Pasive Voice

Passive Voice Nguyen Van Minh, MA
Passive Voice - Exercise with Auxiliary Verbs
Active : Subject - Transitive Verb – Object
Passive : Subject - Be+ Past Participle - BY + Object
Simple present do be done
Present continuous is/are doing is/are being done
Simple Past did was/were done
Past continuous was/were doing was/were being done
Present Perfect has/have done has/have been done
Past perfect had done had been done
Simple future will do will be done
Future perfect will have done will have been done
is/are going to is/are going to do is/are going to be done
Can can, could do can, could be done
Might might do might be done
Must must do must be done
Have to have to have to be done
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
Exercise 1
1. I can answer the question →
2. She would carry the box. →
3. You should open the window→
4. We might play cards. →
5. You ought to wash the car. →
6. He must fill in the form→
7. They need not buy bread. →
8. He could not read the sentence→
9. Will the teacher test our English? →
10. Could Jenny lock the door? →
Exercise 2
1. John collects money. →

2. Anna opened the window. →
3. We have done our homework. →
4. I will ask a question. →
5. He can cut out the picture. →
6. The sheep ate a lot→
Passive Voice Nguyen Van Minh, MA
7. We do not clean our rooms. →
8. William will not repair the car. →
9. Did Sue draw this circle? →
10. Could you feed the dog? →
Exercise 3
1. Rachel will give you some advice. →
2. I sent him a letter.→
3. The police officer showed us the way.→
4. Our neighbour gave me a lift.→
5. We have asked him a favour.→
6. She told me a lie.→
7. They have written her a postcard.→
8. Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.→
9. The waiter has not brought us the coffee.→
10. They did not offer her a seat.→
Exercise 4
1. Rachel will give you some advice.→
2. I sent him a letter.→
3. The police officer showed us the way.→
4. Our neighbour gave me a lift.→
5. We have asked him a favour.→ (of)
6. She told me a lie.→
7. They have written her a postcard.→
8. Kerrie will make you a cup of tea.→ (for)

9. The waiter has not brought us the coffee.→
10. They did not offer her a seat.→
Exercise 5
1. People know that she is a good swimmer.
2. They say that Francis is in hospital.
3. They think that the children are in bed.
4. People believe that the robber has worked in the bank.
5. People believe that nuclear power stations are dangerous.
6. His colleagues thought that he was on holiday.
7. People know that cars pollute the environment.
8. They suppose that the new product will come out soon.
9. They found that the mission was impossible.
Passive Voice Nguyen Van Minh, MA
10. They believe that she will win a gold medal.
Exercise 6
1. Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.
2. My father is washing the car.
3. Farmer Joe is milking the cows.
4. She is taking a picture of him.
5. I am writing a poem.
6. We are not playing football.
7. He is not wearing a tie.
8. Is she preparing the party?
9. Are they talking about the meeting?
10. Is she watering the flowers?
Exercise 7: Write passive sentences in Present Perfect.
1. the postcard / send
2. the pencils / count
3. the door / close
4. the beds / make

5. the mail / write
6. the trees / plant
7. the money / spend
8. the room / book / not
9. the rent / pay / not
10. the people / inform / not
Exercise 8
1. He would build a new house.
2. They would take the opportunity.
3. You would not recognize Jim.
4. I would not do that kind of job.
5. Would they decorate the room?
6. Would the DJ play this song?
7. Would Simon open the window?
8. What would they do if it stopped raining?
9. Does she tell you that I have passed the exams?
10. Where did they take these bags to?
Exercise 9
1. They would have told you
2. We would have spoken English.
Passive Voice Nguyen Van Minh, MA
3. Mario would have bought a paper.
4. She would have called the police.
5. We would have painted the walls green.
6. She would not have noticed the mistake.
7. I would not have given this book away.
8. Would my mum have packed the bag?
9. Would you have accepted that offer?
10. Would they have given the right answer
Exercise 10: Put the verbs in brackets into the correct passive form.

1 Holland …is said…. (say) to be one of the prettiest countries in Europe.
2 I hate (tell) ……. lies.
3 My television (deliver) ……. tomorrow.
4 Their telephone …….. (install) yesterday.
5 Teachers ought (pay) …….. a higher salary.
6 Hotel rooms must (vacate) ……. by 12 noon.
7 The villa (sell) ……. by public auction next week.
S She hopes her home (build) ……. by May.
9 Heartbreak House (write) ……. by George Bernard Shaw.
10 My car ( repay)……. at the moment.
11 Hopefully, she (promote) …….. by the end of next month.
12 I wish I (teach) ……. how to type when I was at school.
13 Your application should (hand in) ……. last Monday. It’s too late now I’m afraid!
14 The wedding reception must (book) ……. a month before the wedding.
15 The building (evacuate) ……. ten minutes before the explosion took place.
Exercise 11: From the active into the passive. Omit the agent where it can be omitted.
1 Santa Claus will leave your presents in the stocking
…. Your presents will be left in the stocking by Santa Claus …
2 Bad organisation spoiled their holiday . →
3 Teachers mark hundreds of exam papers every year. →
4 Who wrote Romeo and Juliet? →
5 You should dry your hair before you go out.→
6 You mustn’t tell him the truth. →
7 She likes people taking her to the theatre. →
8 Why didn’t they give her the job? →
9 She told them not to tell anyone →
10 They should have given us a bonus →
11 The doctors will bring him in for an examination →
12 Fog has delayed all flights →
13 She didn’t send me any parcels →

14 She had cleaned the house before I got there →
15 When we arrived at the hotel. They had filled all the rooms →
16 Why haven’t you invited Mary to the party? →
17 Paula will help you finish your project. →
Passive Voice Nguyen Van Minh, MA
18 The mayor is opening the new community centre next week→
19 We heard her complaining strongly to the manager →
20 You can leave your bags at the left-luggage office →
21 Workmen found some antique vases in the old house →
22 The architects have drawn up plans for the new library →
23 Who gave him the new car? →
24 They are going to set the lion free next week →
25 What time do you expect him to arrive? →
Exercise 12: Change the sentences from the passive into the active.
1 Who was the Mona Lisa painted by? →.. Who painted the Mona Lisa? ..
2 The old barn has been pulled down →
3 The results will be published in July →
4 The trip was ruined by bad weather →
5 The letter should have been posted last week →
6 Who was the money raised by? →
7 Why hasn’t the house been painted yet? →
8 She was heard shouting →
9 How much were you paid? →
10 His car has been stolen →
11 I can’t bear being cheated →
12 A famous actress will be chosen to advertise the product →
13 John was made to do the washing up →
14 The ozone layer is gradually being destroyed by pollution →
15 A bring-and-buy sale is being held next month →
16 Our house was done up by a famous interior decorator →

17 The cracks in the wall were caused by the earthquake →
18 Thousands of rare birds are killed by hunters every year →
19 Her purse was stolen on the bus →
20 When will we be told the time of his arrival? →
21 An ancient village has been uncovered by archaeologists →
22 Why hasn’t the dishwasher been repaired yet? →
23 A new drug is being developed by scientists →
24 A new breed of cow is to be introduced into the country by farmers →
25 The furniture will have been removed by noon →
26 Who were you going to be replaced by? →
27 The island is being ruined by tourists →
28 Two rooms had been booked for her by her travel agent →
29 She was seen to leave the building →
30 Seats should have been reserved a week ago →
Exercise 13: Change into the passive.
A: Police are investigating a series of break-ins in the Hattersby area. Residents have heard
noises, but nobody has actually seen anything suspicious. The recent rise in crime in the
neighbourhood has shocked residents. Locals are discussing matters of security with the police
and they have requested greater police presence in the area.