PASSIVE VOICE

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.).

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)

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.

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? - ...............................

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.

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? - ......................

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? - ......................................

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.

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.→

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.

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).

Impersonal PassivePeople 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.

....................................................................................

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.