Escola Secundária de Lousada

English Worksheet – 11th Form

- PASSIVE VOICE -

We use the Passive :

 To emphasize the action rather than the agent;

 When the agent is unknown or generally understood/obvious.
A. DIRECT PASSIVE

Active sentence – Waves of immigrants have shaped many countries.

Active subject verb (Present Perfect) Direct object

1. 2. 3.

Passive sentence – Many countries have been shaped by waves of immigrants. (emphasis on the action /event)
Passive subject aux. verb be in the agent (by + agent)
same tense + past
participle of the
main verb
Note!!! We omit the agent ( by + agent) when it is unimportant obvious or unknown.

Examples of verb form transformations

Tenses Active Passive

Present Simple shape (s) is / are shaped
Past Simple shaped was / were shaped
Present Continuous is / are shaping is / are being shaped
Past Continuous was / were shaping was/ were being shaped
Present Perfect have / has shaped have/ has been shaped
Past Perfect had shaped had been shaped
Future Simple will shape will be shaped
Modal verbs can shape can be shaped

B. INDIRECT / IDIOMATIC PASSIVE

When the sentence takes 2 objects – direct and indirect, it can form the passive in two ways.
Ted sent them the report on multicultural trends. them - Indirect Object
the report on multicultural trends – Direct Object

a. They were sent the report on multicultural trends by Ted. Indirect Passive

b. The report on multicultural trends was sent to them by Ted. Direct Passive

A. Rephrase the following sentences starting them as suggested.

1. They offered Hope a new position in the company.

Hope ______________________________________________________________________________________________
A new position_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. They first published this book about multicultural societies in 2019.
This book____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Multicultural societies must learn the principles of tolerance and respect.

The principles ________________________________________________________________________________________

4. The manager told me about the decision last week.

I ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Some partners have asked Paul to make a speech at the meeting.

Paul_________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Someone will take photographs during the ceremony.

Photographs __________________________________________________________________________________________

7. They are going to postpone the visit to the immigration centre.

The visit ______________________________________________________________________________________________

8. They shouldn’t judge people of different ethnicities like that!

People ________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Rachel will give you some advice.

You __________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. I sent him a letter.

He ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. The police officer showed us the way.

We __________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Our Indian neighbour gave me a lift.

I ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. We have asked him a favour.

He __________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. They have written her a postcard.

She _________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.

You _________________________________________________________________________________________________

16.They did not offer her a seat.

She _________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. They didn't teach us Greek.

We _________________________________________________________________________________________________

18. They won't offer me a car.

I ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Good Work!
Your Teacher,
Helena Vasconcelos