Passive Voice
Ex.1 Define the tense of the following verbs (the Active or the Passive Voice):
1. They are sending for the doctor.
2. The doctor is being sent for.
3. He asked me a question.
4. The question was asked.
5. Special attention is being paid to the grammar.
6. This paper has just been received.
7. I will write a letter to my friends in Britain.
8. The letter will be soon written.
9. The tiles are being laid in the bathroom.
10. They are buying the furniture for the kitchen.
11. They will be speaking about this problem with you tomorrow at five.
12. The new apartment house is being constructed in our street.
13. The armchair was placed in the sitting room.
14. They are playing tennis.
15. Football is played in winter in Great Britain.
16. Their apartment is located not far from the centre.
17. The arrangements for the house-warming party will be made tomorrow.
Ex.2 Write the sentences in the passive
e.g.
An expert is restoring the antique car. The antique car is being restored by an expert.
1. Steven Spielberg has directed a lot of successful films.
2. They saw two men running out of the bank.
3. A number of reporters will meet the professor at the airport.
4. A famous designer is going to redecorate the President’s house.
5. The Romans founded Bath in the first century A.D.
6. A loud noise woke Mary up.
7. He made her work overtime.
8. Van Gogh painted Sunflowers.
9. Austronauts are exploring space.
Ex 3 Transform the sentences from the Passive into the Active Voice; make all the necessary changes
1. The apartment houses are being built.
2. Anna Karenina was written by Tolstoy.
3. The doctor has been sent for.
4. Tennis is played all over the world.
5. The room will be wallpapered tomorrow.
6. He is always listened to with great interest.
7. This student has been spoken about recently.
8. The repairs will be made as soon as my parents come back from vacation.
9. A lot of letters were answered.
Ex.4 Write the sentences in the Passive. Omit the agent where it can be omitted
Примечание: мы указываем деятеля в предложениях в пассивном залоге в том случае, если это важно в данном контексте. Когда деятель неизвестен, незначим или очевиден из сказанного ранее, он не указывается
(someone, people, I, you, etc.).
e.g.
People chop down a lot of trees every year. A lot of trees are chopped down every year.
Shakespeare wrote Macbeth. Macbeth was written by Shakespeare.
1. Homer wrote the Iliad.
2. The government will introduce new measures against crime.
3. Someone has burgled Ann’s house.
4. She offered me a cup of tea.
5. They check passports at Passport Control.
6. A million people visit the cathedral every year.
7. Someone has stolen Mike’s bicycle.
8. The mayor will open the exhibition.
9. Somebody saw Roger leave.
Ex.5 Fill in by or with
Примечание: предлог by используется перед деятелем, выраженным одушевлённым существительным; предлог with используется с названиями инструментов, материалов или ингредиентов
e.g.
A kite was made by Tim.
Mr. Smith was hit by Billy with a ball.
The cake was made with flour, sugar and eggs.
1. This salad is made _______ tomatoes and onion.
2. That novel was written _______ D.H. Lawrence.
3. The garden was dug _______ a spade.
4. The pudding was made ________ chocolate.
5. The picture was painted _________ Jackson Pollock.
6. The house was built ________ stone and bricks.
Ex. 5 Open the brackets; use the Active or the Passive Voice
1. Vlad (invite) many friends to his birthday party.
2. Vlad (invite) to a birthday party by his friend yesterday.
3. The repairs (make) next month.
4. A lot of apartment houses (build) in our city now.
5. The books of this writer (read) all over the world.
6. He (ask) the teacher about this rule.
7. The teacher (ask) the question by Sam.
8. He (meet) at the station yesterday.
9. The blinds (hang) tomorrow.
10. Exercises (write) in class every day.
11. The sofa (place) in the left corner.
12. This problem not (discuss) in class.
13. The letter (send) yesterday?
14. You (answer) your brother’s letter last week?
15. Where the bedroom (locate) in your house?
16. These houses (design) for one family with children.
17. The patient (lead) to the doctor.
18. Much time can (save) if you take a bus instead of walking.
19. Dinner already (cook).
20. A new grammar rule (explain) to us by our teacher now.
Ex. 6 What do these words mean? Use it can… or it can’t …. Use a dictionary if necessary
If something is
1. washable, it can be washed
2. unbreakable, it _____________________
3. edible, it _____________________
4. unusable, it _____________________
5. invisible, it _____________________
6. portable, it _____________________
Ex. 7 Make sentences from the words in brackets. Sometimes the verb is active, sometimes passive
e.g.
There’s somebody behind us. (I think/we/follow) I think we’re being followed.
1. This room looks different. (you/ paint/ the walls?)
_______________________________________________________.
2. My car has disappeared. (it/ steal!)
It _____________________________________________________.
3. My umbrella has disappeared. (somebody/ take)
Somebody_______________________________________________.
4. Sam gets a higher salary now. (he/ promote)
He _____________________________________________________.
5. Ann can’t use her office at the moment. (it/ redecorate)
It _______________________________________________________.
6. The photocopier broke down yesterday, but now it’s OK. (it/ work/ again; it/ repair)
It __________________________. It _________________________.
7. When I went into the room, I saw that the table and chairs were not in the same place. (the furniture/ move)
The ____________________________________________________.
8. The man next door disappeared six months ago. (he/ not/ see/ since then)
He _____________________________________________________.
9. I wonder how Jane is these days. (I/ not/ see/ for ages)
I _________________________________________________________.
10. A friend of mine was mugged on his way home a few nights ago. (you/ ever/ mug?)
_______________________________________________________.