passive voice edit 1

THE PASSIVE VOICE
INTRODUCTION
The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active verb and
adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes the „agent‟ of the passive
verb. The agent is very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by and placed at the end of
the clause.
Active: My grandfather planted this tree.
Passive: This tree was planted by my grandfather.


Short answers To
make short answers:
S we use the verb to be (am/is/are/was/were) for Present Simple, Past Simple, Present Continuous,
PASSIVE VERB TENSES

ACTIVE VOICE
PASSIVE VOICE
Present Simple
He delivers the letters.
The letters are delivered.
Past Simple
He delivered the letters.
The letters were delivered.
Future Simple
He will deliver the letters.
The letters will be delivered.
Present Continuous
He is delivering the letters.
The letters are being delivered.
Past Continuous
He was delivering the letters.

The letters were being delivered.
Going to
He is going to deliver the letters.
The letters are going to be delivered.
Present Perfect
He has delivered the letters.
The letters have been delivered.
Past Perfect
He had delivered the letters.
The letters had been delivered.
Infinitive
He has to deliver the letters.
The letters have to be delivered.
Modals
He must deliver the letters.
The letters must be delivered.

SIMPLE
CONTINUOUS
PERFECT

+
S + am/is/are + Ptp
S + am/is/are + being + Ptp
S + have/has + been + Ptp
PRESENT
-
S + am/is/are + not + Ptp
S + am/is/are + not +being + Ptp
S + have/has + not + been + Ptp

?
Am/Is/Are + S + Ptp ?
Am/Is/Are) + S + being + Ptp ?
Have/Has) + S + been + Ptp ?

+
S + was/were + Ptp
S + was/were + being + Ptp
S + had + been + Ptp
PAST
-
S + was/were + not + Ptp
S + was/were + not + being + Ptp
S + had + not + been + Ptp

?
Was/Were + S +PtpV ?
Was/Were + S + being + Ptp?
Had + S + been + Ptp

+
S + will + be + Ptp


FUTURE
-
S + will + not + be + Ptp

?
Will + S + be + Ptp ?



+
S + V to be (am/is/are) + going to +


GOING TO
-
b + V to be (am/is/are) + not + going



?
V to be (am/ i s/are) + S + going to +


Past Continuous and Going To questions.
S we use the verb have (have/has/had) for Present Perfect and Past Perfect questions.
S we use will for Future Simple questions.
USE
The Passive is used:
1. when the agent (=the person who does the action) is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the
context.
Jane was shot. (We don’t know who shot her.)
This church was built in 1815. (Unimportant agent)
He has been arrested. (Obviously by the police)

2. to make more polite or formal statements.
The car hasn’t been cleaned. (more polite)
(You haven’t cleaned the car. - less polite)
3. when the action is more important than the agent, as in processes, instructions, events, reports,
headlines, new items, and advertisements.
30 people were killed in the earthquake.
4. to put emphasis on the agent.
The new library will be opened by the Queen.
AGENT
To say who did the action that we are talking about, ie. to refer to the agent, we use the preposition by
and the name (by Peter) , noun (by the teacher) or pronoun (by him) at theend of the sentence.
We usually only refer to the agent when it gives us some important information which otherwise would be
missing from the sentence.
Our house was designed by a famous architect.
We don‟t mention the agent:
1. if we don‟t know who has done what we are talking about.
Our car was stolen last night. (We don’t know who stole it)
2. if we are not interested in who has done what we are talking about or it is not important to mention it.
He has been taken to hospital. (What we are interested in is the fact that he has been taken to
hospital and not who has taken him.)
3. if it is easy to understand who did something without it being mentioned.
The murderer was arrested last night. (It is not necessary to mention that he has been arrested
by the police because it is self-evident.)
4. if the subject of the active voice sentence is something like somebody, people, they, you, etc.
Someone broke the window. ^ The window was broken.
ACTIVE TO PASSIVE
To change a sentence from the active voice to the passive voice:
Agatha Christie wrote this book.
This book was written by Agatha Christie.

FLY HIGH ENGLISH CENTER 3



HOW TO CHANGE
Step 1: Clarify the part of sentence : S, V, O? ( Xác định thành phần câu)
Step 2: Clarify the tense of the verb ( Xác định thì của động từ)
Step 3: Start to change ( see above diagram ) - Chuyển ( xem sơ đồ bên trên)
Notes: Câu chủ động có bao nhiêu thành phần, câu bị động có bấy nhiêu thành phần, Câu chủ động cấu trúc
như thế nào, câu bị động cấu trúc như thế
BY OR WITH?
In the passive voice, we use:
S by with the agent to refer to by whom the action is being done.
The door was opened by Mr Black. (Mr Blak = agent)
S with to refer to the instrument, object or material that was used for something to be done. The door
was opened with a key. (a key = the object that was used)
The omelette was made with eggs, cheese and peppers. (eggs,cheese and peppers =
the material that was used)
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PASSIVE VOICE
1. DOUBLE OBJECT VERBS
When we have verbs that take two objects like, for example, give somebody something, we can convert the
active sentence into a passive one in two ways:
a. by making the indirect (animate) object the subject of the passive voice sentence, which is also the
way that we usually prefer.
b. By making the direct (inanimate) object the subject of the passive voice.
Rick gave me (indirect object) this book (direct object).
I was given this book by Rick.
This book was given to me by Rick.

Some of the verbs that take two objects are: give, tell, send, show, bring, write, offer, pay, etc.
When the indirect object is alone after the verb in the passive voice sentence, it needs the preposition to. To :
GIVE, SEND, SHOW For: BUY, MAKE, GET
Leslie

took

this photograph

yesterday.

SUBJECT

ACTIVE VERB ACTIVE
VERB

OBJECT

TIME COMPLEMENT

This photograph

was taken

by Leslie
yesterday
.

HOW TO
SUBJECT

PASSIVE VERB

AGENT TIME


COMPLEMENT

If the indirect object of the active voice sentence is a personal pronoun it has to be changed into a subject pronoun
to be the subject of the passive voice sentence.






2. PASSIVE WITH WH QUESTION
1. When did you see him in that bank?
*
2. How many lessons are you going to be learn?
*
3. What language do people speak in your country?
*
3. HAVE SOMETHING DONE

Take a look at these two sentences. What is the difference in meaning between them? “ I

cut my hair”
“ I have my hair cut”
“ I cut my hair” means that I do it myself
“ I have my hair cut” means someone cuts my hair for me ( in this case it‟s probably a hairdresser)
SUBJECT

OBJECT
I
< >
me
You
< >
you
He
< >
him
She
< >
her
It
< >
it
SUBJECT
We

OBJECT
us
You

you

They

them

FLY HIGH ENGLISH CENTER 5

We use have something done to mean another person does a service for us.
The grammar for this is pretty simple
Have somebody do something ^ HAVE SOMETHING DONE Get
somebody to do something ^ GET SOMETHING DONE
Let‟s take a look at a few more examples”.
We did not want to cook so we had a pizza delivered.
I had my car washed at that new place by by the station.
4. PREDICA TE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
If the predicate of the passive sentence is a verb transitive like: believe, think, find, say, report, consider,
understand, expect, tell, know the you can change the active sentence into passive using two ways. Look at
the examples:
a) People say that he is handsome ( in the present)
^ It is said that he is handsome.
^ He is said to be handsome
b) They knew he stole my handbag
^ It was known that he stole my handbag
^ He was known to steal my handbag
These are formal structures. They are often used in news reports and on TV.
PRACTICE
1. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

9. They didn‟t pay me much for that job.
10. Have they offered him a better job?
1.

They sell oysters in the shop next door.
2.
They haven‟t delivered the food yet.
3.
Shakespeare wrote King Lear.
4.
They have to answer the questions on this sheet.
5.
Has anybody put the cases upstairs?
6.
Someone should take this rubbish away.
7.
They‟ll ask you a lot of questions.
8.
Someone‟s going to send her some flower

31. Have they offered him a better job?








11. They told us a secret.

12
. Would they lend me their car?
13

.
People should send their complaints to the head office.
14
.
They had to postpone the meeting because of illness.
15
.
They are going to hold next year‟s congress in San Francisco.
16
.
The bill includes service.
17
.
People don‟t use this road very often.
18
.
They cancelled all the flights because of fog.
19
.
Somebody accused me of stealing the money.
20
.
They are building a new ring-road round the city.
21
.
I didn‟t realize that someone was recording our conversation.
22
.
They have changed the date of the meeting.
23

.
Brian told me that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street.
24
.
You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.
25
.
Somebody had cleaned my shoes and brushed my suit.
26
.
We use this room only on special occasions.
27
.
In some districts farmers use pigs to find truffles.
28
.
John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
29
.
They have offered Sarah a very good job.
30
.
The estate agent showed the house to the young people.
FLY HIGH ENGLISH CENTER 7

2. Rewrite these sentences in the passive or the active voice.
e.g.: She was shocked by the accident The accident shocked her.
a. My father will buy a new car next year.
b. The students were given 15 minutes for the test.
c. This restaurant is owned by English people.

d. The children were given some toys by their parents.
e. His girlfriend is going to buy him a car.
f. Tourists are paying a lot of money.
g. They built this house in 1900.
h. Parents always love their children.
i. The film was produced by Spielberg.
j. Nobody told me the truth.
3.Use the words in brackets to complete these sentences. Use the structure “to
have something done”.
We are going to have our house painted next summer. (our house / paint) next summer.

a. I have lost my key. I‟ll have to ____________
b. Your hair is a mess. You should……………
c. The floor is very dirty. Why don‟t you ______
d. My father‟s car is not working very well. He
e. Many young people today ________________
f. She has got a bad toothache. She __________
g. Summers are very hot in Spain. Many people.

(another key made)
(your hair / cut).
(it/ cleaned)
(it / service) tomorrow.
(their nose / pierce).
(it / remove) in a week.
(swimming pools / build) in their
garden.

HOMEWORK
Choose a correct option for each sentence.

1 Judy (implied / was implied) that she was treated unfairly by management recently.
2. Sales (expect/are expected) to decrease as a result of the recession.
3. The budget director (rejected/was rejected) the plan to cut back on spending.
4. The business owner was (frustrating/frustrated) by the lack of adequate capital to
make investments.
5. Artists (have painted/have been painted) a large mural on a wall in the conference
hall.
6. The plans for the merger (will take/will be taken) at least a month to evaluate.
7. Jason was (exciting/excited) to learn that he was being considered for a promotion.
8. Our appliances will (be serviced, service) for free.
9. We (convey, are conveyed) gratitude to loyal customers.

10. The CEO (was paid, paid) a bonus to the employees at the end of the quarter.
11. Scientists (argue, are argued) that greenhouse gas emissions are a major cause of
global warming.
12. Management (required, were required) to develop a good relationship with the new
partners.
FLY HIGH ENGLISH CENTER 9

13. The process of filling prescriptions should (change, be changed) to prevent
mistakes.
Decide whether each of the sentences below is correct or incorrect. If it is correct,
write “correct”; if It is Incorrect, point out the mistake(s) and provide (a)
correction(s).
14. Employee motivation is closely relating to the success of a company.

15. The building will be undergoing renovation for the next three weeks.
16. A proposal for a partnership offered to an Italian firm last week.
17. This product made for busy working mothers who need help in the kitchen.
18. All assembly line workers are advised wearing protective eyewear and gloves while

working.
19. A lifelong honorary membership in the firm has granted to the retired CEO.
20. The company is dedicated to its goal of introducing products that are modern,
functional, and affordable.





PART 5
1.The e-mail addresses and telephone numbers should be…… carefully in the blanks
provided.
(A) written
(B) write
(C) wrote
(D) writing

2.The mailing of the package, you will need to add five dollars more to the shipping
fee.
(A) To expedite
(B) Expedited
(C) To be expedited
(D) Will expedite

3.You must fill out the tax form, a copy of which is……………… to the contractual
agreement you received on the first day

(A) attach
(B) attachment
(C) attaching

(D) attached

4.Ray Murphy submitted a requisition form yesterday to make certain
he………………given a projector for today’s presentation.
(A) has
(B) have
(C) is
(D) are

5.Though somewhat new at making presentations Paul Blakely is…………………….
the best public speaker of the team.

(A) consider
(B) to consider
(C ) considered
(D) considering





6.Young businessmen who set up venture companies should guard against
being…………………. during the first year of operations

(A) disappoint
(B) disappointed
(C) disappointing
(D) disappointment
7.When he took up cooking, Jerry Porter was………………… to learn how easy it
was to make inexpensive, great-tasting meals.

(A) fascinate
(B) fascinating
(C) being
fascinated
(D) fascinated

8.The manager……………….her staff with news of an upcoming bonus if sales
figures reached company goals by the end of the quarter.
(A) encourage
(B) was encouraged
(C) encouraging
(D) encouraged

9.The accounting team is……………….to providing accurate billing statements and
resolving all customer enquiries within twenty-four hours.
(A) dedicating
(B) dedicated
(C) dedicate
(D) dedication

10.As a member of our office, you are invited……………………………. the annual
charity auction.
(A) attending
(B) to attend
(C) attends
(D) attend

11. We are truly………………….with the positive consumer response to our new
marketing strategy.
FLY HIGH ENGLISH CENTER 11

(A) delight
(B) delighting
(C) delighted
(D) delightedly

12. A replacement for the outgoing advertising manager has not yet
been……………… ,but the possibilities have been narrowed down to five applicants.
(A) chose
(B) choice
(C) chosen
(D) choose

13. Each year, Gibbins Foods, a local food manufacturer,………………….five thousand
cans of vegetables to the city's homeless shelters.
(A) donates
(B) to donate
(C) donating
(D) are donated

14.The contract stipulates that an employee is……………to do overtime during weeks
that presentations or special reports are being prepared.

(A) requirement
(B) requires
(C) required
(D) requisition

15.The campaigns that………………… assigned to the broadcasting division have
been scrapped due to lack of support.

(A) having
(B) were
(C) be
(D) had

16. The announcement in the newsletter is meant to…………… Mr.Meyer‟s remarks
on the merger between the two communications firms.

(A) clarified
(B) be clarified
(C) clarification
(D) clarify

17. First-class seats are………………….with Internet hook-ups, global telephones and
faxing capabilities for all of your airborne professional needs.

(A) equip
(B) equipment
(C ) equipped
(D) equipping
18. The manager is………………………to announce that
Morgan & Co. will be giving stock options to interested employees.
(A) please
(B) pleased

(C) pleasant
(D) pleasing

19. After today‟s planning session is completed the members of each group will

be…………. a report of their team‟s objectives for the next three years.

(A) generation
(B) generate
(C) generated
(D) generating

20. We would like you……………….by our assistant manager who will give
you a tour of the company‟s offices and facilities
(A) escorting
(B) to escort
(C) to be escorted
(D) escort

21. Harwood Department Store will be…………………… later this weekend to allow
our shoppers to take advantage of our end-of-season clearance sale.

(A) close
(B) closes
(C) to close
(D) closing

22. To meet the special needs of our branches in Asia, a total of twenty-four trained
staff will……………to Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

(A) send
(B) be sent
(C) be sending
(D) have sent

23.Membership at the exclusive sports club…………… benefits ranging from the use
of all sports equipment to discounted rates at the club‟s restaurant and bar.

(A) includes
(B) to include
(C) have included
(D) including

24. If the director……………………that the top candidate was still a consultant for
Master Lines, Inc., he could have given others greater priority.


(A) tell
(B) telling
(C) had told
(D) had been
told

25. ……………………….The machine‟s continued operation, a thorough check by
maintenance personnel should take place bimonthly.

(A) To be ensure
(B) To ensure
(C) Will ensure
(D) Ensured

27. The winners of the logo contest are………………… to be at the dinner this
evening, which will begin at 8:00 p.m. at the International Plaza Hotel's Blue Room.

(A) plan

(B) plans
(C) planning
(D) planned

28. Participants in the seminar were……………………….to make hotel reservations
by the date indicated on the list of hotels.

(A) advisable
(B) advisory
(C) advising
(D) advised

29. Before structural renovations take place, all businesses must……………… the
building as indicated in the official notice issued last month.

(A) vacant
(B) vacancy
(C) vacate
(D) be vacated

30. Access to the computer terminals……………….during evening hours, so it is
necessary for us to finish the work during the day.

(A) restrict
(B) to restrict
(C) is restricted
(D) has restricted

FLY HIGH ENGLISH CENTER 13

PART 6
Questions 1 through 4 refer to the following memo.
To: All teachers From: The principal Re: Promoting Science
As you know, we at Grange High School for Girls are actively trying……… the
sciences to our
1. (A) to promote
(B) promotion
(C) promote
(D) promoted
students. Recent school league tables showed the students at Grange High School for
Girls
to be the lowest in science-related subjects. We have less students choosing to study
2. (A) among
(B) from
(C) by
(D) around
sciences, and those students who do take sciences do not get good grades. I would
like to ask you to encourage the girls to become interested in science. Let them
know that it is not “just
for boys.” To make sure they understand what opportunities are available to…… with a
3. (A) persons
(B) someone
(C) another
(D) every
good knowledge of biology, chemistry or physics, I am inviting a series of speakers
to talk about their experiences. Wherever possible, these speakers will be women
from the local community who are at the top of their field. Our first speaker will be
Dr. Philippa Green,
who is in charge of Grange Hospital‟s blood laboratory. Our second speaker is not
yet…

4. (A) to be sure
(B) definitely
(C) decide
(D) confirmed
but I have invited Mrs. Edwina Jones, color designer for Revreal Hair Dyes Inc.
Please encourage your students to attend these after-school talks. Many thanks.
Volunteers Wanted
The Psychology Department of Queenstown University is……… volunteers to take
part in an
5. (A) searching
(B) looking for
(C) necessary
(D) investigating
experiment. We need 150 volunteers: 75 men and 75 women. Volunteers should be aged
20 and 25 and should not be taking any kind of medication. Volunteers must not
be
6. (A) under
(B) by
(C) between
(D) from
enrolled in any of the university‟s current psychology courses.
The experiment will take between thirty to forty minutes to complete. Participants will
be
asked to answer a series of questions after a short film. A small fee will be paid to
7. (A) have watched
(B) watch
(C) watching
(D) to watch
participants. Coffee and tea will be also served during the film.
If you are , please contact the Psychology Department secretary on 990-8887 before

8. (A) interested
(B) interesting
(C) have an interest in
(D) interest
January 30
th
.
FLY HIGH ENGLISH CENTER 15


To: All
salespersonnel
From: The Manager
Re: Wireless
Internet
It has to my attention that a lot of our customers are not aware that their computers
9. (A) come
(B) seen
(C) came
(D) see
have a wireless Internet connection capability. Recently several customers……………
the store
10. (A) contact
(B) have contacted
(C) are contacting
(D) contacts
asking how to go about setting up an Internet connection. We always ask customers
for details about their computers, and we discovered that a lot of these had bought
their computers at our store. All of them had computers with the technology for a
wireless connection. Be sure to explain all functions very carefully before making a

sale. Show the customer how easy it is
to to the Internet in our store. We‟d like you to show each customer how to apply
for
11. (A) connect
(B) surf
(C) log
(D) access
their warranty online. It will give a good of our store, and help the customer, too.
12. (A) imagine
(B) show
(C) impression
(D) sign
Thank you


PART 7
Reading Comprehension
Questions 1 through 3 refer to the following letter.

From Professor Henry Yaleson
Here is an update on the courses that will be offered by the Science Department next
semester. First of all, Science 114 - The Planets in Our Solar System has been
cancelled because of low registration. Instead of Science 114, we will offer Science
115 - The Living Earth. We will also offer Biology 227 - The Study of Earthworms,
Biology 190 - Whales of the Pacific and Human Anatomy 101 - Bones of the
Human Body.
Have a great new semester.
Prof. Yaleson

1. Professor Yaleson works in which
university department?
(A) The Earth Department
(B) The Life Department
(C) The Science Department
(D) The Biology Department
3. What is Human Anatomy 101
about?
(A) Whales
(B) The study of earthworms
(C) The planets in the solar
system
(D) The bones of the human body

2. Science 114 was cancelled for
what reason?
(A) Low registration
(B) The professor is sick.
(C) The university will close down.
(D) They have too many courses.

Questions 4 through 7 refer to the following short article.





Science Life Weekly; A review of the New Scientist Seminar
Many different topics were being discussed at the New Scientist Seminar held last Saturday at the
Royal Port Convention Center in Centerville. This international seminar, held annually, provides a

chance for some of the world's top scientists to present new ideas and research. Dr. Thomas Avery, a
leading expert in the field of medical ethics, gave the most interesting presentation called, "What if
people were eaten by cows?" The main idea was about how we would feel if we were kept in a small
field all our lives and then used for food. The presentation was humorous, but it also made people
think about how we treat the animals that we eat. Dr. Avery said, "I was given an invitation only last
week, so I had little time to prepare.” However, everyone agreed that it was the best presentation of
the day. People came from all over the world to attend this year's seminar. One professor from India
said, "I have been coming to these seminars for twenty years. This is the best one ever." Next year’s
seminar will be held in Beijing. This will be the first time that the seminar has been held in Asia.






4. Where was the New Scientist Seminar held?
(A) India
(B) A field with cows
(C) Centerville

(D) Saturday
5. When did Dr. Avery receive his invitation?
(A) Last week
(B) Last weekend
(C) Last month
(D) Last year
6. Dr. Avery is an expert in which field?
(A) A field of cows
(B) Medical ethics
(C) India

(D) Food
7. Where will the next seminar take place?
(A) Centerville
(B) India
(C) Beijing

















Notice to all Biology and Chemistry students
The Science Department will no longer be supplying students with glass test tubes. From
the beginning of next month, students in the Biology and Chemistry Departments will
have to bring their own test tubes to class.
In the past, a lot of money has been wasted by the school lab trying to replace broken test
tubes. We are afraid that we can no longer afford to do this.
Test tubes are being sold at the school bookstore, located in Newman Hall. The cost is
$1.00 per test tube. We have attached an example order form. It is advisable for all

Biology and Chemistry students to place large orders in advance. If you do this, you can
get a reduced price of ten test tubes for $8.50. Simply fill out the order form and take it to
the store at least one week before you need your test tubes. Of course, you may buy test
tubes directly from the store, but you will be limited to two tubes at one time. There is no
limit on orders placed using the form below.
It is important to note that there are two kinds of test tubes on store at the bookstore: glass
and plastic. Only glass test tubes will be allowed in chemistry classes; however, biology
classes will permit either glass or plastic test tubes. It will be possible to use the test tube
cleaning equipment in the laboratories. Time will be allotted at the end of each session to
allow students to clean their tubes. For security purposes, I am afraid that you will not be
able to store your tubes in the labs.
Thank you for you cooperation.
The Science Department





Biology and Chemistry Students’ Test Tube Order Form
Student Name

Student ID #

Type of Tube
(Please check)

Plastic

Glass
Quantity Required

(minimum order 10)


Total Cost

Method of payment
(Please circle)

Cash / Credit Card
Date required







8. What will the chemistry and biology
Departments no longer be supplying?
(A) Text books
(B) Test tubes
(C) Classes
(D) Students

10.Where can students buy test tubes?
(A) In chemistry class
(B) In biology class
(C) At the Science Department
(D) At the bookstore
9. Chemistry classes allow which

kinds of test tubes?
(A) Glass only
(B) Plastic only
(C) Glass or plastic
(D) The notice does not say.

11.What is the advantage of
using the order form?
(A) There is no advantage.
(B) The price is lower.
(C) The order form is an example.
(D) Students cannot store their test