The passive voice is formed with the verb to be + the past participle of the verb:

Many new roads were built during the last years in my hometown.

The verb to be should always be changed into the correct tense to make passive
voice. Let's consider the verb to eat, look how it changes in passive voice:

● The soup is eaten every day (present simple)

● The soup is being eaten right now (present continuous)
● The soup has been eaten this week (present perfect)
● The soup was eaten yesterday (past simple)
● The soup was being eaten for 1 hour yesterday (past continuous)
● He told me the soup had been eaten the day before (past perfect)

To make the negative, we need to put not between the verb to be and the past
participle: I was taught not to litter.

With active verbs we usually follow this pattern: subject + verb + object (Parents
told children to stop playing). But when we use passive, we want to put the object
of the verb first: The children were told to stop playing. (object + verb).

We use the passive voice:

1. When we want to focus on the object of the sentence:

My car was cleaned today. (The focus is on the car in this situation)

2. When we know from the context who carried out the action:

A law was proposed to protect the rights of the people. (We know that the
government proposed it)

3. When it is not important who carried out the action:

Fresh food is brought to the supermarkets everyday. (We don't care who brings it)
 B1 A Local Sports Centre PA016

Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form of the verb in brackets .

A new sports and athletic centre _____________________ (OPEN) in our town last week. The
facility ____________________ (BELIEVE) to be one of the largest in the country and experts
hope that it ________________________ (VISIT) by thousands of amateur and professional
athletes over the course of the next few years.

The centre _____________________________ (CONSTRUCT) for over 6 years before it

______________________ (OPEN) by local authorities last Monday. However, it
_______________________________________ (NOT COMPLETELY FINISH) yet. Workers are making
the final adjustments this week and say that it _____________________ (COMPLETE) by the end
of the month.

The centre offers various sports facilities including two indoor swimming pools, three large
gyms and a ball court. They _____________________ (CAN BOOK) online or directly at the
administration desk. The equipment ______________________ (BUY) from local companies,
which also provided the training programs.

The new centre _____________________ (FINANCE) by government funds as well as grants that
________________________ (GIVE) to the region by the European Union. Politicians and famous
athletes from all over the country __________________________ (INVITE) to the official opening
ceremony, scheduled for next Tuesday.

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 B1 Passive Voice PA006

Make sentences in passive voice using the tenses in brackets. Add words where
necessary.

1. Great motorcycles - make – Japan (PRESENT SIMPLE)

__________________________________________________________________________________________ .
2. The lawn – not mow –last week (PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE)
__________________________________________________________________________________________ .
3. The postman – not see – recently (PRESENT PERECT SIMPLE)
__________________________________________________________________________________________ .
4. The Gothic cathedral – build – 10th century. (PAST SIMPLE)
__________________________________________________________________________________________ .
5. Many languages – speak – in the EU (PRESENT SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
6. The schoolhouse – repair – today (PRESENT PROGRESSIVE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
7. The prize – award – tomorrow (FUTURE SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
8. After the accident – Harry – take – to a doctor (PAST SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
9. When I came in – the fridge – repair (PAST PROGRESSIVE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
10. The jewels – find – in the basement. (PAST SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
11. After the shop – close – it – sell (PAST PERFECT SIMPLE – PAST SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
12. Special technology – use (PRESENT PROGRESSIVE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
13. The thief – not find – by the police (PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
14. The shop – close – next month (FUTURE SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .
15. The cat – call – Sissy (PRESENT SIMPLE)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ .

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 B1 Passive Voice PA001

Make passive sentences using the word parts and the given tense.

1. The window – open (present perfect simple)

__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Her room – paint (past progressive)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. He – take – to the airport. (present perfect simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. The bike – repair – at the moment (present progressive)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. The cows – feed – every morning (present simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6. The novel – write – a hundred years ago (past simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
7. The food – must put – in the fridge (present simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
8. A press conference – hold – tomorrow afternoon (future simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
9. Our new house – just – finish (present perfect simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
10. The thief – see – by the policeman (past perfect simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
11. The story – often tell – by grandmother (present simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
12. The package – send – by a good friend (past simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
13. He – not see – for ages (present perfect simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
14. My dad – off – a new job – later this week (future simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
15. The church – not renovate – for two hundred years (present perfect simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
16. Breakfast – serve – from 7 to 10 (present simple)
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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