ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

THE PASSIVE VOICE

INTRODUCTION
The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active verb
and adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes the ‘agent’ of the
passive verb. The agent is very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by and placed
at the end of the clause.
Active: My grandfather planted this tree.
Passive: This tree was planted by my grandfather.

PASSIVE VERB TENSES

ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
Present Simple He delivers the letters. The letters are delivered.
Past Simple He delivered the letters. The letters were delivered.
Future Simple He will deliver the letters. The letters will be delivered.
Present Continuous He is delivering the letters. The letters are being delivered.
Past Continuous He was delivering the letters. The letters were being delivered.
Going to He is going to deliver the letters. The letters are going to be delivered.
Present Perfect He has delivered the letters. The letters have been delivered.
Past Perfect He had delivered the letters. The letters had been delivered.
Infinitive He has to deliver the letters. The letters have to be delivered.

1 Modals He must deliver the letters. The letters must be delivered.

SIMPLE CONTINUOUS PERFECT

+ S + am/is/are + Ptp S + am/is/are + being + Ptp S + have/has + been + Ptp

PRESENT - S + am/is/are + not + Ptp S + am/is/are + not +being + Ptp S + have/has + not + been + Ptp

? Am/Is/Are + S + Ptp ? Am/Is/Are) + S + being + Ptp ? Have/Has) + S + been + Ptp ?

+ S + was/were + Ptp S + was/were + being + Ptp S + had + been + Ptp

PAST - S + was/were + not + Ptp S + was/were + not + being + Ptp S + had + not + been + Ptp

? Was/Were + S +PtpV ? Was/Were + S + being + Ptp? Had + S + been + Ptp

+ S + will + be + Ptp

FUTURE - S + will + not + be + Ptp

? Will + S + be + Ptp ?

+ S + V to be (am/is/are) + going to +
be + Ptp
GOING TO - S + V to be (am/is/are) + not + going
to + be + Ptp
 ? V to be (am/is/are) + S + going to +
be + Ptp ?

Short answers
To make short answers:
• we use the verb to be (am/is/are/was/were) for Present Simple, Past Simple, Present
Continuous, Past Continuous and Going To questions.
• we use the verb have (have/has/had) for Present Perfect and Past Perfect questions.
• we use will for Future Simple questions.

USE
The Passive is used:
1. when the agent (=the person who does the action) is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the
context.
Jane was shot. (We don’t know who shot her.)
This church was built in 1815. (Unimportant agent)
He has been arrested. (Obviously by the police)
2. to make more polite or formal statements.
The car hasn’t been cleaned. (more polite)
(You haven’t cleaned the car. – less polite)
2
3. when the action is more important than the agent, as in processes, instructions, events, reports,
headlines, new items, and advertisements.
30 people were killed in the earthquake.
4. to put emphasis on the agent.
The new library will be opened by the Queen.

AGENT
To say who did the action that we are talking about, ie. to refer to the agent, we use the preposition by
and the name (by Peter) , noun (by the teacher) or pronoun (by him) at the end of the sentence.
We usually only refer to the agent when it gives us some important information which otherwise would be
missing from the sentence.
Our house was designed by a famous architect.
We don’t mention the agent:
1. if we don’t know who has done what we are talking about.
Our car was stolen last night. (We don’t know who stole it)
2. if we are not interested in who has done what we are talking about or it is not important to
mention it.
He has been taken to hospital. (What we are interested in is the fact that he has been taken
to hospital and not who has taken him.)
3. if it is easy to understand who did something without it being mentioned.
The murderer was arrested last night. (It is not necessary to mention that he has been
arrested by the police because it is self-evident.)
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

4. if the subject of the active voice sentence is something like somebody, people, they, you, etc.
Someone broke the window. → The window was broken.

ACTIVE TO PASSIVE
To change a sentence from the active voice to the passive voice:
• the object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice sentence.
Agatha Christie wrote this book.
This book was written by Agatha Christie.
• we change the main verb of the active voice sentence into the passive voice. The tense remains
unchanged.
• the subject of the active voice sentence becomes the agent of the passive sentence. It is placed
after the past participle and it is preceded by the preposition by.
Agatha Christie wrote this book.
This book was written by Agatha Christie.

Leslie took this photograph yesterday.

SUBJECT ACTIVE VERB OBJECT TIME COMPLEMENT

This photograph was taken by Leslie yesterday.

SUBJECT PASSIVE VERB AGENT TIME COMPLEMENT
BY OR WITH?
In the passive voice, we use:
• by with the agent to refer to by whom the action is being done.
The door was opened by Mr Black. (Mr Blak = agent)
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• with to refer to the instrument, object or material that was used for something to be done.
The door was opened with a key. (a key = the object that was used)
The omelette was made with eggs, cheese and peppers. (eggs, cheese and peppers = the
material that was used)

DOUBLE OBJECT VERBS

When we have verbs that take two objects like, for example, give somebody something, we can convert
the active sentence into a passive one in two ways:
a. by making the indirect (animate) object the subject of the passive voice sentence, which is also the
way that we usually prefer.
b. By making the direct (inanimate) object the subject of the passive voice.
Rick gave me (indirect object) this book (direct object).
I was given this book by Rick.
This book was given to me by Rick.
Some of the verbs that take two objects are: give, tell, send, show, bring, write, offer, pay, etc.
When the indirect object is alone after the verb in the passive voice sentence, it needs the preposition to. If
the indirect object of the active voice sentence is a personal pronoun it has to be changed into a subject
pronoun to be the subject of the passive voice sentence.
 SUBJECT SUBJECT OBJECT
I ←→ We ←→ us
You ←→ You ←→ you
He ←→ They ←→ them
She ←→
It ←→

BIBLIOGRAPHY
- A. J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University Press, 1986
- V. Evans, Round-Up (English Grammar Practice), Longman, 1995
- M. Carling and S. Jervis, Grammar Time 4, Longman, 2003
- S. Jervis, Grammar Time 5, Longman, 2003
- M. Carling, Grammar Time 6, Longman, 2003

EXERCISES
1. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Present
Simple.
a. English _______Is spoken_____________ (speak) in many countries.
b. The post _____________is delivered_________ (deliver) at about 7 o’clock every morning.
4
c. ___________________isnt used___________ (the building/use) any more?
d. How often _______________are held_______________ (the Olympic Games(hold)?
e. How ___________is your name spelt____________ (your name/spell)?
f. My salary ___________is paid__________ (pay) every month.
g. These cars _____________are made____________ (not make) in Japan.
h. The name of the people who committed the crime __________is not known___________ (not
know).
i. His travel expenses ____________are paid____________ (not pay) by his company.

2. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple.
a. My car __________was repaired____________ (repair) last week.
b. This song ____________was written ____________ (not write) by John Lennon.
c. ______________was answered__________________ (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
d. The film ____________was made____________ (make) ten years ago.
e. When ______________was tennis inventered________________ (tennis/invent)?
f. The car ______________was not damaged__________ (not damaged) in the accident.
g. The original building _____________was pulled____________ (pull) down in 1965.
h. Where ______________are this pot made________________ (this pot/make)?
i. When ________________was this bridgh_______________ (this bridge/build)?

3. Choose the correct form of the verbs in brackets. FIAT

Fiat 0 was started (started/was started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899. In 1903, Fiat,
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 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

_________________ (produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of these cars 2 _________were

exported____________ (exported/were exported) by the company to the United States and Britain.
In 1920, Fiat 3________started_________ (started/was started) making cars at a new factory at
Lingotto, near Turin. There was a track on the roof where the cars 4___________tested_________
(tested/were tested) by technicians. In 1936, Fiat launched the Fiat 500. This car 5__________was
called__________ (called/was called) the Topolino – the Italian name for Mickey Mouse. The company
grew, and in 1963 Fiat 6 __________was exported___________ (exported/was exported) more than
300,000 vehicles. Today, Fiat is based in Turin, and its cars 7_________are sold________ (sold/are sold)
all over the world.
Change the following sentences into passive sentences using the words in brackets.
a. We sell tickets for all shows at the Box Office. (Tickets for all shows/sell/at the Box Office)
Tickets for all shows are sold at the box office
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. (The electric light bulb/invent/by Thomas Edison)
electric The electric light bulb was inventered by Thomas_
_______________________________________________________________________________
c. Someone painted the office last week. (The office/paint/last week)
The office was painted last week
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. Several people saw the accident. (The accident/see/by several people)
The accident were seen by several people
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. Where do they make these video recorders? (Where/these video recorders/make)
Where these video recorders are made?
_________________________________________________________________________________

5. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

a. Someone built this house 200 years ago.
This house was built 200 years ago
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. A thief stole my purse.
My purse was stolen_
________________________________________________________________________________
c. The police will arrest the robbers.
The robbers will be arrested
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. They produce cars in this factory.
Cars are produced in this factory_
________________________________________________________________________________ e.
They serve breakfast at eight o’clock every day.
Breakfast is serve at eight o”clock every day
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. People throw away tones of rubbish every day.
 Tones of rubbish are throw every day
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. They make coffee in Brazil.
Coffee is made in brazil
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. Someone stole Jim’s bike lat night.
Jim”s bike was stolen last night
_________________________________________________________________________________

6. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

a. They will build a new bridge next year.
A new bridge will be built next year
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.
The ultimate space adventure was directed by brian brody_
________________________________________________________________________________
c. Pierre Matie will design her costume.
Her costume will be design by pierre matie_
________________________________________________________________________________
d. Someone found my wallet.
My wallet was found
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. One of the students broke the window.
The window was broken
_________________________________________________________________________________
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f. They will deliver my computer on Monday.
My computer will be delivered in Monday
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.
Paul was invited to Mary’s birthday party
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. British astronomers discovered a new planet.
A new planet was discovered
_________________________________________________________________________________

7. Form the question.

a. Paper is made from wood.
b. The telephone was invented by Mr Bell.
c. This picture was painted by Peter.
d. The thieves will be arrested by the police.
e. Champagne is made in France.
f. The letters will be sent next week.
g. The animals are fed three times a day.
Is paper made from wood ?
Was the telephone invented by Mrs. bell?
Was the picture painted by Peter?
Will the thieves be arrested by the police?
Is champagne made in France?
Will the letters be sent next week?
Are the animals fed 3 times a day?
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

h. This article was written by Stanley. Was this article written by stan?
i. CDs are made of plastic. Is cd made of plastic?
j. The party was organized by Paul. Was the party organized by Paul?

8. Read and complete. Use Past Simple.

a. The toothbrush / invent / in the 15th century.
Was invented
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. The first public basketball game / play / in 1892.
Was played
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. The first eyeglasses / wear / in the 1200s.
Were worn
________________________________________________________________________________
d. The first bicycle / ride in 1791.
Was ridden
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. The first hot dog / eat / in the 1860s.
Was eaten
_________________________________________________________________________________
6 f. The first CDs / sell / in the 1980s.
Were sold
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. The first electric guitar / play / in 1923.
Was played
________________________________________________________________________________
h. The first computer mouse / use / 1964.
Was used
_________________________________________________________________________________

9. Complete with the passive. Use Present Simple.

a. This programme ______Is watched _________________ (watch) by millions of people.
b. Paper ___________Is made_______________ (make) from wood.
c. Hundreds of people __________are killed_____________ (kill) in accidents every year.
d. London _____________is visited_____________ (visit) by thousands of tourists every year.
e. The biology class ____________is taught_____________ (teach) by Mr Green.
f. English _________is spoken____________ (speak) all over the world.
g. Lunch ___________is served__________ (serve) at twelve o’clock.
h. Books ___________are written__________ (write) by authors.

10. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple Passive.

 Two men _____________were seen____________ (see) breaking into a house in my street last night.
The police ___________was called__________ (call) and they arrived very quickly. One man
__________was caught___________
(catch) immediately. The other escaped, but he __________was found____________ (find) very soon.
Both men ___________were taken__________ (take) to the police station where they
___________were questioned______________ (question) separately by a police officer. The two men
____________were charged____________ (charge) with burglary.

11. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.

Somebody has stolen a bus from outside the school. Some children saw the thief. The police are
searching for the bus now. They will use the children’s descriptions to catch the thief.

A bus has been stolen from outside the school. The thief was seen by some children, the bus is being
searched for now. The childrens descriptions will be used to catch the thief .

12. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.

Some people saw a UFO in the sky above London last night. They reported it to the police. The army
sent a helicopter to look at it closer. The UFO shot the helicopter down and killed both men in it.
People have given photographs of the UFO to the police. Experts are looking at them now.
A UFO was seen in the sky above London last night.
It was repented to the police; a helicopter was sent (by the army) to look at it more closely. The
helicopters was shot down by the UFO and both men it were killed; Photographs of the UFO have
been given to the police. The are now being cooked at by experts.

13. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.

Someone broke into a local jewellery shop yesterday. The owner had just locked up the shop when a
7
robber with a gun threatened him. The robber told him to unlock the shop and give him all the
diamonds in the safe. Then the robber tied him up. The police have organized a search for the robber.
They hope they will find him in a few days. Doctors are treating the owner of the shop for shock.

A local jewellery shop was broken into yesterday, it had just been locked up by the owner, when he
was threatened ( by the robber) with a gun. He was told to unlock the shop and give the robber all
the diamonds in the safe. Then he was tied up. A search for the robber has been organized. They
hope he will be founding few days. The shop owner is is being treated for shock.

14. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.

My uncle painted this picture. Someone has offered him a lot of money for it. He will deliver the
painting tomorrow. When they give him the money, he will tell them the truth. He painted it one night
while he was sleepwalking!

This picture was painted by my uncle. He has been offered a lot of money for it. It will be delivered
tomorrow. When he is given the money, they will be told the truth. It was painted one night while he
was sleepwalking.

15. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.

 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

Our school is organizing a contest. The teachers will choose the best project about the environment.
The students must include pictures and drawings in their projects. The students will also have to do all
the writing themselves. The school will give the winner a set of encyclopaedias.

A connect is being organized by own school. The best project about he environment will be chosen by
the teachers. Pictures and drawings must be included in the projects. All the writing will have to be
done by the students. A set of encyclopedias will be given to the winner.

16. Turn from Active to Passive in two ways.

a. He gave me a present. A present was given to me
I was given a present

b. The waiter will bring us the bill. The bill will be brought to us
We will be brought the bill

c. Her mother bought Mary some sweets. Some sweets were bought for Mary
Mary was bought some sweets.

d. Bob has sold Ted a second-hand car. A second hand car has been sold to Ted
Ted has been sold a second hand car

e. Larry is going to send a letter to Tom. Tom is going to be sent a letter by Larry
A letter is going to be sent to tom by Larry

17. Turn from Active to Passive.

a. Someone is helping her with the housework.
She is being helped with the housework
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. The mail-order company sent Mrs Green a parcel.
The food hasn’t been delivered yet
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. My friend sent me an invitation.
I have been sent an invitation by my friend
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. The secretary has given Mrs Jones some letters.
The questions have to be answered on this sheet
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. The traffic warden had already given him a ticket for illegal parking.
He had already been given a ticket for illegal parking
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
That beautiful ring was given to Elizabeth by Jhon
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. Her students have sent her flowers.
 She has been sent flowers by her students
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. He must give the message to the right person.
The message must be given to the right person
_________________________________________________________________________________ i.
We teach our students English and French.
Our students are taught English and French by us
_________________________________________________________________________________
j. Someone bought flowers for the bride.
Flowers were bought for the bride
_________________________________________________________________________________ k.
They showed the tourists the sights of Athens.
The tourist were shown the sights of Athens
________________________________________________________________________________
l. They pay her an excellent salary.
She is paid an excellent salary
_________________________________________________________________________________
m. They paid the artist £1,000 for his painting.
The artist was paid 1,000 for his painting
_________________________________________________________________________________

8 18. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

1. They sell oysters in the shop next door.
The oysters are selled by them in the shop next door
_ ________________________________________________________________________________
2. They haven’t delivered the food yet.
The food has not been delivered by them yet.
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Shakespeare wrote King Lear.
King Lear was written by Shakespeare.
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. They have to answer the questions on this sheet.
The questions have to be answered on this sheet by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. Has anybody put the cases upstairs?
The cases have been put upstairs by anybody?
_________________________________________________________________________________
6. Someone should take this rubbish away.
This rubbish should be taken away by someone.
_________________________________________________________________________________
7. They’ll ask you a lot of questions.
You will be asked a lot of questions by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
8. Someone’s going to send her some flowers.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

Flowers are going to be sent to her by someone.

________________________________________________________________________________
9. They didn’t pay me much for that job.
I wasn't paid much by them for that job.
________________________________________________________________________________
10. Have they offered him a better job?
He have been offered a better job by them?
_________________________________________________________________________________
11. They told us a secret.
A secret was told to us by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
12. Would they lend me their car?
Their car would be lent to me by them.
________________________________________________________________________________
13. People should send their complaints to the head office.
their complaints to the head office should be sent.
_________________________________________________________________________________
14. They had to postpone the meeting because of illness.
The meeting had been postponed by them because of illness.
_________________________________________________________________________________
15. They are going to hold next year’s congress in San Francisco.
Next year’s congress in San Francisco is going to be hold by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
16. The bill includes service.
Service is included by the bill.
9 _________________________________________________________________________________
17. People don’t use this road very often.
This road isn't used by people.
_________________________________________________________________________________
18. They cancelled all the flights because of fog.
The flights was cancelled by them because of fog.
_________________________________________________________________________________
19. Somebody accused me of stealing the money.
I was accused by somebody of stealing the money.
_________________________________________________________________________________
20. They are building a new ring-road round the city.
A new ring-road round the city is been built by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
21. I didn’t realize that someone was recording our conversation.
Someone wasn't realized recording our conversation by me.
_________________________________________________________________________________
22. They have changed the date of the meeting.
The date of the meeting have been changed by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
23. Brian told me that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street.
 I was told that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street by Brian.
_________________________________________________________________________________
24. You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.
The wine should be openned about three hours before you use it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
25. Somebody had cleaned my shoes and brushed my suit.
My shoes and my suit had been cleaned by somebody.
_________________________________________________________________________________
26. We use this room only on special occasions.
This room is only used on special occasions by us.
_________________________________________________________________________________
27. In some district’s farmers use pigs to find truffles.
Pigs are used to find truffles in some district’s farmers.
_________________________________________________________________________________
28. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
Elizabeth was given that beautiful ring by John.
_________________________________________________________________________________
29. They have offered Sarah a very good job.
A very good job have been offered to Sarah by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
30. The estate agent showed the house to the young people.
The house to the young people was showed by the state agent.
_________________________________________________________________________________
31. We will pay the gardener a lot of money.
A lot of money will be paid to the gardener by us.
_________________________________________________________________________________
32. Someone is going to repair the roof next week.
The roof is going to be repaired by someone next week.
_________________________________________________________________________________
33. They can’t find Joanna.
Joanna can't be found by them.
_________________________________________________________________________________
34. They should decorate the room with flowers.
The room should be decorated with flowers by
them ._______________________________________________________________________________
__ 35. Archaeologists have discovered an ancient temple.
An ancient temple have been discovered by archaeologists.
_________________________________________________________________________________
36. We will put all these things into boxes.
All these things will be put into boxes by us.
_________________________________________________________________________________
37. The firefighters rescued the teenagers from the burning building.
The teenagers were rescued from the burning building by the firefighters
_________________________________________________________________________________
38. The youngest student in the class has written the best composition.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR The Passive Voice

The best compositions has been written by the youngest students in the class.
_________________________________________________________________________________
39. The children send me messages every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
40. The villagers gave the travellers food and water.
_________________________________________________________________________________
41. A very talented young girl wrote the story.
_________________________________________________________________________________
42. They are going to finish the new road in a few days.
_________________________________________________________________________________
43. They cancelled the match because of the rain.
_________________________________________________________________________________
44. You must not cross this line.
_________________________________________________________________________________
45. They had picked the oranges before the storm.
_________________________________________________________________________________
46. Professor Smith should write the book.
_________________________________________________________________________________
47. Mr Elliot will pay the workers.
_________________________________________________________________________________
48. Two men were following Tom.
10 _________________________________________________________________________________
49. Millions of people use the Internet every day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
50. They gave Bob a CD player for his birthday.
_________________________________________________________________________________
51. The prime minister will give a medal to the winners.
_________________________________________________________________________________
52. She is telling the children a story.
_________________________________________________________________________________
53. They’ve offered Sally a job.
_________________________________________________________________________________
54. Poisonous chemicals have polluted the river.
_________________________________________________________________________________
55. Doctor Simms is examining her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
56. You must stop him now.
_________________________________________________________________________________
57. Someone gave them free tickets for the concert.
_________________________________________________________________________________