Passive voice

1 Put into the correct active or passive form.

1 She promised him a book.

He ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 They will take her to hospital tomorrow.

She ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 You cannot expect children to understand these problems.

Children ……………………………………………………………………………………………

4 No-one has climbed this mountain before.

This mountain ……………………………………………………………………………………

5 He disappeared and no-one has seen him again.

He disappeared and ……………………………………………………………………………

6 I was told the latest news by a friend this morning.

A friend ……………………………………………………………………………………………

7 Have you ever been called a fool before?

Has ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

8 She was recommended a new doctor by her friend.

Her friend …………………………………………………………………………………………

9 Were you offered the job I told you about?

Did ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

10 Were you given enough sugar?

Did ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

11 People will show the visitor the new buildings.

The visitor …………………………………………………………………………………………

12 Someone will tell you what time the train leaves.

You ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

13 Someone ordered the prisoners to stand up.

The prisoners ……………………………………………………………………………………

14 I want someone to answer the phone call.

I want ………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 Passive with verbs + preposition. Change these sentences into the passive.

1 They will send for you when the boss arrives.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 He put off the meeting.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 They picked the students up from the school.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4 Poor John! A drunk driver ran him over.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5 We must go into this matter.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6 Look how well they have brought up those children.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7 Be careful what you say, as they will take down all your words.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 Interrogative form. Put these questions into the passive.

1 Is somebody picking you up tonight?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 Did they give up the search after three hours?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 Did anyone send you the photograph which they promised you?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4 Can we solve the problem?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5 Are you going to tell her the whole truth?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6 Did anyone ask you any questions?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4 Passive with reporting verbs. Put the following sentences into the passive.

1 People claim the Mona Lisa is the world's most famous painting.

The Mona Lisa …………………………………………………………………………………

2 Experts believe it was a portrait of a nobleman.

It is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 They say her smile hides a secret.

Her smile …………………………………………………………………………………………

4 Many believe it is Leonardo's masterpiece.

It is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

5 Scientists know he was a wonderful engineer too.

He is …………………………………………………………………………………………………

6 Historians think he was unhappy in old age.

He is …………………………………………………………………………………………………

7 People think the fire started at about 8 o'clock.

The fire ……………………………………………………………………………………………

8 They say experts are studying objects from a Spanish ship.

Experts ………………………………………………………………………………………………

9 They believe the ship was carrying gold bars.

The ship ……………………………………………………………………………………………

5 Rewrite the sentences in a different way.

1 You can only see these particles through a microscope.

These particles …………………………………………………………………………………

2 People are using computers in all kinds of work.

Computers …………………………………………………………………………………………

3 You have to keep dangerous chemicals in a safe place.

Dangerous …………………………………………………………………………………………

4 You should have left the laboratory unlocked.

The laboratory ……………………………………………………………………………………

5 We are unlikely to discover intelligent life on other planets.

Intelligent life ……………………………………………………………………………………

6 Three million people watch TV plays every week.

TV plays ……………………………………………………………………………………………

7 The critics gave the play good reviews.

The play ……………………………………………………………………………………………

8 A Greek architect is designing the new concert hall.

The new concert hall …………………………………………………………………………

9 Two million people have already seen the exhibition.

The exhibition ……………………………………………………………………………………

10 They are going to knock down the old theatre.

The old theatre …………………………………………………………………………………

11 They were still painting the walls when I left.

The walls …………………………………………………………………………………………

12 An American invented the laser.

The laser …………………………………………………………………………………………

13 They ought to mend the roof.

The roof ……………………………………………………………………………………………

14 Brazil produces large quantities of coffee.

Large quantities …………………………………………………………………………………

6 Rewrite these sentences with the new beginnings.

1 No one ever uses this room.

This room …………………………………………………………………………………………

2 This building is said to be 2,000 years old.

They …………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 The teacher made the class stay in after school.

The class …………………………………………………………………………………………

4 Was it a monkey that bit your finger?

Was your ……………………………………………………………………………………………

5 They were mending the road all last week.

All last week the road ………………………………………………………………………

6 They say the castle is 500 years old.

The castle …………………………………………………………………………………………

7 The police ordered the crowds to move on.

The crowds ………………………………………………………………………………………

8 No one ever saw him again.

He ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

9 Rembrandt painted this picture.

This picture ………………………………………………………………………………………

10 No one ever discovered the identity of the murdered man.

The identity ………………………………………………………………………………………

11 Someone is painting our house.

We ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

12 The painters decorated our house last week.

We ……………………………………………………………………………………………………