PASSIVE VOICE

Reading Text

How Towns Have Arisen

Most villages and towns on the

British Isles came into being because
of their favorable situation for trade.
Rather more than a hundred years
ago, a great change came over the
land. Many machines were invented
about that time. Spinning and
weaving, for example, which had
previously been done by hand, were
done by machinery that was driven
by water or steam-power. The work
which usually was done in the houses
of the people began to be carried on
in large mills or factories, and
workers found it convenient to live
near them. More and more factories
were built and men and women left
the country districts in great numbers and crowded into towns. Since then the movement
of people into towns has been going on until now. England is dotted with great cities. All
over Britain, and especially in those parts were the coal needed for power is to be found,
there are mining and manufacturing areas, such as the Lancashire cotton district, the
Black county of Midland, and others. A great many towns are found close together in those
districts, and a great many people live within a small area, so that the population is very
dense.

Activity: underline the passive voice sentences.

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GRAMMAR FOCUS

The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an
action rather than the person or object that performs the action. In other words, the most
important thing or person becomes the subject of the sentence.

Examples
 The passive voice is used frequently. (= we are interested in the passive voice, not
in who uses it.)
 The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who built
it.)
 The road is being repaired. (= we are interested in the road, not in the people who
are doing the repairs.)

Sometimes we use the passive voice because we don't know or do not want to express
who performed the action.

Examples
 I noticed that a window had been left open.
 Every year thousands of people are killed on our roads.
 All the cookies have been eaten.
 My car has been stolen!

FORMING THE PASSIVE VOICE

The passive voice in English is composed of two elements:

the appropriate form of the verb 'to be' + past participle

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EXERCISES
A. Exercise on Passive Voice - Simple Present
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. He opens the door. -
2. We set the table. -
3. She pays a lot of money. -
4. I draw a picture. -
5. They wear blue shoes. -
6. They don't help you. -
7. He doesn't open the book. -
8. You do not write the letter. -
9. Does your mum pick you up? -
10. Does the police officer catch the thief? –

B. Exercise on Passive Voice - Simple Past

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. She sang a song. -
2. Somebody hit me. -
3. We stopped the bus. -
4. A thief stole my car. -
5. They didn't let him go. -
6. She didn't win the prize. -
7. They didn't make their beds. -
8. I did not tell them. -
9. Did you tell them? -
10. Did he send the letter? -

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C. Exercise on Passive Voice - Present Perfect
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. Kerrie has paid the bill. -
2. I have eaten a hamburger. -
3. We have cycled five miles. -
4. I have opened the present. -
5. They have not read the book. -
6. You have not sent the parcel. -
7. We have not agreed to this issue. -
8. They have not caught the thieves. -
9. Has she phoned him? -
10. Have they noticed us? –

D. Exercise on Passive Voice – Future

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. Jane will buy a new computer. -
2. Her boyfriend will install it. -
3. Millions of people will visit the museum. -
4. Our boss will sign the contract. -
5. You will not do it. -
6. They will not show the new film. -
7. He won't see Sue. -
8. They will not ask him. -
9. Will the company employ a new worker? -
10. Will the plumber repair the shower? -

E. Passive Voice - Exercise with Auxiliary Verbs

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. I can answer the question. -
2. She would carry the box. -
3. You should open the window. -
4. We might play cards. -
5. You ought to wash the car. -
6. He must fill in the form. -
7. They need not buy bread. -
8. He could not read the sentence. -
9. Will the teacher test our English? -
10. Could Jenny lock the door? –

F. Mixed Exercise on Passive Voice

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. John collects money. -
2. Anna opened the window. -
3. We have done our homework. -
4. I will ask a question. -
5. He can cut out the picture. -
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 6. The sheep ate a lot. -
7. We do not clean our rooms. -
8. William will not repair the car. -
9. Did Sue draw this circle? -
10. Could you feed the dog? -

G. 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.

REFERENCES
http://coraldelrio.com/the-passive-voice/
https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/passive-voice/
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
http://englishstandarts.blogspot.com/2012/06/

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