Using Active Voice vs.

Passive Verse in Writing

A. Changing Active Voice to Passive Voice

Example: My neighbor alerted the police. The police were alerted by my neighbors.

1. The janitor fixed the classroom door.

2. Mr. Smith took a photograph of me.
3. All the students passed the algebra test.
4. Our basketball team lost twenty percent of its games.
5. The contractor renovated our kitchen.
6. Jane Beard composed the school song.
7. She broke two keys on her typewriter.
8. My father took pictures at the picnic.
9. The zookeeper loves the animals.
10. The judge took Tom’s license.
11. The Browns have built the large house.
12. A jellyfish stung her while she was swimming.
13. They gave her a nice present. A nice present was given to her or she was given a nice present.
14. Jane is singing the new song.
15. The storm destroyed the house.
16. People spent a lot of money on the first shopping Saturday.
17. How do you write that word?
18. She watered the flowers every day.
19. The headmaster called his parents to the office.
20. Ben will direct the show.
21. The dog has broken the window pane.
22. You must pay the bill first.
23. They were interviewing her for the job.
24. The professor told him not to talk in class.
25. You shouldn’t speak to your neighbour.
26. Do not leave your bicycle in the hall.
27. Can you learn French easily?
28. Your impolite tone surprises me.
29. James will repair the car.
30. An unknown author wrote the book.
31. They forced him to steal the money out of his dad’s room.
32. Our neighbours have invited us to dinner.
33. Why are they tearing down the old theatre?
34. I will present my ideas at the conference tonight.
35. She would have told you.
B. There are two answers:

1. John gave a bar of chocolate to Jill.

2. I lent a pencil to Graham.
3. Fiona told the truth to Julian.
4. They offered the job to Simon.
5. The boss showed the new computer to Anna.
6. Julie taught the grammar to the students.
7. I sent the email to John.
8. Lucy threw the ball to the child.
9. Sophia sold the car to a doctor.
10. I asked the question to David.
C. Changing Passive Voice to Active Voice
 1. The dishes were washed by Jane.
2. After the game, we bought hamburgers for everyone.
3. During the intermission, our band played several numbers.
4. Alice broke her pen.
5. My computer was read by Miss Jones.
6. Jean broke her arm during a volleyball game.
7. Ruth washed and ironed her blouse.
8. The money was found under the floor.
9. Eleanor loves the Rolling Stones.
10. The officer did nothing about the accident.
11. John won the first-place tennis trophy.
12. Nancy baked and frosted the cake.
13. Jill lost the election.
14. Jean played tennis all morning.
15. My books were returned before class.
16. My window was broken by the storm.
17. Miniature elephants were collected by my sister.
18. Colette danced a tap dance in the variety show.
19. Nothing was accomplished by crying.
20. That video was seen three time.
D. Changing Passive Voice to Active Voice

Example: The letter was sent earlier. Jeannie sent the letter earlier.

1. The trees were stripped last month.

2. The computers were shipped early in September.
3. The letter was written by my brother.
4. The old car was driven by my brother.
5. The school bell was repaired in September.
6. This man has been stabbed.
7. My shoes were taken to the shoemaker.
8. The trees were uprooted by the storm.
9. The bookcase was stained a dark walnut.
10. The flowers were planted in March.
E. Make sentences in the passive in the given tense!
1. BMW’s – make – in Germany (PRESENT SIMPLE)
2. English–speak–in this shop(PRESENT SIMPLE)
3. The oldest house – build – in 1575 (PAST SIMPLE)
4. The bridge – repair – at the moment (PRESENT CONTINUOUS)
5. The trees – cut down – last winter (PAST SIMPLE)
6. The picture – paint – tomorrow (FUTURE SIMPLE)
7. When I came in – the TV – fix (PAST CONTINUOUS)
8. The cupboard – repair – recently (PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE)
9. The car – find – in the garage (PAST SIMPLE)
10. Breakfast – serve – between 7 and 9 (PRESENT SIMPLE)
11. The dog – call- Rover (PRESENT SIMPLE)
12. The meeting – hold – in my office (PAST CONTINUOUS)
13. The street – close – because of snow (PRESENT PERFECT)
14. The banks – close – in two days (FUTURE – SIMPLE)
15. Hundreds of books – write – every year (PRESENT SIMPLE)
16. After the accident – Joe – take – to the hospital (PAST SIMPLE)
17. The cap – find – in the corner (PAST SIMPLE)
18. The robber – not find – by the police – yet (PRESENT PERFECT)
19. The search – stop – this evening (FUTURE SIMPLE)
20. Different types of cameras – use (PRESENT CONTINUOUS)
 F. Inventions Presentation Worksheet
I) Answer these questions using the past passive voice (was/were + past participle):

1. Who invented the telephone?

2. Who lost the Battle of Waterloo?
3. Who discovered the moons of Jupiter?
4. Who painted the Mona Lisa?
5. When was the first plane built?
II) Which things were invented or created in your country?
III) Complete the rule for the Past Passive Voice:

To form the Past Passive Voice we use ------------- or …………………….. + the past participle (ed or the
3rdcolumn form)

IV) Complete these sentences using the Past Passive Voice:

1. World war II ……………………………..……………. (win) by the allies.
2. Girl with the golden earring …………..……………………………… (paint) by Jan Vermeer.
3. The telescope ………………………..……. (improve) by Galileo.
4. The Andes ………………….………………. (cross) by San Martín and his army.
5. Many battles …………………………………………… (fight) for liberty in Latin America
6.
V) Make 5 sentences using the Past Passive Voice:

paper / powder/ Windows/ the first plane/ the wheel/the first computer/ the first test tube baby/the
ballpoint pen

VI) Write some more sentences using the past passive voice:
A hit-and-run offence
Complete the text by putting the verbs into the correct tense (active + passive).

Police is investigating a hit-and-run offence

Cushington. Last night Tom P. (1)______________ (walk) home from work when a car
(2)____________ (hit) him. He (3)____________ (not see) the car coming, he said. All he can
remember are the moments just after the crash. After having been hit by the car, he (4)____________
(fly) through the air and (5)___________ (land) on the pavement. He (6)_____________ (feel) dizzy
and when he tried to stand up, he realized his legs (7)_________ (be) broken. Within minutes the
ambulance, that an eyewitness (8)________________ (call), arrived. When the paramedics got out of
the car Tom P. was unconscious, but there were many helpers. The paramedics said that somebody
(9)___________ (hold) his leg. His wounds (10)______________ (cover) and his head
(11)____________ (put) on a pillow. Moreover a woman (12)_____________ (take off) her jacket and
had covered Tom with it.

While the paramedics (13)____________ (search) for his ID, Mr. P. (14)____________ (wake up). He
told the paramedics it (15)___________ (be) a red car. He could only (16)_____________
(remember) the colour and that the car was from Bedfordshire. The paramedics (17)___________
(take) the young man to hospital immediately, where he (18)____________ (diagnose) with multiple
broken bones and a mild concussion. More importantly, however, due to his injuries the patient
(19)_______________ (lose) a lot of blood. It was the help of the first-aiders that (20)____________
(save) his life.

The doctor said ’If he (21)_____________ (not receive) help right away, he (22)________________
(die). Unfortunately many people (23)____________________ (not know) first aid very well, so many
people are not as lucky as Tom. ‘If people (24)_______________ (know) first aid better, we
(25)_________________ (save) more lives. If you ever (26)______________(see) someone who
needs help, please (27)_____________(call) an ambulance and at least stay with the patient!’ the
doctor begged.

The police (28)___________________ (try, now) to find the car and the driver. Eyewitnesses said
that the sports car had been driven by a man. Due to many accidents that evening the police could
not interview all eyewitnesses; “I am sure that if anyone (29)_________________ (have) information
about the accident, they (30)____________________ (call) us,” the spokesperson said. Later that
night in hospital Tom P. said “I (31)__________________ (understand not) how someone can hit a
person and then (32)________________________ (drive off) without helping at all! If I ever
(33)_______________ (meet) the driver, I (34)_________________ (tell) him that I was not only
scared to death, but that I almost (35)_______________ (die) because of him.”