19194 active passive whole topic

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Mr. Tushar Kanani

ACTIVE VOICE – PASSIVE VOICE
 WHEN IS THE PASSIVE USED?
The passive is used quite often is English, both in speech and writing. We use the passive
when:
(A) We don’t know who or what did something:
(i)
My mobile has been stolen. (= Someone has stolen my mobile)
(ii)
The first tools were made in Africa two million years ago. (= People made
the first tools in Africa two million years ago.)
(B) The action or the receiver is more important than who did it:
(i)
Income tax was introduced in England in 1798.
(ii)
The Prime Minister was given a warm welcome.
(C) It is obvious who or what did something:
(i)
The thief has been arrested. (By the police)
(ii)
The meeting is called off. (By the management)
(iii) The new law of income tax is introduced. (By the government)

 RULES FOR CHANGING THE VOICE
(A) Only transitive verbs (verbs that need an object to complete their sense) can ever be in
passive. The sentences, containing intransitive verbs (that don’t take an object after
them) can’t be transformed in passive. E.g.

(I)
(II)

She ate an apple. (=Transitive verb) An apple was eaten by her.
The tree grows. (=Intransitive verb) Can’t be changed into passive.

(B) Interchange the place of subject and object.
Subject: ‘Doer’ or the ‘performer’ of the action is called subject. Asking question with
‘who’ to the sentence, replies subject as answer. E.g. Rajesh is a fast runner.
(‘Rajesh’ is the performer of the action so he is called ‘subject’)
Object: ‘Recipient’ or a person or thing that receives the action is called an object. Asking
question with ‘what’ to the sentence, replies object as answer. In the above example
‘a fast runner’ is object.
Example:

Active Sentence:

Greg painted the gate just now.

Subject: The person
who did the action.

Active
Verb

Object: The thing that
received the action


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Mr. Tushar Kanani

Passive Sentence:

The gate was painted by Greg just now.

Subject: The thing that
received the action

Passive
Verb

Object: The person
who did the action.

(C) While transforming the voice following changes occur in verb forms.

NO
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

11
12
13
14
15

TENSE

ACTIVE

PASSIVE

Simple Present Tense

Write/s

Is/am/are + written

Simple Past Tense

wrote

Was/were + written

Simple Future Tense

Will write

Will + be + written

Present Continuous Tense

Is/am/are writing

Is/am/are + being + written

Past Continuous Tense

Was/were writing

Was/were + being + written

Future Continuous Tense

Will be writing

Will be writing (No Changes)

Present Perfect Tense

Has/have written

Has/have + been + written

Past Perfect Tense

Had written

Had + been + written

Future Perfect Tense

Will have written

Will + have + been + written

Infinitive Form

To write

To + be + written

Modal Auxiliary
Imperative Sentences

May/might/shall/should
… + write
Write that letter

May/might/shall/should … +
be + written
Let + that letter + be + written

Sentences with ‘LET’

Let her write a letter

Let + that letter + be + written

Miscellaneous

It is said …

He is said to …

Miscellaneous

Everyone predicts that...

It is predicted that …

NOTE: THERE ARE NO CHANGES OF VERBS IN ALL THE THREE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSES

(D) Place conjunctions like ‘by’, ‘with’, ‘to’, ‘in’ etc. before new objects in passive voice.
Example:
(i)
A saw cut the tree. (Active)
The tree was cut with a saw. [cram, crowd, decorate, fill, flood throng]
(ii)
I know him. (Active)
He is known to me. (Passive)
(iii) This rack contains 200 books. (Active)
200 books are contained in this rack. (Passive)
(iv) Nila wrote a nice letter. (Active)
A nice letter was written by Nila. (Passive)


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Mr. Tushar Kanani

(E) Sometimes a passive sentence does not contain an agent (subject). We generally put
appropriate subject in such sentences while converting it into active.
Example:
(i)
Our house was broken into last night. (Passive)
Some burglars broke into our house last night. (Active)
(F) Verbs with two objects:
Sometimes an active verb (e.g. give) has two objects:
A witness gave the police some information. (Active)
1

2

Either object can be the subject of a passive sentence:
The police were given some information by a witness. (Passive)

–-- (A)

Some information was given to the police by a witness. (Passive)

--- (B)

2

1

Note: It is more common to begin with the person rather than the thing in the passive
voice. Hence in above example prefer ‘A’ to ‘B’.
(G)

When we use adverbs of time, manner or frequency in the passive voice, we
usually place them after the first word in a verb made up of two or more words; for
instance,
1. We are always taught to be kind and honest.
2. Shyam and Raju have seldom been seen at the gym.
3. The carpets are often put out to air in the sun.

(H)

When we change a phrasal verb (verb + preposition OR verb + adverb) from the
active voice to the passive voice, we must not omit the adverb or preposition that is a
part of it. For eg.
A. Coca Cola took over the brand Thumbs up in the last decade of 20th century.
P. The brand Thumbs up was taken over by Coca Cola in the last decade of 20th cen.

COMPREHENSIVE EXERCISES OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
(A)

(Simple Present) Turtles _________ (find) in all the warm oceans of the world.
Turtle’s nests _________ (make) at night on sandy beaches. About one hundred
eggs _________ (lay) in each nest. However, nesting turtles _________ (often
disturb) by noise and light of the discos. When the babies leave the nest for the sea,
they follow the light of the moon. But if they _________ (distract) by hotel lights,
they move in the wrong direction. Babies who lose their way on the beach
_________ (often kill) by birds. If they reach the sea, they _________ (sometimes
injure) or even killed by speedboats.


Mr. Tushar Kanani

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(B)

(A/P) People all over the world _________ (drink) tea. It _________ (suppose) to be
a very refreshing drink. It _________ (also offer) to the guests as a mark of courtesy.
To make tea _________ (be) quite easy. Tea leaves _________ (take) in a teapot and
boiling water _________ (pour) over them. The teapot _________ (keep) aside for a
couple of minutes. Meanwhile milk _________ (boil) in another pot. Now tea water
_________ (pour) into a cup. Milk and sugar _________ (add) to it according to
one’s taste. And a refreshing cup of tea _________ (be) ready.

(C)

(Simple Past) The country’s first school of magic _________ (open) last year in
Thiruvanthapuram. In the first year, sixty students _________ (teach) conjuring and
other illusions. Magicians from other states _________ (invite) for guest lectures.
Approval for the school _________ (give) by the International Brotherhood of
Magicians. The school, which _________ (start) by Gopinath Muthukad, has
become very popular. Muthukad won an award for magic from the Sangeet Natak
Akademi – the first one to be given after magic _________ (add) to its list of awards
in music, dance and theatre.

(D)

(Simple Past) Last summer Tom went camping with Boy Scouts. First, the ground
_________ (clear) of stones and plants. The tents _________ (put up) in a circle. A
special shelf _________ (make) in each tent 4 inches off the ground. The suitcases
and sleeping bags _________ (put) on this shelf. Wood _________ (collect) and

_________ (place) in the centre of the circle for fire. The kitchen tent _________ (put
up) near the sleeping tents. All the food _________ (put) inside this tent to keep it
safe. The boys stayed in this camp for eight days.

(E)

(A/P) Let me tell you of a country where planting trees _________ (be) an essential
part of life. This country is Israel. In Israel, in the days gone by, fathers _________
(plant) trees when their children _________ (bear). A cedar tree _________ (plant) if
the child ________ (be) a boy, for cedars are usually tall and strong. But if the child
_________ (be) a girl, the father _________ (plant) a cypress tree, for cypress
suggests softness and sweetness. The children _________ (look) after these trees
until they _________ (get) married. At the marriage ceremony, branches from these
trees _________ (cut) to hold up the wedding tent.

(F)

Put the verb into the correct form, present simple or past simple, active
or passive.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)

It is a big factory. Five hundred people _________ (employ) there.
_________ (somebody/clean) this room yesterday?
Water _________ (cover) most of the earth’s surface.

How much of the earth’s surface _________ (cover) by water?
The park gates _________ (lock) at 6.30 p.m. every evening.
The letter _________ (post) a week ago and it _________ (arrive) yesterday.
The boat hit a rock and _________ (sink) quickly. Fortunately everybody
_________ (rescue).


Mr. Tushar Kanani

(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)

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Rechard’s parents _________ (die) when he was very young. He and his sister
_________ (bring up) by their grand parents.
I was born in London, but I _________ (grow up) in Canada.
While I was on holiday, my camera _________ (steal) from my hotel room.
While I was on holiday, my camera _________ (disappear) from my hotel room.
Why _________ (Sue/resign) from her job? Didn’t she enjoy it?
Why _________ (Bill/sack) from his job? Why did he do wrong?
The company is not independent. It ________ (own) by a much larger company.

I saw an accident last night. Somebody _________ (call) an ambulance but
nobody _________ (injure), so the ambulance_________ (not/need).
Where _________ (these photographs/take)? In London? _________ (you/take)
them, or somebody else?
Sometimes it is quite noisy living here, but it is not problem for me – I
_________ (not/bother) by it.

(G)

(Simple Future) Mrs. Lal is the headmistress of a big school. The students of her
school are going to stage a play Mrs. Lal is talking to the director.
Mrs. Lal:
Have the boy’s costumes been made?
Director:
They _________ (make) by the end of this week.
Mrs. Lal:
What about the girl’s dress?
Director:
They _________ (finish) tomorrow.
Mrs. Lal:
Have the curtains been mended?
Director:
I don’t think they _________ (mend) until Thursday.
Mrs. Lal:
What about the chairs?
Director:
I think they _________ (sell) in a couple of days.

(H)

(A/P) We promise that if our party comes into power, we _________ (try) out best
to improve the living conditions in the city. To deal with the two major problems of
water and power shortage, we _________ (construct) a new, large water reservoir at
a suitable place and _________ (set) up a thermal power plant. Some other plans are
also under active consideration. Two new senior secondary schools _________
(open) in the next session. Midday meals _________ (supply) free in all the
government schools. Drains _________ (repair), roads _________ (remetal) and
parks _________ (develop) in all colonies. Sports and transport facilities _________
(improve). It _________ (be) our sincere effort to make this city a model one.

(I)

(Mixed) A youth _________ (find) dead on the outskirts of Mota Bhandariya village
on Thursday. According to officials of Amreli rural police, the youth _________
(strangle) to death with a handkerchief. “The deceased _________ (identify) as
Premsinh Manusinh. The name _________ (tattoo) on his wrist,” said a police
official. “The youth was from Madhya Pradesh and had _________ (come) to Mota
Bhandariya to work as a labourer,” the official added.


Mr. Tushar Kanani

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(J)

(Mixed) Hospitals are places where people _________ (examine) and _________
(bring) back to good health. I’m lucky because I _________ (never / take) to
hospital. But I happened to go there once. When Radha _________ (hit) by a car last
month. Luckily no bones _________ (break) but she _________ (examine) carefully

and x-rays _________ (take). She _________ (keep) there for a night and she
_________ (give) permission to leave the next day. Ambulance services are also
important. Patients _________ (must / take) to hospital as quickly as possible. A lot
of people _________ (kill) in road accidents and a lot more _________ (injure) but if
more ambulances _________ (put) into service, more lives ________ (can / save).

(K)

(Mixed) Last summer, I took an airplane flight from London to New York. I
_________ (board) the plane at Croydon Airfield and, from that moment on, my life
_________ (arrange) for me by the flight attendants on the trip. First, I _________
(direct) to my seat by the flight attendants. Then, when the plane _________ (be)
ready to take off, the other passengers and I _________ (tell) to fasten our seat belts.
Next, we _________ (advise) where the emergency exits were. I _________ (make)
sure that I _________ (give) a seat next to an exit.
A few minutes after take off, magazines and newspapers _________
(distribute). Because my ears hurt, I _________ (take) out some gum to chew. Next,
we _________ (give) instructions on what to do in case of an emergency. I
_________ (pay) two dollars for some earphones, which I _________ (use) later to
watch the movie.
Before dinner, we _________ (ask) if we _________ (want) a cocktail. Dinner
_________ (serve) on a tray, and it _________ (be + not) too bad; it was chicken. We
_________ (permit) to have a refill on any beverage.
After dinner, we _________ (show) a funny movie. When I _________ (feel)
cold, I _________ (give) a blanket, and when I felt airsick, I _________ (give) a paper
bag. Everything _________ (do) for the comfort of the passengers. When the plane
_________ (land), I _________ (be) sorry to have to leave and start dong things for
myself again.

(L)

(Mixed) Four burglars have escaped from custody only hours after _________
(sentence) to ten years in prison. They _________ (transfer) from the law courts in
Manchester to Strangeways Prison. They _________ (find) guilty of stealing
electrical goods and money from shops in the Manchester area. It _________ (think)
that they were all members of the same gang. They escaped from the van in which
they _________ (transport), when the driver _________ (force) to stop because of a
tree across the road. It _________ (believe) that the tree _________ (place) by other
members of the gang, who _________ (inform) of the route _________ (take) by the
van. A full investigation of the events leading to escape _________ (order) and
anyone with information _________ (ask) to contact the police to help with their
enquiries.


Mr. Tushar Kanani

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(M)

Twenty five years ago, my father ______ (join) a well known law firm as a junior
lawyer. Dad ______ (dedicate) and smart and he ______ (rise) quickly in the firm.
Soon after, the firm ______ (employ) Mum as the personal assistant to the manager.
Dad and Mum ______ (fall) in love and ______ (get) married six months later.
Today, Dad ______ (hold) the position of a senior partner in the firm. My parents
______ (raise) three children. They ______ (give) us plenty of love, encouragement
and sound advice when we were young. We ______ always ______ (be) grateful to
them.
Next Friday, my parents ______ (celebrate) their silver wedding anniversary. My
brothers and I ______ (compere) an evening of entertainment. We ______ (present)

them with gifts to cherish as mementos.

(N)

Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form of the verb in brackets.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)

A government minister _________ (find) guilty of fraud yesterday.
It was a lovely surprise to find all the washing-up _________ (do) while I was
asleep.
These souvenirs _________ (make) by children from the local school.
I didn’t come here in order _________ (make) a fool of!
The votes _________ (count) right now and we should know the result before
midnight.
This parcel appears _________ (open) before it _________ (deliver).
As he _________ (sack) from his previous job, he found it hard to get another.
The judges still have to decide which design _________ (award) the top prize.
Many accidents _________ (cause) by dangerous driving.
Cheese _________ (make) from milk.
The roof of the building _________ (damage) in a storm a few days ago.
You _________ (invite) to the wedding. Why didn’t you go?
A cinema is a place where films _________ (show).
In the US, elections for president _________ (hold) every four years.
Originally the book _________ (write) in Spanish, and a few years ago it
_________ (translate) into English.
Although we were driving quite fast, we _________ (overtake) by a lot of other
cars.
You can’t see the house from the road. It _________ (surround) by trees.
The situation is serious something must _________ (do) before it’s too late.
I haven’t received that letter. That might _________ (send) to the wrong address.
A decision will not _________ (make) until the next meeting.
Do you think that more money should _________ (spend) on education?
This road is in very bad condition. It should _________ (repair) a long time ago.
The injured man couldn’t walk and had to _________ (carry).
It is not certain how the fire started. But it might _________ (cause) by an
electrical fault.

I told the hotel receptionist I wanted to _________ (wake) at 6.30 the next
morning.


Mr. Tushar Kanani

(26)
(O)

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If you hadn’t pushed the policeman you wouldn’t _________ (arrest).

Rewrite these sentences in Active Voice. Supply the subject yourself
wherever needed:
1. Her sweet will never be heard again in this hall.
2. Superstitions are still believed in.
3. These instructions can be easily understood.
4. The account had already been checked by me.
5. Living conditions are being gradually improved.
6. It is often said that honesty pays in the long run.
7. The late comers shouldn’t be permitted into the examination hall.
8. Was the patient requested to wait?
9. What are you being disturbed by?
10. How many candidates were called for interview?
11. Rotten eggs and tomatoes were thrown at the speaker.

(P)

Rewrite these sentences in Passive Voice. Remove subjects if needed:

1. Somebody cleans the room everyday.
2. They cancelled all flights because of fog.
3. People don’t use this road much.
4. Somebody accused me of stealing money.
5. How do people learn languages?
6. Somebody warned us not to go out alone.
7. Somebody has cleaned the room.
8. They have postponed the meeting.
9. Somebody is using the computers at the moment.
10. I didn’t realise that somebody was recording our conversation.
11. When we got to the stadium, we found that they had cancelled the game.
12. They are building a new ring-road round the city.
13. They have built a new hospital near the air port.

(Q)

Put the following sentences into the PASSIVE VOICE:
1. Someone has already paid the electrician for his work.
2. They taught him French and gave him a dictionary.
3. When we first met, they had already offered me a job at the bank.
4. A man requested the stranger to leave the meeting.
5. A young woman asked the rest of us to be there at eight o’clock.
6. They had eaten all the dinner before they finished the conversation.
7. Who wrote it?
8. The author has written a special edition for children.
9. Did the idea interest you?
10. Why didn’t they mend the roof before it fell in?
11. The burglars had cut a huge hole in the steel door.

Mr. Tushar Kanani

12. The organizers will exhibit the paintings till the end of the month.
13. When did they ring the church bells?
14. Does listening to music disturb you?
15. The principal has announced a revised programme of terminal tests.
16. They will build a flyover at this site.
17. People often say that it pays to be honest.
18. You can avoid many serious accidents with a little care.
19. Don’t offer eatables to the animals.
20. This magazine contains much useful information.
21. Why were they paying us so little?
22. By 5 p.m., the guide had shown us all the places of historical interest.
23. Do you deal in sports goods also?
24. A senior student of her school gives her judo lessons.
25. We expect our students to behave properly.
26. Who has packed my luggage?
(R)

Change these sentences into PASSIVE FORM:
1. People believe that the strike will end soon.
2. People believe that the thieves got through the kitchen window.
3. People say that the company is loosing a lot of money.
4. When is he going to pay the taxes?
5. Who has designed these buildings?
6. How much do they spend on these activities?
7. They broke a lot of plates while they were dancing.
8. Who invented the electric bulb?
9. People believe that they are secret agents.
10. People think that he takes harmful drugs.

11. Did they give you a great reception?
12. Nobody sends her a card at Christmas.
13. Did anyone call an ambulance after the accident?
14. Will you pay the fine?

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