B1Present vs.

Past PassivesStudent’s Copy

Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in parentheses. Use passives where

necessary. 

a. A nine-year-old boy had a serious accident last Saturday. He (1) ______________ (take) to

hospital after he (2) ______________ (knock) down by a car. The accident (3) ______________

(happen) while the boy (4) ______________ (play) football in a park with his friends. He was running

out into the road to fetch his ball. The driver said “I’m very sorry for the boy. I (5) ______________

(drive) for 15 years, but this is the first time I (6) ______________ (have) an accident.” David Knight,

the boy’s father, said “I think, the driver (7) ______________

(be) drunk and he was going too fast, but I blame the

authorities. We (8) ______________ (ask) them to provide a

safe play area for our children many times. Perhaps they (9)

______________ (take) some action soon. If the new wall (10) ______________ (build) around the

play area in the next two weeks, the children (11) ______________ (be) safe. 

b. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am

Charles Trump. I (1) ______________ (report) from BBC

news headquarters now. Earlier this evening, at 6.24 pm,

an earthquake (2) ______________ (hit) Cairo, Egypt.

Many people (3) ______________ (kill), many more (4) ______________ (injure) and much of the

city (5) ______________ (destroy). The government (6) ______________ (already/set up) emergency

teams all over the city. They are helping the injured. Firemen and local people (7) ______________

(dig) in the wreckage now because many people (8) ______________ (still/trap). A BBC special news

team left for Cairo immediately after we (9) ______________ (receive) news of the earthquake. We

(10) ______________ (expect) a special, in-depth report from them at any moment. As soon as we

(11) ______________ (hear) from them, we will release another news bulletin. We (12)

______________ (be) back with the special bulletin soon.”