Passive Voice

PASSIVE VOICE 1. Rewrite the sentences in the passive. Only include the agent when necessary. 1.

An Italian celebrity designed the clothes.

2.

In 20 years’ time, I think they will ban animal testing.

3.

A new writer from New Zealand has written this book.

4.

They discovered ten new plant species in the rainforest.

5.

People have worn glasses for hundreds of years.

6.

Many people have installed satellite TV in their houses.

7.

The school children are interviewing the prime minister.

8.

Somebody sold the sculpture for $2,000.

9.

The Queen will attend the opening of the exhibition.

10.

They might display our work in the school entrance.

11.

Bansky must paint this mural.

12.

Police have arrested a 30 year old woman in connection with the art theft.

13.

A journalist is interviewing the artist for a magazine article

14.

She gives him a box.

15.

The teacher told us a joke.

16.

Michael has not sent me a text message.

17.

Somebody had built the house last year.

18.

They don’t speak English in this shop.

19.

Betty lives in Buenos Aires.

20.

The ice-cream vendor gave my child a free ice-cream cone.

21.

The boss offered him a rise for his hard work.

22.

Did you take the car to the garage yesterday?

23.

The school doesn’t permit smoking.

24.

Do they clean the rooms every day?

25.

She didn’t tell anyone about the phone call.

2. Write the following sentences in the active voice. 1.

English is spoken here. We………………………………………………………

2. Your life will be changed by this book. This book…………………………………………… 3. My brother may be given the car for the first night tonight. My parents……………………………… 4. Their guests were shown some photographs of the trip. They…………………………………………. 5. This room is going to be redecorated soon. He …………………………………………………….. 6. The municipality is being closed for security reasons. The municipality……………………………

3. Write the interrogative passive questions of the following answers: Example: Where were the toys kept? The toys were kept in the cupboard. 1. …………………………………….? I was born in the jungle. 2. ……………………………………..? Breakfast is served at seven. 3. ……………………………………….? An important prize has been won. 4. ………………………………………….? No, they aren’t written. 5. …………………………………………..? It was composed by Rodrigo Leao in 1999. 6. …………………………………………..? The dishes and cups must be cleaned. 7. ………………………………………….? Yes, it will be done soon. 8. …………………………………………..? The room was painted blue. 9. ………………………………………….? The tower was pointed at by the guide. 10. ………………………………………? Amenábar’s film will be awarded next week. 11. ………………………………………..? New vaccinations will be discovered. 12. ………………………………………..? It must be translated without a dictionary.

4. Write the following active sentences in the passive voice. 1. A jeep picked up the soldiers from the base. 2. Sheila turned down the offer of a company car. 3. The police took the angry youth away. 4. The speeding lorry ran over a cat 5. The scientist showed us around a laboratory.

5. Write the following passive sentences in the active voice. 1. The new plans have already been discussed. We……………………………………….. 2. These flowers have just been picked. We……………………………………………….. 3. The invitations had already been sent. They……………………………………………. 4. She asked to be picked up at 8.00. She asked us……………………………………………… 5. Our work here is going to be finished soon. We………………………………………….. 6. She had to be told the truth. I……………………………………………………….. 7. This newspaper isn’t read by my family. My family………………………………………. 8. This programme used to be watched by all the teenagers. All the teenagers………………………………