Transform the active into the passive

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Roland Charles
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1 Transform the active into the passive 1. The milkman brings the milk. 2. The postman brings the letters. 3. They have repaired the road. 4. He has released three new songs. 5. They broke the window. 6. Somebody stole my car. 7. They had opened the safe. 8. The police had caught the culprits. 9. They will send me an invitation by mail. 10. The room service will bring you your breakfast at They will have painted the room by tomorrow. 12. The artist will have finished the painting by Tuesday. 13. They re going to fix my car. 14. The doctor is going to examine my knee. 15. They used to deliver food from this restaurant. 16. The chemists used to do drugs in pharmacies. 17. Someone is watering the plants. 18. They are watching you. 19. They were tampering with the padlock. 20. The judge was passing the sentence. 21. You should / must / shut this door. 22. You should / ought to tell him. Which of these make sense in the passive? John collects money Anna opened the window We have done our homework I will ask a question He can cut out the Picture The sheep ate a lot We do not clean our rooms William will not repair the car Did Sue draw this circle? Could you feed the dog? Use the present simple or continuous tenses and future forms to complete this text. I... (not do) housework on Sundays normally. But tomorrow I... (tidy) my room, because my boyfriend Jim... (come). The bus... (arrive) at 10. I think Jim... (come) on time as usual, because he... (like) to be punctual. I... (look) forward to him. We... (have) a date every Sunday and I... (always look) forward to him. Tomorrow we... (have) a special date. We... (go) to see his parents. We... (have) a good time, I hope.

2 Passive voice 1 czerniakto@gmail.com 1. On the basis of the following passive sentences determine why the agent has been omitted: 1. I was told that you are leaving for another job. 2. He was operated on yesterday. 3. The whole city was rebuilt after the earthquake. 4. An increase in membership fees was suggested. 5. Taxes have been put up again. 2. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the previous one. There is no need to use a phrase with by in your passive sentences. 1. People don't respect politicians. Politicians. 2. The grass is being cut. Someone 3. They're going to repair the phone. The phone 4. They had lost the document. The document 5. Has anyone corrected the mistakes? Have 6. The door should have been locked behind us. We 7. They will broadcast the programme on Sunday. The programme 8. Someone had torn the page. The page 9. We have to do the shopping. The shopping 10. We're considering the matter. The matter 11. Something must have delayed your visitors. Your visitors 3. Read the sentences below. Some of them are correct and others are incorrect or inappropriate. Correct the latter ones. 1. The station was left by the train five minutes ago. 2. Languages are taught in every school in the country. 3. My jacket was made in England. 4. He was died by his brother. 5. Paper was invented by the Chinese. 6. The new road will be completed early next year. 7. Two litres are contained by the bottle. 8. The interview is being televised throughout the world. 9. A nice house is had by them. 10. You could see that he was going to be attacked by a large dog. 4. Some of the following sentences are more likely to be used than others, even though they are all grammatically possible. Decide which ones are likely to be used and which aren't. 1. I was rung up yesterday by someone trying to sell life insurance. 2. A potted plant was given to me by my daughter on my birthday. 3. I got my car fixed, but it cost the earth. 4. Chips are not normally served at breakfast. 5. Every student was sent a letter demanding immediate payment of fees. 6. I had my house burnt down last year. What a nightmare.

3 7. My hair was cut yesterday. Do you like it? 8. I've always had my fees paid by the government. 9. The roof was demolished in the storm last night. 10. Our house got broken into last night. 5. Rewrite these sentences using passive forms. 1 We will provide refreshments during the interval You should complete the form in black ink We have not tested this product on animals....! 4 We supply this appliance with a plug Someone has fitted this car with an alarm We arrange our displays in chronological sequence You must wear hard hats while we are carrying out construction work, (two passives)... 8 We will prosecute all shoplifters Closed circuit cameras are monitoring this area You may find toilet facilities at the rear of block B We will take care of all the formalities The customs officer made me open my suitcases A lot of people say the government is out of touch with public opinion The judge ought to have sent him to prison for life The check-in clerk gave Stephen an upgrade to first class A farmer let us park the caravan in his field overnight They saw him enter the building carrying a shotgun Some people think the proposed legislation is unworkable Someone broke a pane of glass while the boys were playing in the street Their parents have given the twins a puppy for their birthday.... PASSIVE OF STATE/ACTION 6. Look at the words in bold type and say if they express an action or a state. 1. The goods were damaged in the accident. 2. The goods were damaged deliberately. 3. These chairs are sold in all our stores. 4. I'm sorry, but those chairs are sold. 5. It was starting to get dark. I was frightened. 6. The animal was too frightened to come out of its nest. 7. The carpet was stained where someone had spilt wine on it.

4 Passive voice 1 czerniakto@gmail.com 8. The carpet was stained when someone spilt wine on it. 7. Use the required passive forms in the following sentences, observing the difference between the passive of action and the passive of state: 1. The house (to lock) up when they set off. 2. The house (to lock) up before they set off. 3. He wished to know if his instructions (to carry) out. 4. Talking of Susan, Milly (to remind) of something she once (to tell). 5. The officials usually make careful inquiries into the applicant's character. Then he (to give) a trial, discreetly (to watch), and if the impression is unfavourable politely (to thank) and (to tell) that his services no longer (to need). 6. Wherever I went I found that the camp (to leave) in a disgraceful condition. 7. Wherever I went I found evidence that the camp (to leave) only a short while before we arrived. 8. From where I stood the house (to hide) by lime trees. 9. Everything (to prepare) for the ball. The front lawn (to floor) and (to tent); palms and azaleas (to place) round it. 10. Dan had a car waiting, and open country easily (to reach) in those days. 11. Looking over his shoulder I saw that the note (to write) in pencil and on a whole sheet of paper. 12. We went to the back of the house and he tried another door. "Everything (to shut) up," he said. 13.Sometimes he would drive away for a whole day. His errands never (to explain). 14. "How do you find the cooking?" "Unchanged." "When the cook (to hire), your aunt gave her ten menus, and they never (to vary) since." 15. "I am so sorry to miss so much of your visit. You (to look)after properly?" Mr Ryder asked me. 16. I've just been to the garage trying to get a car but everything (to lock). 17.Then dinner (to announce), and we went to the dining-room where the subject (not to mention). 18. The idea, however, seemed to take root in his mind; when, a few days later, we spoke of the matter again it firmly (to establish). 19. When I arrived the family were in the sitting-room. Tea (to clear) away and the curtains (to draw). 20. When I stayed at the hotel I always (to give) the room I had had on my first visit. 21. His house in Hertford Street was large enough for them both and lately (to furnish) and (to decorate) by the most expensive firm. 22. His house was large, and it completely (to furnish) and (to decorate). 23. "It's the first time I ever (to take) out to dinner at a restaurant," she said. 24.Then he looked round furtively to see if he (to observe). 25. He was lying in bed. His eyes (to close). 26. At the beginning of May the engagement (to announce). Rex (to dismay) and (to perplex) by this new development. 8. Choose the correct words. 1. The table has to lay/to be laid. 2. The grass wants to cut/cutting.

5 3. There's so much to do/to be done on a club Sun holiday. 4. Our latest range of computers are selling/are being sold really well. 5. I had several letters to write/to be written. 6. This puzzle isn't very easy to solve/to be solved. 7. These instructions are too difficult to understand/to be understood by a child. 8. These brakes don't work very well. They need see to/seeing to. 9. Turn the following from active into passive where necessary. 1. When Hilary joined the production team, her manager introduced her to important contacts in the industry, and before long she was promoted to head of department The shops have lowered their prices for the sales. The difficulty is that the credit card company has cancelled my credit card, so I can't buy anything. 3. Sally says that Harvard University has offered her a place on their Bachelor of Arts course, but she's decided to reject it as Radcliff has admitted her too. 4. Lucy gave me a novel in which someone stole Monet's Water Lilies from the National Gallery. 5 The ATM withheld my card last night, so now I'll probably get it back on Monday. I just hope the machine doesn't discharge my card over the weekend. 6 Most people believe that the government should do more to protect the local environment. I don't think they are doing enough to encourage people to recycle....

6 Passive voice 1 czerniakto@gmail.com 7 From the manner in which the committee spoke of Madeline Adams, you would have thought they were going to promote her, but instead of thai they've just dismissed her. 8 It appears they have diagnosed her symptoms as influenza, but they are testing her for suspected pneumonia as well. 9 My car's battery went flat and they had to tow it to a mechanic. I will have to pay for the tow truck charges, but if they have to replace the battery I won't have to pay because the guarantee still covers it. 10. When they appointed Therese as head chef of the restaurant, they gave her permission to add any new dishes, so she may replace their existing menu. 10. Put the following sentences into the passive voice using the part in bold type as the subject where shown. Sometimes two verbs in a sentence need changing. Use a by-phrase only where necessary. 1. Somebody has found the boy the people wanted. 2 People ought not to speak about such things in public. 3 The wind blew his hat down the street. 4 They will take her to hospital tomorrow. 5 The police gave me 5 reward. 6 An unseen hand opened the window. 7 They will send Cyril to prison. 8 People should make lessons more interesting for children. 9 They had eaten all the dinner before they finished the conversation. 10 Somebody left the light on all night. 11 We shall lock the house up for the summer and the old gardener will look after it. 12 No one can answer your question. 13 Somebody has spilt tea all over the tablecloth. 14 His brother just beat John in the 100-yards race. 15 Has someone mended that chair yet? 16 Nobody has ever spoken to me like that before.

7 17 A friend lent me this book. 18 We have asked some friends of hers to join us. 19 People talked about Maisie all over the town. 20 They will give you the answer next week. 21 Didn't they tell you to be here by six o'clock? 22 I'd like someone to read to me. 23 You must not throw away empty bottles. 24 No one has drunk out of this glass. 25 The stone struck him in the right shoulder. 26 The fire destroyed many valuable paintings. 27 Someone blew a whistle three times. 28 A huge wave overturned the little boat. 29 He finished his work by eight o'clock. 30 Ladies used to wear their dresses very long. 31 The maid washed the floor only this morning. 32 Lions attacked the travellers. 33 Someone has stolen my collection of stamps. 34 I have sharpened the knives. 35 The same man mended your shoes. 36 They built two new houses last year. 37 They sent letters of thanks to all their friends. 38 We ate up all the biscuits yesterday. 39 People will laugh at you if you wear that silly hat. 40 People were carrying the chairs out into the garden. 41 His friends gave him a cake for his birthday.

52.2 Elementary and intermediate. Put the following sentences into the passive with a personal subject.

52.2 Elementary and intermediate. Put the following sentences into the passive with a personal subject. PASSIVE VOICE 52.1 Elementary. Complete the following passive voice sentences in the tenses suggested. This picture (always admire). -present His leg (hurt) in an accident. -past This exercise (do) very