us.

4. Our neighbour gave me a lift.

→ A lift was given to me.

5. We have asked him a favour.

→ A favour has been asked of him.

6. She told me a lie.

→ A lie was told to me.

7. They have written her a postcard.

→ A postcard has been written to her.

8. Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.

→ A cup of tea will be made for you.

9. The waiter has not brought us the coffee.

→ The coffee has not been brought to us.

10. They did not offer her a seat.

→ A seat was not offered to her.

0 out of 10 answers are correct.

 Changed: 21st Feb 2008 17:57

Personal Passive
Wandle die Aktivsätze in Passivsätze um. Use Personal Passive.

1. People know that she is a good swimmer.

→ She is known to be a good swimmer.

2. They say that Francis is in hospital.

→ Francis is said to be in hospital.

3. They think that the children are in bed.

→ The children are thought to be in bed.

4. People believe that the robber has worked in the bank.

→ The robber is believed to have worked in the bank.

5. People believe that nuclear power stations are dangerous.

→ Nuclear power stations are believed to be dangerous.

6. His collegues thought that he was on holiday.

→ He was thought to be on holiday.

7. People know that cars pollute the environment.

→ Cars are known to pollute the environment.

8. They suppose that the new product will come out soon.

→ The new product is supposed to come out soon.

9. They found that the mission was impossible.

→ The mission was found to be impossible.

10. They believe that she will win a gold medal.

→ She is believed to win a gold medal.

0 out of 10 answers are correct.

Exercises on Passive (Active → Passive)

 Exercise on Passive with Simple Present
 Exercise on Passive with Simple Past
 Exercise on Passive with Present Perfect
 Exercise on Passive with Future I
 Exercise on Passive with Auxiliary Verbs
  Mixed Exercise on Passive with Passive
 Sentences with 2 Objects (Indirect Object, Personal Passive) (neu)
 Sentences with 2 Objects (Direct Object) (neu)
 Personal Passive (verbs of perception) (neu)

Passive Voice - Exercise with Auxiliary Verbs

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. I can answer the question. - The question can be answered by me.

2. She would carry the box. - The box would be carried by her.

3. You should open the window. - The window should be opened by you.

4. We might play cards. - Cards might be played by us.

5. You ought to wash the car. - The car ought to be washed by you

6. He must fill in the form. - The form must be filled in by him.

7. They need not buy bread. - Bread need not be bought by them.

8. He could not read the sentence. - The sentence could not be read by him.

9. Will the teacher test our English? - Will our English be tested by the teacher?

10. Could Jenny lock the door? - Could the door be locked by Jenny?

0 out of 10 answers are correct.