Passive Voice

Exercises on Passive

Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is
performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a
mistake.).

Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive
Tense
Simple Present

Subject

Simple Past

Present Perfect

is written

by Rita.

wrote

a letter.

A letter

was written

by Rita.

Rita

has written

a letter.

has been written

by Rita.

will write

a letter.

will be written

by Rita.

can write

a letter.

can be written

by Rita.

A letter
Rita

Active:
Passive:

Future I

a letter.

Rita

Active:
Passive:

A letter

Active:
Passive:

Hilfsverben

Rita
A letter

Active:
Passive:

Object

writes

Active:
Passive:

Verb

Rita
A letter

Examples of Passive
Tense
Present

Subject
Active:

Verb
Rita

is writing

Object
a letter.

Progressive
A letter

Past Progressive

Passive
:
Active:

is being written

by Rita.

was writing

a letter.

A letter

Past Perfect

Passive
:
Active:

was being written

by Rita.

had written

a letter.

Future II

Passive
:
Active:

A letter

had been written

by Rita.

Rita

will have written

a letter.

A letter

Conditional I

Passive
:
Active:

will have been written

by Rita.

would write

a letter.

A letter

Conditional II

Passive
:
Active:

would be written

by Rita.

would have written

a letter.

Passive
:

A letter

would have been written

by Rita.

Rita

Rita

Rita

Rita

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the
subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to
put the focus on.

Subject
Active:

Rita

Verb

Object 1

Object 2

wrote

a letter

to me.

Passive:

A letter

was written

to me

by Rita.

Passive:

was written

a letter

by Rita.

.
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. Thats why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no
object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive
voice, you need an impersonal construction therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English,
Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. It is said that women live longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is
put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain
auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to
become the subject of the passive sentence.

Passive Voice - Exercises on Form

Write passive sentences in Simple Present.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The documents are printed.

The window is opened.
The shoes are bought.
The car is washed.
The litter is thrown away.
The letter is sent.
The book is not read.
The songs are not sung.
The food is not eaten.
The shop is not closed.

Passive Voice - Exercises on Form

Write passive sentences in Simple Past.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The test was written.

The table was set.
The cat was fed.
The lights were switched on.
The house was built.
Dinner was served.
This computer was not sold.
The car was not stopped.
The tables were not cleaned.
The children were not picked up.

Passive Voice - Exercises on Form

Write passive sentences in Present Perfect.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The postcard has been sent.

The pencils have been counted.
The door has been closed.
The beds have been made.
The mail has been written.
The trees have been planted.
The money has been spent.

8.
9.
10.

The room has not been booked.

The rent has not been paid.
The people have not been informed.

Passive Voice - Exercises on Form

Write passive sentences in Future I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The exhibition will be visited.

The windows will be cleaned.
The message will be read.
The thief will be arrested.
The photo will be taken.
These songs will be sung.
The sign will not be seen.
A dictionary will not be used.
Credit cards will not be accepted.
The ring will not be found.

Exercise on Passive Voice - Simple Present

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He opens the door. - The door is opened by him.

We set the table. - The table is set by us.
She pays a lot of money. - A lot of money is paid by her.
I draw a picture. - A picture is drawn by me.
They wear blue shoes. - Blue shoes are worn by them.
They don't help you. - You are not helped by them.
He doesn't open the book. - The book is not opened by him.
You do not write the letter. - The letter is not written by you.
Does your mum pick you up? - Are you picked up by your mum?
Does the police catch the thief? - Is the thief caught by the police?

Passive Voice - Exercise with Auxiliary Verbs

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

I can answer the question. - The question can be answered by me.

She would carry the box. - The box would be carried by her.
You should open the window. - The window should be opened by you.
We might play cards. - Cards might be played by us.
You ought to wash the car. - The car ought to be washed by you
He must fill in the form. - The form must be filled in by him.
They need not buy bread. - Bread need not be bought by them.
He could not read the sentence. - The sentence could not be read by him.
Will the teacher test our English? - Will our English be tested by the teacher?
Could Jenny lock the door? - Could the door be locked by Jenny?
0 out of 10 answers are correct.

>Mixed Exercise on Passive Voice

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

John collects money. - Money is collected by John.

Anna opened the window. - The window was opened by Anna.
We have done our homework. - Our homework has been done by us.
I will ask a question. - A question will be asked by me.
He can cut out the picture. - The picture can be cut out by him.
The sheep ate a lot. - A lot was eaten by the sheep.
We do not clean our rooms. - Our rooms are not cleaned by us.
William will not repair the car. - The car will not be repaired by William.
Did Sue draw this circle? - Was this circle drawn by Sue?
Could you feed the dog? - Could the dog be fed by you?

Passiv mit 2 Objekten

Bilde Passivstze und Use das fett geschriebene Objekt als Subjekt des Passivsatzes. (Personal Passive)
1.

Rachel will give you some advice.

You will be given some advice.
2.
I sent him a letter.
He was sent a letter.
3.
The police officer showed us the way.
We were shown the way.
4.
Our neighbour gave me a lift.
I was given a lift.
5.
We have asked him a favour.
He has been asked a favour.
6.
She told me a lie.
I was told a lie.
7.
They have written her a postcard.
She has been written a postcard.
8.
Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.
You will be made a cup of tea.
9.
The waiter has not brought us the coffee.
We have not been brought the coffee.
10.
They did not offer her a seat.
She was not offered a seat.
0 out of 10 answers are correct.

Passiv mit 2 Objekten

Bilde Passivstze und Use das fett geschriebene Objekt als Subjekt des Passivsatzes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Rachel will give you some advice.

Some advice will be given to you.
I sent him a letter.
A letter was sent to him.
The police officer showed us the way.
The way was shown to us.
Our neighbour gave me a lift.
A lift was given to me.
We have asked him a favour.
A favour has been asked of him.
She told me a lie.
A lie was told to me.

7.

They have written her a postcard.

A postcard has been written to her.
8.
Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.
A cup of tea will be made for you.
9.
The waiter has not brought us the coffee.
The coffee has not been brought to us.
10.
They did not offer her a seat.
A seat was not offered to her.
0 out of 10 answers are correct.

Personal Passive
Wandle die Aktivstze in Passivstze um. Use Personal Passive.
1.

People know that she is a good swimmer.

She is known to be a good swimmer.
2.
They say that Francis is in hospital.
Francis is said to be in hospital.
3.
They think that the children are in bed.
The children are thought to be in bed.
4.
People believe that the robber has worked in the bank.
The robber is believed to have worked in the bank.
5.
People believe that nuclear power stations are dangerous.
Nuclear power stations are believed to be dangerous.
6.
His collegues thought that he was on holiday.
He was thought to be on holiday.
7.
People know that cars pollute the environment.
Cars are known to pollute the environment.
8.
They suppose that the new product will come out soon.
The new product is supposed to come out soon.
9.
They found that the mission was impossible.
The mission was found to be impossible.
10.
They believe that she will win a gold medal.
She is believed to win a gold medal.
0 out of 10 answers are correct.

Exercise on Passive Voice - Present Progressive

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Sheila is drinking a cup of tea. - A cup of tea is being drunk by Sheila.

My father is washing the car. - The car is being washed by my father.
Farmer Joe is milking the cows. - The cows are being milked by farmer Joe.
She is taking a picture of him. - A picture of him is being taken by her.
I am writing a poem. - A poem is being written by me.
We are not playing football. - Football is not being played by us.
He is not wearing a tie. - A tie is not being worn by him.
Is she preparing the party? - Is the party being prepared by her?
Are they talking about the meeting? - Is the meeting being talked about by them?
Is she watering the flowers? - Are the flowers being watered by her?
1 out of 10 answers are correct.

Exercise on Passive Voice - Conditional I

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Jenny would congratulate you. - You would be congratulated by Jenny.

We would pick you up. - You would be picked up by us.
She would order a pizza. - A pizza would be ordered by her.
He would build a new house. - A new house would be built by him.
They would take the opportunity. - The opportunity would be taken by them.
You would not recognize Jim. - Jim would not be recognized by you.
I would not do that kind of job. - That kind of job would not be done by me.
Would they decorate the room? - Would the room be decorated by them?
Would the DJ play this song? - Would this song be played by the DJ?
Would Simon open the window? - Would the window be opened by Simon

Exercise on Passive Voice - Conditional II

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

They would have told you. - You would have been told by them.
We would have spoken English. - English would have been spoken by us.
Mario would have bought a paper. - A paper would have been bought by Mario.
She would have called the police. - The police would have been called by her.
We would have painted the walls green. - The walls would have been painted green by us.
She would not have noticed the mistake. - The mistake would not have been noticed by her.
I would not have given this book away. - This book would not have been given away by me.
Would my mum have packed the bag? - Would the bag have been packed by my mum?
Would you have accepted that offer? - Would that offer have been accepted by you?
Would they have given the right answer? - Would the right answer have been given by them?
1 out of 10 answers are correct.

Exercise on Passive Voice Future I mit will

Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). Use Future I mit will.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The house will be built here.

You will be sent home.
I will eat an ice-cream.
We will go home now.
I will help you.
The match will not be won by our team.
The weather will not improve tomorrow.
The trees will be cut down.
The meeting will not be cancelled.
They will not do that again.
0 out of 10 answers are correct.

Exercise on Tenses in Summaries - Part 1

Summary - The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Summaries are usually written in present tense. Simple present is the most important tense in summaries. But
other tenses are important,too.

Decide whether to use simple present, simple past, present perfect, conjunctive or passive voice. Use the long
forms.
The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is set in a
fictive world, Middle Earth. It tells the story of Frodo, a hobbit, and a magic ring.
As the story begins, Frodo is given a magic ring. The wizard Gandalf then tells him of the Rings of Power and
of Sauron, the Dark Lord, who made the Master Ring to rule all other Rings. Gandalf advises Frodo to leave
home and keep the ring out of Sauron's hands who already has sent his Black Riders in search for it. Frodo's ring
would give Sauron the power to enslave Middle Earth.
1 out of 10 answers are correct.
go to Part 2

Chapter I
When the American, Mr Otis, bought Canterville Castle, everyone told him that this was very foolish, as the
place was haunted. But Mr Otis answered, I come from a modern country, where we have everything that
money can buy. And if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we would have it at home in one of our
museums.
A few weeks later, on a lovely July evening, Mr Otis, his wife and their children, Washington, Virginia and the
twins, went down to their new home. When they entered the avenue of Canterville Castle, the sky suddenly
became dark and a spooky stillness was in the air.
Mrs Umney, the housekeeper, led them into the library of the castle, where they sat down and began to look
around. Suddenly, Mrs Otis saw a red stain on the floor just by the fireplace and said to Mrs Umney, I am
afraid something has been spilt there.
Yes, madam, said the old housekeeper in a low voice, blood has been spilt on that spot.
How terrible, said Mrs Otis; I don't want any blood-stains in my sitting-room. It must be removed at once.
The old woman smiled and answered, It is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville, who was murdered on
that spot by her husband, Sir Simon de Canterville, in 1575. Sir Simon disappeared seven years later. His body
has never been found, but his ghost still haunts the Castle. The blood-stain is a tourist attraction now and it
cannot be removed.
That is all nonsense, said Washington, the eldest son of the Otis family, stain remover will clean it up in no
time, and he took a bottle of stain remover out of his pocket and cleaned the spot. But as soon as the bloodstain had disappeared, a terrible flash of lightning lit up the room and a fearful peal of thunder made the whole
building shake.