The Passive Voice

I. Translate the sentences and name the predicate in the Passive Voice:

1. Our plant is often visited by foreign guests.

2. These houses were built last year.

3. In recent years this new African state was recognized by many countries.

4. At the end of the lecture the speaker was not asked any questions.

5. Sometimes he is sent to Moscow on business.

6. We are seldom given much English homework.

7. I am often asked to speak at the meetings.

8. I was shown the way to the stadium.

9. Will this book be translated into Russian?

10. The work must be finished in time.

11. The Moon can be seen from here.

12. This event can’t be forgotten.

13. Can this be done in a different way?

14. May the children be taken for a walk after breakfast?

15. Whom was this opera written by?

16. Nothing can be done about it.

17. Something important is being announced over the radio.

18. Don’t enter the room. It is being done (cleaned) now.

19. Was the plan still being discussed when you returned?

20. You are being waited for downstairs.

II. Translate the sentences into Russian paying attention to the verbs in the Passive Voice:

1. They sent for the doctor. The doctor was sent for.

2. They looked for the book everywhere. The book was looked for everywhere.

3. They listened to the lecture with great interest. The lecture was listened to with great interest.

4. They always look at this picture. This picture is always looked at.

5. They will look through these letters tomorrow. These letters will be looked through tomorrow.

6. They often laughed at him. He was often laughed at.

III. a) Make up passive sentences out of following words:

1. a group of tourists, the guide, some pictures, to show;

2. the gardener, to ask, I, to help him, in the garden;

3. Pavlov, to present, the Cambridge students, a toy dog.

b) Supply the missing part of the analytic form of the verb:

1. Why … the curtains drawn across the window? Who … drawn them?

2. The letter is … decoded. Who is … it?

3. … anything interesting … broadcast tonight.

c) Make the sentences using the words in brackets according to the models:

Model 1: the work – to be finished → The workhas just been finished.

· (the picture – to be painted; the film – to be shown; the rules – to be explained; many new houses – to be built)

Model II: this article – to be translated → This articlehasn’t yet been translated.

· (their invitation – to be accepted; all the tickets – to be sold out; the question – to be discussed; I – to be told about it)

Model III: the letter – to be typed →

When I came

By the time I came the letter had been typed.

By this time yesterday

· (he – to be asked to do it; we – to be given much work to do; she – to be helped with her English).

IV. Make the following sentences according to the Model:

Model: When I came

By 5 o’clock yesterday the work had been done.

By last Monday

By the time you arrived

1. All the students of our group have been examined.

2. The work has been finished.

3. All the tickets have already been sold out.

4. The books have been returned to the library.

5. The students’ papers have been corrected by the teacher.

6. The report has not been written yet.

7. The necessary materials have not been brought yet.

8. Much has been said about it.

V. Put the sentences into the interrogative form and answer them:

1. Your letter has been sent in time.

2. This question has been widely discussed.

3. Their articles have been translated into many languages.

4. The child has been left alone.

5. The important document has been found at last.

6. The seat has been taken by somebody.

7. The exhibition has been shown to some foreign scientists.

8. They have been invited to her birthday party.

9. The delegation has just been met.

10. The letter has already been posted.

VI. Make the following sentences negative:

1. Such questions are discussed at the meeting.

2. Foreign films were shown in their club very often.

3. The speech was translated for those present.

4. French is taught at this school.

5. Books in foreign languages are sold in this shop.

6. The delegation will be met by the students of our group.

7. He was told to do it.

8. The article will be published in the Moscow newspaper.

9. Very little was known about him.

10. The meeting has been postponed.

VII. Change the sentences according to the model:

Model: They have sent the letter today.

The letter has been sent today.

1. The postman has already brought the mail.

2. The teacher has given us much homework.

3. Somebody has broken the vase.

4. They have done the exercises in writing.

5. We have chosen beautiful place for our picnic.

6. The students have written the grammar test successfully.

7. They have spent a lot of time on that work.

8. I have forgotten their names.

VIII. Make the following sentences passive:

1. The Eastern Atlantic determines the climate of Great Britain.

2. They gave raincoats to the passengers aboard the double-decker bus.

3. Englishmen traditionally serve tea with milk.

4. Many scientists have studied this problem.

5. They will have typed your article by the evening.

6. They have asked me to make a report on the subject at the seminar.

7. The students had studied five lessons of the textbook by the end of the first term.

8. What have you done to solve the problem?

9. You haven’t told me anything yet.

10. The professor is examining our group.

11. Are you still discussing the same question?

12. What film are they demonstrating in the lecture room?

13. The mother was watching the children’s game with interest.

14. The hostess was taking the guests around the garden.

15. They have treated us to ice-cream.

IX. Give the corresponding passive constructions:

1. Ann brought some more milk from the kitchen.

2. I hear they are building a new cinema-house not far from the park.

3. She hasn’t opened the box for two years.

4. They spoke to each student separately.

5. They looked for the key everywhere but could not find it.

6. The guide showed them a lot of places of interest.

7. We heat the house by gas.

8. Last night we saw her with George.

9. No one has ever climbed this mountain.

10. One must pay attention to this fact.

11. They offered William a promotion.

12. They are testing the new system.

13. They may see the film.

14. We haven’t used the car for ages.

15. The news about the exam results distressed Sidney.

X. Put the verbs in the sentences into Past (Future) Indefinite Passive using the adverbial modifier of time (last year/next year):

Example: Some of our teachers are sent abroad.

Past Indefinite Passive: Some of our teachers were sent abroad last year.

Future Indefinite Passive: Some of our teachers will be sent abroad next year.

1. Many Russian books are translated into foreign languages.

2. All reports at such conferences are made either in English or in French.

3. These students are helped with their German.

4. The necessary information is given in time.

5. Some beautiful shells are brought from the South.

6. Interesting stories are told to us every evening.

7. The translation from English into Russian is done at every English class.

XI. Past Indefinite Passive or Present Perfect Passive?

1. The decoration (complete) an hour ago.

2. The preparations for the party just (finish) and the guests are already arriving.

3. The baby (feed) an hour ago.

4. “Christopher (feed) yet?” – “Not yet”.

5. He (not see) for a week already.

6. The paper (not read) by anyone yet.

7. The suit (not wear) for a long time.

8. This fact (not mention) in his last speech.

9. I’m happy as I just (allow) to stay here for an extra day.

10. She (teach) music in her childhood.

11. You ever (teach) how to play chess?

12. I just (advise) to keep to a diet.

13. The sportsmen (give) instructions before the match.

14. The motorist (disqualify) some five months ago.

15. I can’t believe my eyes! My book (publish) already!

XII. Open the brackets using the necessary form of the verb in brackets:

1. It’s a big factory. Five hundred people (employ) there.

2. Anybody (clean) this room yesterday?

3. Water (cover) most of the earth’s surface.

4. How much of the earth’s surface (cover) by water?

5. The shop (close) at 9.30 p.m. every evening.

6. The letter (post) a week ago and it (arrive) yesterday.

7. The boat hit a rock and (sink) quickly. Fortunately everybody (rescue).

8. I was born in Moscow, but I (grow up) in Rostov.

9. While I was on holiday, my camera (steal) from my hotel room.

10. This room (not use) for a long time.

11. Those books (return) to the library yesterday.

12. The paintings (exhibit) till the end of the month.

13. Why your home task (not/do)?

14. The situation is serious. Something must (do) before it’s too late.

15. These flowers (water) every day.

XIII. Use the verbs in brackets in the Active or Passive Voice:

1. The student (to ask) to tell the story again.

2. Every day the boy (to tell) what he must do.

3. All latest political events (to discuss) by our students.

4. When she was young she (to teach) two foreign languages.

5. Ann (to take) the book from the library yesterday.

6. I think something (to leave) for me here about an hour ago.

7. You (to hear) from Margaret yet?

8. Well, where you (to be) al the evening, James?

9. For that he can (to send) to prison.

10. Don’t you think you must go? It soon (to get) late.

11. I was born in Moscow, but I (to grow up) in Rostov.

12. How much of the Earth’s surface (cover) by water?

13. Where these photos (take)? In London? You (take) them, or anybody else?

14. The letter (post) a week ago and it (arrive) yesterday.

15. We (tell) about it already.

16. They (to translate) the article at 3 o’clock yesterday.

17. The secretary (to type) the documents now.

18. Mary (to cook) delicious dinner the whole evening yesterday.

19. The door (to repair) while he (to read) a book.

20. Look! A bridge (to build) over the bridge.

XIV. Fill in the blanks with the necessary verb in an appropriate form: invite, cause, damage, hold, make, overtake, show, surround, translate, write:

1. You can’t see the house from the road. It … by trees.

2. Cheese … from milk.

3. The roof of the building … in a storm a few days ago.

4. You … to the wedding. Why didn’t you go?

5. A cinema is a place where films ….

6. In the United States elections for president … every four years.

7. Originally the book … in Russian, and a few years ago it … into English.

8. Although we were driving quite fast, we … by a lot of other cars.

9. Many accidents … by dangerous driving.

XV. Open the brackets putting the verbs into the Passive Voice:

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