Exercise 1
Choose the best sentence in each pair.
a A new job has been offered to Luke.
b Luke’s been offered a new job.
c No directions were given to us.
d We weren’t given any directions.
e This is a lovely piece of music. Someone composed it in 1790.
f This is a lovely piece of music. It was composed in 1790.
g Polly is a poet. A new book of poems has just been written by her.
h Polly is a poet. She’s just written a new book of poems.
i A thief committed a theft in New Street last night.
j A theft was committed in New Street last night.
k 100% cotton. Made in Egypt.
I 100% cotton. People in Egypt made it.
m A full refund was given to me.
n I was given a full refund.
o No one wants to be forgotten.
p People don’t want people to forget them.
q Basil Morgan taught me history.
r History was taught to me by Basil Morgan.
s The pupils were punished for cheating.
t The teacher punished the pupils for cheating.
Exercise 2
Write the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets.
a You (give) instructions when you arrive.
b I suddenly realized I (watch).
c When we got back to the car, we found that it (vandalize).
d Carmen (interview) for the job right now.
e The van Dyck painting (sell) at auction next year.
f I (teach) French by Malcolm Smith at university.
g I’m sorry it’s so noisy. Our new kitchen (fit).
h The school (open) by the Prince next Tuesday.
i Spanish (speak) in Latin America.
j Ten thousand of these cars (make) in France every year.
Exercise 3
Write passive sentences. Include a by phrase only if you think it’s necessary.
a When we arrived a waiter was serving dinner.
…………………………
b The mother gave birth to George on 4 October.
…………………………
c Duty painted this picture.
…………………………
d Auctioneers will sell the painting at auction.
…………………………
e Someone’s offered me a better job.
…………………………
f They’re taking the goods to market.
…………………………
g Someone owes me a lot of money.
…………………………
h The police have arrested the mugger.
…………………………
i By the time I got back, someone had ordered the coffee.
…………………………
j I’m sure my uncle invented this machine.
…………………………
Exercise 4
Rewrite these sentences. Keep the same meaning.
a The prize was awarded to me! I …………………………
b The police stopped Phil for speeding. Phil …………………………
c Somebody built this monument in 1716. This …………………………
d Documents were given to me to sign. I …………………………
e Someone warned him not to do it. He …………………………
Answers
Read the note to find out why.
1 The best sentences are:
b -> E k -> B
d -> E n -> E
f -> B o -> B
h -> D q -> D
j -> C s -> C
2
a will be given -> A
b was being watched -> A
c had been vandalized -> A
d ‘s being interviewed -> A
e will/is going to be sold -> A
f was taught -> A
g is being fitted -> A
h will/is going to be opened -> A
i is spoken -> A
j are made -> A
3
a Dinner was being served when we arrived.
b George was born on 4 October.
c This picture was painted by Dufy.
d The painting will be sold at auction.
e I’ve been offered a better job.
f The goods are being taken to market.
g I’m owed a lot of money.
h The mugger has been arrested.
i By the time I got back, the coffee had been ordered.
j I’m sure this machine was invented by my uncle.
4
a I was awarded the prize!
b Phil was stopped for speeding.
c This monument was built in 1716.
Notes
A
Make the passive with the correct tense of the verb be + past participle.
B
Use the passive when you don’t know who does the action, or you aren’t interested in who does it. or it isn’t important who does it.
C
Use the passive when it’s obvious who does the action.
D
Always use the active form unless there’s a very good reason to use the passive.
E
If a verb has two objects, usually use the person as the subject in the passive.
Review
The passive (2)
– You make the passive with the correct tense of the verb be + past participle.
|
|
Active |
Passive |
|
Present |
People owe me money. |
I am owed some money. |
|
Past simple |
Matisse painted this. |
This was painted by Matisse. |
|
Past continuous |
They were taking him away. |
He was being taken away. |
|
Present perfect |
I’ve sold the car. |
The car has been sold. |
|
Past perfect |
He’d ordered coffee. |
Coffee had been ordered. |
|
Future |
We’ll read the report. |
The report will be read. |
– You use the passive when you don’t know who does the action, or you aren’t interested in who does it, or it isn’t important who does it.
The poem was written in 1675. The carpets were cleaned.
(I don’t know who wrote it.) (It isn’t important who cleaned them.)
– You use the passive when it’s obvious who does the action.
The theft was committed at 02.35. He’s been arrested.
(It’s obvious a thief committed the theft.) (It’s obvious the police arrested him.)
– Always use the active form unless there’s a very good reason to use the passive.
I’ve been offered a fantastic job. NOT A fantastic job has been offered to me.
– You use by + agent (person or thing) if you want to say who does the action. Sometimes it’s important to say who did it.
This statue was created by Henry Moore.
The ‘Difference Engine’ was invented by Charles Babbage.
– If a verb has two objects. you usually use the person as the subject in the passive.
Active No one gave me any directions.
Passive I wasn’t given any directions. (more common)
No directions were given to me.
Active Basil taught me history.
Passive I was taught history by Basil. (more common)
History was taught to me by Basil.