2. 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.).
3. 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)
4. Examples of Passive
Present Active:Rita writes a letter.
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 Active:Rita will write a letter.
Passive:A letter will be written by Rita
Modals Active:Rita can write a letter.
Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.
5. Passive Voice - Exercise with Auxiliary Verbs
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
I can answer the question. - ................................
She would carry the box. - .................................
You should open the window. - ...........................
We might play cards. - ........................................
You ought to wash the car. - ...............................
He must fill in the form. - ......................................
They need not buy bread. - .................................
He could not read the sentence. -........................
Will the teacher test our English? - ......................
Could Jenny lock the door? - ...............................
6. Examples of Passive
Present Progressive A:Rita is writing a letter.
P:A letter is being written by Rita.
Past Progressive A:Rita was writing a letter.
P: A letter was being written by Rita.
Past Perfect A:Rita had written a letter.
P:A letter had been written by Rita.
Future II A:Rita will have written a letter.
P:A letter will have been written by Rita.
Conditional I A:Rita would write a letter.
P:A letter would be written by Rita.
Conditional II A:Rita would have written a letter.
P:A letter would have been written by Rita.
7. Exercise on Passive Voice-Conditionals II- III
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
Jenny would congratulate you. - .....................................
We would pick you up. - ....................................................
She would order a pizza. - ...............................................
He would build a new house. - .........................................
Would the DJ play this song? - ........................................
They would have told you. - ............................................
I would not have given this book away. - .........................
Would my mum have packed the bag? - ..........................
Would you have accepted that offer? - .............................
Would they have given the right answer? - ......................
8. Mixed Exercise on Passive Voice
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
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? - ......................................
9. 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.
Active:Rita wrote a letter to me.
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.
10. Passive with 2 objects
Rachel will give you some advice.
→
I sent him a letter.
→
The police officer showed us the way.
→
Our neighbour gave me a lift.
→
We have asked him a favour.
→
She told me a lie.
→
They have written her a postcard.
→
Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.
→
The waiter has not brought us the coffee.
→
They did not offer her a seat.
→
11. 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.
12. 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.
Το (women) πάει στην αρχή της πρότασης . Η υπόλοιπη
πρόταση προστίθεται μετά από ένα “to” (certain auxiliary
verbs and that are dropped).
13. Impersonal Passive
People know that she is a good swimmer.
→ ...................................................................................
They say that Francis is in hospital.
→ ....................................................................................
They think that the children are in bed.
→ ....................................................................................
People believe that the robber has worked in the bank.
→ ....................................................................................
People believe that nuclear power stations are dangerous.
→ ....................................................................................
His collegues thought that he was on holiday.
→ ....................................................................................
People know that cars pollute the environment.
→....................................................................................
They suppose that the new product will come out soon.
→ ....................................................................................
They found that the mission was impossible.
→ ....................................................................................
They believe that she will win a gold medal.
....................................................................................
14. The Statue of Liberty
Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). You must either use
Simple Present or Simple Past.
The Statue of Liberty ....................(give) to the United
States by France.
It (be)................. a present on the 100th anniversary of
the United States.
The Statue of Liberty (design) .................by Frederic
Auguste Bartholdi.
It (complete) .................in France in July 1884.
In 350 pieces, the statue then (ship) ..................to New
York, where it (arrive) ...................on 17 June 1885.
The pieces (put) .......................together and the opening
ceremony (take) place on 28 October 1886.
15. The Statue of Liberty (be).................... 46 m high (93
m including the base).
The statue (represent) ....................the goddess of
liberty.
She (hold) ........................a torch in her right hand
and a tablet in her left hand.
On the tablet you (see / can) ........................the date
of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).
Every year, the Statue of Liberty
(visit) .......................by many people from all over
the world.
16. Exercise on Tenses in Summaries - Part 1
Summary - The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Summaries are usually written in present tense. Simple present is the most important tense
in summaries. But other tenses are important,too.
The Fellowship of the Ring (be) ...................the first book of J.R.R. Tolkien's
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which (set)..................... in a fictive world,
Middle Earth. It (tell) .......................the story of Frodo, a hobbit, and a magic
ring.
As the story (begin) ......................., Frodo (give)........................ a magic ring.
The wizard Gandalf then (tell)........................ him of the Rings of Power and
of Sauron, the Dark Lord, who (make) ...........................the Master Ring to
rule all other Rings. Gandalf (advise) .......................Frodo to leave home and
keep the ring out of Sauron's hands who already (send) ......................his
Black Riders in search for it. Frodo's ring (give)......................... Sauron the
power to enslave Middle Earth.
Frodo (leave)........................ the shire with three travelling companions: Sam,
Merry and Pippin. First they (know/not) ........................that the Dark Riders
(pick up) ......................their trail already. But soon the four friends (find
out) .......................about that.
17. They (have)..................... a few encounters with the Dark
Riders which Frodo and his friends (can)....................... only
just escape. In one attack by the Dark Riders, however, Frodo
(wound) .......................badly. Still, his friends
(manage) ......................to escape with him. Travelling on,
they (reach) .....................the country of the elves. There
Frodo (heal)....................... by Elrond, an half-elven.
A council then (decide) ........................that the ring (must /
destroy)......................... and (send)............................ nine
individuals, the fellowship of the ring, to the Cracks of Doom
to fulfil this task. The group (travel) ........................through
the lands of Hollom and finally (come) .........................to the
mines of Moria. There they (have to)
.................................fight against orcs and a demon of flames
called Balrog. Fighting Balrog on the bridge of Khazad-Dum,
Gandalf (save)............................ his friends. Gandalf himself,
however, (drag) ............................into the depths by the
demon. The others (manage)................................. to escape.
18. When Boromir, one of the fellowship, (try)..............
to steal the ring, Frodo (realise)...................... that he
(have to) ............................continue on his own. His
dear friend Sam, however, (want/not)......................
to let him go alone. So he (accompany)......................
him and eventually the two of them
(reach)..................... the evil land of Mordor.
