The Passive Voice

I. Make the sentences passive. Use by… only if necessary  Somebody stole a car. A car was stolen.  You need red and green to make brown. Red and green are needed to make brown.  My mother made this ring. This ring was made by my mother.  They are repairing your car now. Your car is being repaired now.

II. Change the structure.  Gifts are brought to children at Christmas. Children are brought gifts at Christmas.  A glass of water was offered to John after the meeting. John was offered a glass of water after the meeting.  Many stories were told to us during the class. We were told many stories during the class.

III. Change active sentences into passive.  The best competitor will win the competition. The competition will be won by the best competitor.  Did Gustave Eiffel design and build the Eiffel tower? Was the Eiffel tower designed and built by Gustave Eiffel?  Tom is not going to pay Lisa. Lisa is not going to be paid by Tom.  People ate most of the food at the party. Most of the food at the party was eaten.

IV. Active v/s Passive. Complete the sentences with the words in parentheses. o This old house (build)_____________by my grandfather fifty years ago. o When Tina was only five, her mother (pass away) _____________. o Yesterday I (remember, not)_________________ to do my homework. o Sarah (tell)____________ a lot of lies by her boyfriend tomorrow. was built passed away didn’t remember will be told

V. Change the sentences into the passive by using the indirect object as the subject of the sentence. Use the by-phrase only if necessary. Keep the same tense. Someone has awarded Gabriela Mistral the Noble Prize in Literature. Gabriela Mistral has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Someone has offered Tim the opportunity to get a master’s degree in USA. Tim has been offered the opportunity to get a master’s degree in USA. The principal of the school, Mr. Driscoll, is going to provide the school children new computers next month. The school children are going to be provided new computers by the principal of the school, Mr. Driscoll, next month.

VI. Choose the correct answer. “Ms. Stephanie, please send me those letters before midnight.” “They’ve already______________ sir. a)sent b)Being sent c)Been sent d)Been being sent

At this very moment, Carl____________not to bother his sister. a)Tells b)Is telling c)Is being told d)Told Peter hasn’t ________________since the day of the accident. a)Being seen b)Been seen c)Seen d)Was seen