The Passive

Active and Passive Chart

for
Simple Present and Simple Past

The active object becomes the passive subject.

am/is/are +  past participle (3rd form)
was/were + past participle (3rd form)
Active: Simple Present Passive: Simple Present
The movie fascinates me. I am fascinated by the movie.
The movie bores Jack. Jack is bored by the movie.
The movie surprises them. They are surprised by the movie.
Active: Simple Past Passive: Simple Past
The movie bored me. I was bored by the movie.
The movie fascinated Jack. Jack was fascinated by the movie.
The movie surprised them. They were surprised by the movie.

Washington DC

Exercise

Rewrite the active sentences in passive voice and the passive sentences in active
voice.

1. Active: Many people visit Washington.

Passive:
2. Active:
Passive: The White House was built by James Hoban.
3. Active:
Passive: The White House and the Capitol are connected by Pennsylvania Avenue.
4. Active: In the Capitol, workers are building a visitors center.
Passive:
5. Active: They will probably finish it in 2006.
Passive:
 The Statue of Liberty

Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). You must either use Simple Present
or Simple Past.

1. The Statue of Liberty (give) …………………....... to the United States by France.

2. It (be) …………………... a present on the 100th anniversary of the United States.
3. The Statue of Liberty (design) …………………..................... by Frederic
Auguste Bartholdi.
4. It (complete) ………………………… in France in July 1884.
5. In 350 pieces, the statue then (ship) …………………………. to New York,
where it (arrive) ……………………… on 17 June 1885.
6. The pieces (put) …………………… together and the opening ceremony (take)
………………………… place on 28 October 1886.
7. The Statue of Liberty (be) …………………. 46 m high (93 m including the base).
8. The statue (represent) ………………………. the goddess of liberty.
9. She (hold) ………………… a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand.
10. On the tablet you (see / can) ………………………... the date of the Declaration
of Independence (July 4, 1776).
11. Every year, the Statue of Liberty (visit) …………………………… by many
people from all over the world.