Changing from active into passive

The object of the active verb becomes the subject in the passive sentence. The active verb changes into a passive form and the subject of the active sentence becomes an agent. The agent can be used (if it adds information) or omitted (if it does not add information).

	Subject	Verb	Object	Agent
Active	Bell	invented	the telephone.
Passive	The telephone	was invented		by Bell.

The agent is introduced with “by” (to say who or what did the action) or “with” (to say what instrument or material the agent used):

e.g. He was knocked down by the lorry. (The lorry did the action.)

e.g. The door was locked by the man with a key. (The key is the instrument the agent used.)

e.g. The cake was made with flour, sugar and eggs. (They are the materials the agent used.)

2.1 Fill in " by " or " with ":

1. The window was broken with a hammer.

2. He was knocked down _____ a car.

3. The lion was shot _____ a rifle.

4. That novel was written _____ D. H. Lawrence.

5. The garden was dug _____ a spade.

6. The city was attacked _____ the enemy.

7. The pudding was made _____ fruit and chocolate.

8. He was hit _____ a handbag.

9. The picture was painted _____ Jackson Pollack.

10. The house was built _____ wood and bricks.

2.2 Turn from Active into Passive:

1. An expert is restoring the antique car. – The antique car is being restored by an expert.

2. Steven Spielberg has directed a lot of successful films.

3. The judge has fined him £300.

4. A number of reporters will meet the professor at the airport.

5. A famous designer is going to redecorate the President's house.

6. The Romans founded Bath in the first century A.D.

7. A nightmare woke Mary up.

8. The Muslims celebrate Ramadan.

9. Van Gogh painted "Sunflowers".

10. Astronauts are exploring space.

2.3 Make the sentences passive. Use the by-agent only if it is necessary:

1. Shakespeare wrote 'Hamlet'.

2. A drunken motorist knocked her down.

3. They have arrested her for shoplifting.

4. Liverpool beat Manchester 3-0 yesterday.

5. They are repairing your car now.

6. People in Chile speak Spanish.

7. The Chinese invented paper.

8. Has anybody asked Peter?

9. You need hops to make beer.

10. My mother made this ring.

2.4 Using the passive, ask questions to which the bold type words are answers:

e.g. Columbus discovered America. – Who was America discovered by?

1. We keep money in a safe.

2. A bee stung her.

3. They speak Italian in Italy.

4. They have taken his aunt to hospital.

5. The boys damaged the television.

6. Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.

7. He invited 30 people to his party.

8. They grow bananas in Africa.

After modal verbs we use “be + past participle” or “have been + past participle”.

e.g. They may close down the supermarket. – The supermarket may be closed down.

e.g. They may have reported the bank robbery. – The bank robbery may have been reported.

2.5 A florist is taking a telephone order from a customer:

Customer: Hello, I'd like to order some flowers, please

Florist: Certainly, sir. When would you like them 1) to be delivered (deliver)?

Customer: Can they 2) _____ (deliver) on Monday?

Florist: Oh, I'm sorry, sir. No flowers can 3) _____ (send) on Monday because it's a bank holiday. The shop will be closed.

Customer: Oh, can they 4) _____ (send) on Friday then?

Florist: Certainly, sir. Where should they 5) _____ (take) to?

Customer: 47, Hanson Road, Croydon.

Florist: Okay, and who should they 6) _____ (address) to?

2.6 Turn the following sentences into the Passive:

1. Scientists might discover a cure for cancer. – A cure for cancer might be discovered.

2. Someone should help the old woman across the street.

3. They might have arrested the escaped prisoner.

4. They should have provided more food at the reception.

5. They ought to warn the public about him.

6. They should build more bus lanes.

7. They could have written the answers more clearly.

With verbs that take two objects it is more usual to begin the passive sentence with the person:

e.g. They sent a letter to him. – He was sent a letter. (more usual) / A letter was sent to him. (less usual)

2.7 Change the structure:

1. Nothing was sent to me. – I was sent nothing.

2. Papers were brought to us to sign.

3. A clock was given to Henry when he retired.

4. Stories were read to the children.

5. £5,000 is owed to me.

6. A new job has been offered to me.

7. French is taught to us by Mrs Lee.

8. A car has been lent to me for the week.

9. A full explanation was promised to us.

10. A lot of lies were told to me by the secretary.

2.8 Complete the text with expressions below:

had been given, had been told, had never been taught, was given (twice), was offered, was promised, was sent, was shown, wasn't being paid

I'll never forget my first day at that office. I 1) ____ to arrive at 8.30, but when I got there the whole place seemed to be empty. I didn't know what to do, because I 2) ____ no information about the building or where I was going to work, so I just waited around until some of the secretaries began to turn up. Finally I 3) ____ dirty little office on the fifth floor, where I 4) ____ a desk in a corner. Nothing happened for an hour; then I 5) ____ some letters to type on a computer by one of the senior secretaries. This wasn't very successful, because I 6) ____ how to use a computer. (In the letter I 7) ____ when I 8) ____ the job, I 9) ____ computer training, but they'd obviously forgotten about this.) By lunchtime things hadn't got any better, and I decided that I 10) ____ enough to put up with this nonsense, so I walked out and didn't go back.

2.9 Turn the following into the Passive in two ways:

1. They gave him a watch when he retired. – He was given a watch when he retired. A watch was given to him when he retired.

2. They have offered him the job.

He ________________________________

The job ____________________________

3. She will send you a fax.

You _______________________________

A fax ______________________________

4. They are going to show me a new technique.

I ___________________________________

A new technique _____________________

5. Someone gave her a book.

She _______________________________

A book ____________________________

6. They give the students extra lessons.

The students ________________________

Extra lessons ________________________

7. They have shown her the plans for the house.

She ________________________________

The plans for the house ________________

8. They should have sent you a receipt.

You _______________________________

A receipt ___________________________

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