PASSIVE VOICE

Form:

To make passive voice, the first thing we need is the object of the active voice, followed by the
passive verb which is formed by verb to be in the same verbal tense as the active voice+ past
participle.

Eg:

active passive

The hunter killed the lion. > The lion was killed by the hunter.

Someone cleaned the windows. > The windows were cleaned.

We use the passive voice when we want to focus on the object and not in the subject because
it is not important, not necessary or obvious.

Eg:

The car was stolen (by a thief).

People study English

English is studied (by people)

However, sometimes the subject of the active is important, in that case, we write as the agent
always preceded by the preposition “by”.

Eg:

Leonardo Da Vinci painted La Mona Lisa

La Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci

EXERCISES: Change these sentences from active to passive.

1 We clean the garages every day.

The garages are cleaned every day
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 Someone has given him a lot of money.

A lot of money have been given to him
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 The police arrested two hundred people.

Two hundred people have been arrested by the police
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4 Paul wrote the words and John made the music.

The music and the words have been made by John and Paul
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5 We check every car engine thoroughly.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Every car engine is checked thoroughly

6 We export this computer to seventy different countries.

This computer have been exported to seventy different countries
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7 We opened the factory at nine o'clock.

The factory is opened at nine o' clock
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8 They send two million books to America every year.

Two million books are sended every year to America
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9 Did he give you enough sugar?

Was enough sugar given to you?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………