Name: ______________ __________________ Grammar # 1

Grade: Active and Passive Voice

Date: / / 2021

 Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known;
however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know,
however, who did it.

 Form of Passive
Subject + verb to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
 the form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or
is dropped)
  How to change sentences from active to passive?

Read the following examples:

◘Present simple: 
The mechanic repairs the car.
The car is repaired. 
 Rule: [is\ am \are + past participle]

◘Present continuous: 
The mechanic is repairing the car.
The car is being repaired.
 Rule: [is\ am\are+ being+ past participle]

◘Past simple: 
The mechanic repaired the car.
The car was repaired.
 Rule: [was\ were +past participle]

◘Past continuous:
The mechanic was repairing the car.
 The car was being repaired. 
 Rule: [was\were+ being + past participle]

◘Present perfect: 
The mechanic has just repaired the car.
The car has just been repaired.
 Rule: [has\have +been+ past participle]

◘Past perfect: 
The mechanic had repaired the car.
The car had been repaired. 
 Rule: [had +been+ past participle]

◘Future simple: 
The mechanic will repair the car.
The car will be repaired. 
 Rule: [will +be+ past participle]
  Direct and indirect objects

In the English language verbs can often be followed by two different types of objects. Let's
have a look at the following examples.

I sent Mary some flowers.

I sent some flowers to Mary.

These two sentences contain both kinds of objects. Flowers  are the direct object. It refers
to what I sent. Mary is the indirect object. It refers to whom I sent it.

As you can see, the word order in these two sentences is different - Mary  and flowers  can
be placed first or second in each of these examples.

Exercise
Change the following sentences from active to passive voice.

1. A wave of strikes followed these events.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. The court will convict him of murder.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Someone stole my wallet.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. We will choose the route tomorrow.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..
 5. Our teacher is explaining a rule to the students.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. I have received a parcel today.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. They have cut a cake into twelve parts.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. The mechanic was repairing the car.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. We sent him to the doctor.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

10 . Our teacher was referring to these articles.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

11 . The manager offered Mr. Dean a new job.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

12 . They have given the Nobel Prize in Literature to Mario.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

13. The secretary will read the minutes of the last meeting.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

14. The postman brought the mail early today.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

15. Fred had planted this oak tree.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..
16. Our club holds meetings once a month.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

17. The messenger will deliver the package right away.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

18. The Clays have invited the Bakers to dinner.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

19. He will answer your letter soon.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

20. Frank Lloyd Wright designed this building.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

21. The pianist has played the concerto very well.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

22. Did the plumber repair the faucet in the kitchen?

………………………………………………………………………………………….

23. Mozart composed the music for “Don Giovanni.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

24. John gave me these records.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

25. Does John know the answer?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………