The Passive Voice

Let’s look at this sentence:

- I drank two cups of coffee.

This is an active sentence and it has the subject first (the person or thing that does the verb), followed by the verb, and finally the object (the person or thing that the action happens to).

So, in this example, the subject is 'I', the verb is 'drank' and the object is 'two cups of coffee'.

But, we don't always need to make sentences this way. We might want to put the object first, or perhaps we don't want to say who did something. This can happen for lots of reasons (see the explanation further down the page). In this case, we can use a passive, which puts the object first:

- Two cups of coffee were drunk (we can add 'by me' if we want, but it isn't necessary).

How to make the Passive in English

We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle. For regular verbs, we make the past participle by adding 'ed' to the infinitive. So ‘play’ becomes ‘played’.

When should we use the passive?

1) When we want to change the focus of the sentence:

The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (We are more interested in the painting than the artist in this sentence)

2) When who or what causes the action is unknown or unimportant or obvious or 'people in general':

He was arrested (obvious agent, the police).

My bike has been stolen (unknown agent).

The road is being repaired (unimportant agent).

The form can be obtained from the post office (people in general).

3) In factual or scientific writing:

The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into the computer.

4) In formal writing instead of using someone/ people/ they (these can be used in speaking or informal writing):

The brochure will be finished next month.

5) In order to put the new information at the end of the sentence to improve style:

Three books are used regularly in the class. The books were written by Dr. Bell. ('Dr. Bell wrote the books' sound clumsy)

6) When the subject is very long:

I was surprised by how well the students did in the test. (More natural than: 'how well the students did in the test surprised me')

A. The Passive: Present Simple

Make the sentences passive:

1. Somebody cleans the office every day.

_The office is cleaned every day ________________________________

2. Somebody sends emails.

_______________________________________________________________

3. Somebody cuts the grass.

_______________________________________________________________

4. Somebody prefers chocolate.

_______________________________________________________________

5. Somebody often steals cars.

_______________________________________________________________

6. Somebody plays loud music.

_______________________________________________________________

7. Somebody speaks English here.

_______________________________________________________________

8. Somebody loves the London parks.

_______________________________________________________________

9. Somebody wants staff.

_______________________________________________________________

10. Somebody writes articles.

_______________________________________________________________

11. Somebody loves Julie.

_______________________________________________________________

12. Somebody reads a lot of books.

_______________________________________________________________

13. Somebody cooks dinner everyday.

_______________________________________________________________

14. Somebody delivers milk in the mornings.

_______________________________________________________________

15. Somebody buys flowers for the flat.

_______________________________________________________________

16. Somebody washes the cars every week.

_______________________________________________________________

17. Somebody writes a report every Friday.

_______________________________________________________________

18. Somebody fixes the roads.

_______________________________________________________________

19. Somebody builds new houses every year.

_______________________________________________________________

20. Somebody sells vegetables in the market.

_______________________________________________________________

B. The Passive: Past Simple

Make the sentences passive (past simple):

1. Somebody lost the letter.

__The letter was lost __________________________________________

2. Somebody found the key.

_______________________________________________________________

3. Somebody made mistakes.

_______________________________________________________________

4. Somebody loved that woman.

_______________________________________________________________

5. Somebody cleaned the rooms.

_______________________________________________________________

6. Somebody fixed the computer.

_______________________________________________________________

7. Somebody built that house.

_______________________________________________________________

8. Somebody wrote ‘War and Peace’.

_______________________________________________________________

9. Somebody painted The Mona Lisa.

_______________________________________________________________

10. Somebody stole my wallet.

_______________________________________________________________

11. Somebody prepared lunch.

_______________________________________________________________

12. Somebody drank a lot of coffee.

_______________________________________________________________

13. Somebody forgot the papers.

_______________________________________________________________

14. Somebody closed the windows.

_______________________________________________________________

15. Somebody invited Julie and Luke to a party.

_______________________________________________________________

16. Somebody built a website.

_______________________________________________________________

17. Somebody ate all the cakes.

_______________________________________________________________

18. Somebody told me to wait.

_______________________________________________________________

19. Somebody employed a lot of new waiters.

_______________________________________________________________

20. Somebody opened a shop.

_______________________________________________________________

C.The Passive: Present Perfect

Make the sentences passive:

1. Somebody has cleaned the kitchen.

__The kitchen has been cleaned ________________________________

2. Somebody has watered the plants.

_______________________________________________________________

3. Somebody has taken the money.

_______________________________________________________________

4. Somebody has bought the presents.

_______________________________________________________________

5. Somebody has finished the report.

_______________________________________________________________

6. Somebody has killed the President.

_______________________________________________________________

7. Somebody has repaired the road.

_______________________________________________________________

8. Somebody has elected that man.

_______________________________________________________________

9. Somebody has learned lessons.

_______________________________________________________________

10. Somebody has fired John.

_______________________________________________________________

11. Somebody has ordered new books.

_______________________________________________________________

12. Somebody has prepared the meal.

_______________________________________________________________

13. Somebody has sent the email.

_______________________________________________________________

14. Somebody has eaten the strawberries.

_______________________________________________________________

15. Somebody has fixed the heating.

_______________________________________________________________

16. Somebody has made coffee.

_______________________________________________________________

17. Somebody has turned on the air conditioning.

_______________________________________________________________

18. Somebody has downloaded the song.

_______________________________________________________________

19. Somebody has rented a flat.

_______________________________________________________________

20. Somebody has booked the holiday.

_______________________________________________________________

D.The Passive: Future Simple

Make the sentences passive:

1. Somebody will clean the windows.

___The windows will be cleaned _________________________________

2. Somebody will meet you at the airport.

_______________________________________________________________

3. Somebody will process your application.

_______________________________________________________________

4. Somebody will find your glasses.

_______________________________________________________________

5. Somebody will bring food.

_______________________________________________________________

6. Somebody will help you.

_______________________________________________________________

7. Somebody will steal that bicycle.

_______________________________________________________________

8. Somebody will take your order.

_______________________________________________________________

9. Somebody will write a new book.

_______________________________________________________________

10. Somebody will build a stadium.

_______________________________________________________________

11. Somebody will collect your luggage.

_______________________________________________________________

12. Somebody will explain the plan.

_______________________________________________________________

13. Somebody will wash the floor later.

_______________________________________________________________

14. Somebody will deliver a parcel .

_______________________________________________________________

15. Somebody will drink all the juice.

_______________________________________________________________

16. Somebody will prepare everything.

_______________________________________________________________

17. Somebody will write the article next week.

_______________________________________________________________

18. Somebody will eat the chocolate.

_______________________________________________________________

19. Somebody will send the information.

_______________________________________________________________

20. Somebody will call you.

_______________________________________________________________

E. The Passive: Mixed Tenses

Change these sentences from active to passive:

1. People speak Portuguese in Brazil.

_______________________________________________________________

2. The Government is planning a new road near my house.

_______________________________________________________________

3. My grandfather built this house in 1943.

_______________________________________________________________

4. Picasso was painting Guernica at that time.

_______________________________________________________________

5. The cleaner has cleaned the office.

_______________________________________________________________

6. He had written three books before 1867.

_______________________________________________________________

7. John will tell you later.

_______________________________________________________________

8. By this time tomorrow we will have signed the deal.

_______________________________________________________________

9. Somebody should do the work.

_______________________________________________________________

10. The traffic might have delayed Jimmy.

_______________________________________________________________

11. Everybody loves Mr Brown.

_______________________________________________________________

12. They are building a new stadium near the station.

_______________________________________________________________

13. The wolf ate the princess.

_______________________________________________________________

14. At six o’clock someone was telling a story.

_______________________________________________________________

15. Somebody has drunk all the milk!

_______________________________________________________________

16. I had cleaned all the windows before the storm.

_______________________________________________________________

17. A workman will repair the computer tomorrow.

_______________________________________________________________

18. By next year the students will have studied the passive.

_______________________________________________________________

19. James might cook dinner.

_______________________________________________________________

20. Somebody must have taken my wallet.

_______________________________________________________________

F. PASSIVE WITH TWO OBJECTS. WRITE THE TWO FORMS.

1. John gave a bar of chocolate to Jill. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

2. I lent a pencil to Graham. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

3. Fiona told the truth to Julian. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

4. They offered the job to Simon. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

5. The boss showed the new computer to Anna. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

6. Julie taught the grammar to the students. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

7. I sent the email to John. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

8. Lucy threw the ball to the child. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

9. Sophia sold the car to a doctor. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

10. I asked the question to David. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________

G) Rewrite the sentences in the passive. MIXED TENSES

1. They will not deliver the new sofa on Friday.

2. You can use this saucepan for cooking spaghetti.

3. I have to finish my homework tonight.

4. You must tidy your bedroom.

5. You ought to put these clothes away.

6. The boss gave the secretary some letters to type.

7. We should eat this cake immediately.

8. Sally sent Peter a birthday card.

9. You must take the dog for a walk.

10. The cat is not chasing the mouse.

11. Do they produce oil in Spain?

12. Did a dog bite him?

13. They must prepare the food tonight.

14. Someone attacked Sam on Saturday night.

15. The maid makes the beds very morning.

16. He will write the letter next week.

17. Gary had finished the project.

18.Catherine is baking the birthday cake.

19. Did Alison inform the police?

20. The police were watching the burglars.

21. We have to wash the dishes before we go out.

22. You must complete your homework tonight.

23 They may paint their house this summer.

24. They teach three languages at that school.

25.Tara was driving the car.

26. Who wrote that poem?

27. Mrs Jefferson was tidying the kitchen.

28.The boss is going to offer Andrew a better post.

H) Assinale a alternativa correta.

1. Na voz passiva, a frase "Renato chopped all those trees" e:

a) All those trees were chopped (by Renato).

b) All those trees will be chopped (by Renato).

c) All those trees had been chopped (by Renato).

d) All those trees would chopped (by Renato). e) All those trees had chopped (by Renato).

2. A frase "He is supposed to be an excellent speaker" corresponde, em português, a: a) Supõe-se que ele se tornara um excelente poliglota.

b) Supõe-se que ele será um pregador excelente.

c) Ele se acha um excelente locutor.

d) Supõe-se que ele tenha excelentes alto-falantes.

e) Ele e considerado um excelente palestrista.

3. "Somebody wrote a letter to Tatiana." Isso significa que:

a) Tatiana was written a letter.

b) A letter was writing to Tatiana.

c) A letter was written by Tatiana.

d) Tatiana had written a letter.

e) Tatiana is writing a letter.

4. "Margarida had to send eight postcards. Unfortunately, she was too busy and could only send five of them." Podemos dizer que:

a) Margarida was sent only three postcards.

b) Only three postcards weren't sent by Margarida.

c) Only three postcards were sent to Margarida.

d) Somebody sent only five cards by Margarida.

e) Margarida has received half of the postcards.

5. "Dangerous driving causes many tragic accidents." A voz passiva dessa frase é:

a) Many tragic accidents were caused by dangerous driving.

b) Many tragic accidents are caused by dangerous driving.

c) Many tragic accidents had caused by dangerous driving.

d) Many tragic accidents has caused by dangerous driving.

e) Many tragic accidents caused dangerous driving.