The document provides examples of active and passive voice sentences and exercises for converting between the two. It begins by filling in blanks to complete sentences in both active and passive voice. It then provides rules for forming passive voice, including that the subject of an active sentence becomes the object of a passive sentence. Examples are given of converting between active and passive voice, including changing the focus from the actor to the action.

1. 1. Complete thesesentences.
a. The US premiere of ________________________________ has been called off in
the wake of last week's shootings in a Connecticut school.
They have _______________ the US premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s western
Django Unchained in the wake of last week's shootings in a Connecticut school.
b. A ________ carrying the casket of six-year-old Jack Pinto enters the Newtown Village
Cemetery.
The casket of six-year-old Jack Pinto is being _________ by a hearse.
c. Two _____________________ have called for changes to firearm laws, as the
_______________ of the 26 victims of Newtown school shootings were buried.
Changes to firearm laws have been _____________ by two pro-gun US senators, as
they _________ the first victims of the 26 victims of Newtown school shootings.
2. Look at the example. Complete the box for the other sentences.
a) They have called off the US premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s western Django
Unchained.
The US premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s western Django Unchained has been called
off.
Subject Verb Object Agent
Active They have called off the US premiere…
Passive The US premiere… has been called off
b) A hearse is carrying the casket of six-year-old Jack.
c) Changes to firearm laws have been called for by two pro-gun US senators.
d) The first victims of the 26 victims of Newtown school shootings were buried today.
Subject Verb Object Agent
Active
Passive
Passive
Passives – Chiew Pang Page 1 of 2

2. 3. Complete the rules.
a) The subject of an active sentence becomes the __________ of a passive sentence.
b) The object of an active sentence becomes the __________ of a passive sentence.
c) Passive forms are made up of an appropriate form of the verb __________ followed
by the _______________ form of the verb, e.g. arrested, held.
d) Choose the correct option.
i) In passive sentences, the mainfocus is on the person who does the action.
ii) In passive sentences, the mainfocus is on the action or the person it happened
to.
e) It is always necessary to mention the agent (the doer of the action). TRUE/FALSE
f) If the doer of the action is mentioned, it is preceded by the preposition _____.
g) Often the person who does the action is not mentioned because this is obvious or
because the doer is unimportant or unknown. TRUE/FALSE
h) Passive sentences are more often used in formal contexts, such as in reporting.
TRUE/FALSE
4. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate form of the verb.
a) The last Olympics __________ in London. (hold)
b) Spain __________ three gold medals. (win)
c) Police said three people ___________ arrestedas part of an investigation. (be)
5. Convert the following into passive sentences.
a) Ratings agency Standard and Poor's has raised the credit rating of Greece's
sovereign debt by six levels.
b) The changes also mean Instagram can share information about its users with
Facebook.
6. Convert the following to active sentences.
a) They were being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
b) Jason Osu, 31, was shot five times on 19 November.
Passives – Chiew Pang Page 2 of 2