Passive Voice

1. Complete the sentences using one of these verbs in the correct form:

cause, damage, hold, include, invite, make, overtake, show, translate, write

1. Many accidents … by dangerous driving. 2. Cheese … from milk. 3. The roof of the building … in a storm a few days ago. 4. There is no need to leave a tip. Service … in the bill. 5. You … to the wedding. Why didn’t you go? 6. A cinema is a place where films …. 7. In the United States, elections for President … every four years. 8. Originally the book … in Spanish and a few years ago it … into English. 9. We were driving along quite fast but we … by lots of other cars.

2. Write questions using the passive. Some are present and some are past:

1. Ask about the telephone. (when/invent?) When ….?

2. Ask about glass.(how/make?) How …..?

3. Ask about Australia.(when/discovered?) ……?

4. Ask about silver. (what/use for?) …….?

5. Ask about television.(when/invent?) ……?

3. Put the verb into the correct form, present simple or past simple, active or passive:

1. It’s a big factory. Five hundred people are … (employ) there. 2. Water …..(cover) most of the Earth's surface. 3. Most of the Earth's surface … (cover) by water. 4. The park gates … (lock) at 6.30 p.m. every evening. 5. The letter … (post) a week ago and it … (arrive) yesterday. 6. The boat …. (sink) quickly but fortunately everybody … (rescue). 7. John's parents … (die) when he was very young. He and his sister … (bring) up by their grandparents. 8. I was born in London but I … (grow) up in the north of England. 9. While I was on holiday, my camera … (steal) from my hotel room. 10. While I was on holiday, my camera … (disappear) from my hotel room.

4. Rewrite these sentences. Instead of using 'somebody/they/people' etc. write a passive sentence:

1. Somebody cleans the room every day. The room is cleaned every day.

2. They cancelled all flights because of fog. All ……………….

3. People don't use this road very often. …………………..

4. Somebody accused me of stealing money. I …………….

5. How do people learn languages? How …………………..

6. People advised us not to go out alone. ……………………

5. Use the words below to write questions in the Passive. Answer them:

1. what food/ eat/ on Christmas Day/in England? 2. when/ Christmas presents/ give in your country? 3. how/ houses decorate/ for Easter/in your country? 4. where/Halloween/ celebrate? 5. what/give/ to children at Halloween? 6. what food/ eat/during Easter/in your country? 7. where/4 July/celebrate? 8. who/telephone/invent by? 9. who/Romeo and Juliet/write by? 10. where/BMW cars/make?

6. Rewrite these sentences in the passive:

1. Someone’s interviewing Dr Johnson at the moment. Dr Johnson …. 2. They were painting the outside of the ship when the accident happened. The outside of the ship …. 3. They’re mending your shoes at the moment. Your shoes …. 4. Someone is driving your car to Edinburgh. Your car …. 5. I’m paying the bill. The bill …. 6. About thirty million people are watching this program. This program …. 7. Someone was carrying the bomb to a safe place when it exploded. The bomb …. 8. The police are questioning Mr. and Mrs. Davidson. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson ….. 9. Someone is checking the water level. The water level …. 10. I’m telling the children about the party. The children ….

7. Complete the sentences using being + one of these verbs:

ask attack give invite keep pay