Date: GUIDE # 9

Name:
Program:

PASSIVE VOICE

Very little is
needed to make
a happy life; it
is all within
yourself, in your
way of thinking.
1. Write the PAST PARTICIPLE form and the translation in Spanish of
these verbs.

to see ___________ ___________ to be ___________ ___________

to buy ___________ ___________ to wait ___________ ___________
to study ___________ ___________ to go ___________ ___________
to do ___________ ___________ to travel ___________ ___________
to have ___________ ___________ to drink ___________ ___________
to build ___________ ___________ to watch ___________ ___________
to forget ___________ ___________ to clean ___________ ___________
to wash ___________ ___________ to sing ___________ ___________
to write ___________ ___________ to play ___________ ___________
to rescue ___________ ___________ to hand ___________ ___________
to speak ___________ ___________ to read ___________ ___________
to cry ___________ ___________ to cut ___________ ___________
to prepare ___________ ___________ to stole ___________ ___________

GRAMMAR REFERENCE
We only use the passive when we are interested in the object or when we do not know who
caused the action.
Example: Appointments are required in such cases.

We can only form a passive sentence from an active sentence when there is an object in the
active sentence.

Form
to be + past participle
How to form a passive sentence when an active sentence is given:
 Object of the "active" sentence becomes subject in the "passive" sentence
 Subject of the "active" sentence becomes "object" in the "passive" sentence" (or is
left out)

Active: Peter builds a house.

Passive: A house is built by Peter.

Examples
Active Peter builds a house.
Simple Present
Passive: A house is built by Peter.

Active: Peter built a house.

Simple Past
Passive: A house was built by Peter.

Active: Peter has built a house.

has been Present Perfect
Passive: A house by Peter.
built

Active: Peter will build a house.

Will-future
Passive: A house will be built by Peter.

Active: Peter can build a house.

Modals
Passive: A house can be built by Peter.

Practice writing
1. Rewrite the sentences using Passive voice.

Example:
Peter writes a letter. A letter is written. Or A letter is written by
Peter.

1) Julia rescued three cats. _______________________________________

2) The students handed the reports. _______________________________________
3) Maria crashed into the blue car. _______________________________________
4) Alex learned the poem. _______________________________________
5) Steven has forgotten the book. _______________________________________
6) The mechanic has not repaired the DVD recorder. _______________________________________
7) They play handball. _______________________________________
8) Sue puts the rucksack on the floor. _______________________________________
9) The girls had lost the match. _______________________________________
10) The teacher is not going to open the window. _______________________________________

2. Decide whether the sentences are written in Active (A) or Passive (P)

Boys like to play soccer.     (A)
Cricket is played in Australia.     (P)
We have lost our keys.     ___
 The report must be finished by next ___
Friday.    
A letter was written to her.     ___
This room has been painted blue. ___
I am given a book.  ___
You might see dolphins here.     ___
They were singing a song.     ___
The bike is being repaired.     ___

3. Re-write the text using simple present, simple past, simple future and
present perfect, then write in your notebook the passive voice for each
tense.

Example: This is a delicious cake Pres Simp _The cake is baked by my

mom________
(Bake) Past Simp _The cake was baked by my
mom______
Futur Simp _The cake will be baked by my
mom____
 Pres Perfe _The cake has been baked by my
mom_

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4. Write in your notebook the following sentences in the passive form.

a. Christian tells many horror stories ___________________________________

b. I clean the bedroom every day ___________________________________
c. Juan has written a letter to his mother ___________________________________
d. You bought a car last year ___________________________________
e. Linda will sing a song next week ___________________________________