THE PAST PASSIVE VOICE

To remind you about THE PAST ACTIVE SENTENCE:

VERB PATTERN ACTIVE SENTENCE:

(+) S + Verb(2) + O + adv/adj
(-) S + didnt + Verb (1) + O + adv/adj
(?) Did + S + Verb (1) + O + adv/adj
(?) Q.W + did + S + Verb 1 + O + adv/adj

Now let’s take a look The PAST PASSIVE VOICE:

(+) S + was/ were + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj

(-) S + wasn’t / weren’t + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj
(?)Was/ were + S + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj
(?) Q.W + Was/ were + S + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj

NOTE:

Subject Tobe
I, She, He, It was
You, We, They were

Pay attention for the change of the pattern from Active to Passive:

ACTIVE
(+) S + Verb (2) + O + adv/adj

PASSIVE
(+) S + was/were + Verb (3) + by O + adv/adj

ACTIVE PASSIVE
Object Subject
Verb 2 was/were + Verb 3
Subject by Object
Adv/ adj adv/adj
EXPLANATION:
(+) ACTIVE : S + Verb(2) + O + adv/adj
PASSIVE : S + was/ were + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj

(-) ACTIVE : S + didnt + Verb (1) + O + adv/adj

PASSIVE : S + wasn’t / weren’t + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj

(?) ACTIVE : Did + S + Verb (1) + O + adv/adj

PASSIVE : Was/ were + S + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj

(?) ACTIVE : Q.W + did + S + Verb 1 + O + adv/adj

PASSIVE : Q.W + Was/ were + S + Verb 3 + (by O) + adv/adj

EXERCISES

Part A.
Directions: Complete each statement with the verb in the past tense, passive voice. (10 points)

1. She was hit by another car. (hit)

2. The carpet was vacuumed yesterday. (vacuum)
3. The employees were laid off last year. (lay)
4. I think this guitar was made in Korea. (make)
5. You were helped by your teacher. (help)
6. The elderly man was seen by the doctor. (see)
7. We weren’t given much time to finish the assignment. (give - negative)
8. The door was forced open with a crowbar. (force)
9. Our neighbors were visited by the police (visit)
10. The job wasn’t finished in time. (finish - negative)

Part B.

Directions: Complete each question with the verb in the past tense, passive voice. (10 points)

1. Was the mail delivered this morning? (deliver)

2. Were you told what to do? (tell)
3. Why wasn’t the little girl saved from the burning house? (save - negative)
4. Where was my wallet found? (find)
5. Was I Given a flu shot when I was a baby? (give)
6. Where was Mary born? (bear*)
7. Was this shirt worn ? (wear)
8. Wasn’t the entire pizza eaten ?(eat - negative)
9. How quickly was his email replied to? (reply)
10. Was he killed in a firefight? (kill)

*bear / bore / born

 C. Rewrite the sentences in passive voice (past).
1. He opened the door. – the door was opened by him/he
2. We set the table. – the table was set by we
3. She paid a lot of money. – a lot of money was paid by her
4. I drew a picture. – A picture was drawn
5. They wore blue shoes. – blue shoes was worn by they
6. They didn’t help you. – you weren’t helped by they
7. He didn’t open the book. – the book wasn’t opened by him
8. You didn’t write the letter. – the letter weren’t written by you
9. Did your mum pick you up? – were you up picked by your mum?
10. Did the police officer catch the thief? – was the thief caught by the police officer?