The passive voice

Form
1 John delivers the newspapers every morning.
The newspapers .................................................... .
2 My mother wrote that letter.
That letter ............................................................. .
3 They will build a new school here next month.
A new school .................................................... .
4. He is asking me a lot of questions.
I ......................................................................... .
5 She was doing her homework at that time.
Her homework .................................................... .
6. My mother has made that cake.
That cake ............................................................. .
7 They had prepared a party before we came.
A party .................................................................. .
8. Tom is going to open the door.
The door ................................................................ .
9. Mary will have helped John.
John ........................................................................ .
10. You should tell James the news as soon as possible.
James ....................................................................... .
11. I remember them taking me to a well-known theatre in the city.
I remember .... ............................................................. .
12. They need to pay the bill before the first of the month.
The bill needs .............................................................. .
Verbs with two objects
1. Her friend sent her a Christmas card.
She... ............................................................................ .
A Christmas card.. ....................................................... .
2. His father bought him a motorcycle.
He ... ............................................................................. .
A motorcycle ... ........................................................... .
3. They gave poor people lots of presents.
Poor people ................................................................... .
Lots of presents ............................................................ .
Causative form: have, get
Have someone do something
Get someone to do something

Have + object + past participle (have something done)

Get + object + past participle (get something done)
1 I had him repair my bicycle yesterday.
I had my bicycle repaired yesterday.
2. I get her to make some coffee.
I get ................................................................... .
3. She had somebody clean the house yesterday.
She had ................................................................... .
4. We got the porter to carry our luggage upstairs.
We got ................................................................... .

Request
VOICE FORM
Active Verb + Object
Passive Subject + should/ must + be + past participle
Let + Object + be + past participle

Active Don’t + Verb + Object

Passive Subject + shouldn’t/ mustn’t + be + past partciciple
Don’t let + Object + be + past participle

1. Solve this problem immediately.

This problem should / must be solved immediately.
Let this problem be solved immediately.
2. Clean up the house at once.
The house ................................................................... .
3. Do this work at once.
This work ................................................................... .
4. Keep the room clean and tidy.
Let .............................................................................. .
5. Don’t waste electricity.
Electricity shouldn’t/mustn’t be wasted.
Don’t let electricity be wasted.
6. Don’t leak this information to anyone.
This information ................................................................... .
7. Don’t laugh at the disabled.
Don't let ................................................................................ .
8. Don’t use this kind of cloth to make shirts.
This kind of cloth ................................................................... .
WH-word as subject
VOICE FORM
Active Wh-word + Verb + Object ...?
Passive By + Wh-word + Be + Subject + past participle ...?
1 . Who discovered America?
By whom was America discovered?
2. What caused the accident?
By what... ................................................................... .
3. Who feeds the monkeys at the zoo every day?
By whom ................................................................... .
4. Who looked after the children for you?
By whom ................................................................... .
5. Who teaches you Geography?
By whom ................................................................... .
WH-word as object
VOICE FORM
Active WH-word + auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb ...?
Passive WH-word + ... be + past participle + (by Object)?
1. What have people done about it?
What has been done about it?
2. What are they going to build here?
What ....................................................................?
3. Who will you invite to your wedding party?
Who ....................................................................?
4. What is she preparing for the party?
What ................................................................... ?
5. What did the teacher give each of them?
What ................................................................... ?

Bare infinitive after object Full infinitive (To Verb)

VOICE FORM
Active Subject + Verb (make) + Object + Bare infinitive
Passive Subject + be + past participle + to + Verb (by Object)

Active Subject + LET + Object + Bare infinitive

Passive Subject + be allowed + to Verb... (by Object)
1 . The teacher made him study harder.
He was made to study harder by the teacher.
2 . She let him go.
He was allowed to go.
3. The robber made the clerk put money into his bag.
The clerk ............................................................................... .
4. Nothing can make me change my mind.
I ............................................................................................. .
5. She doesn’t let her children go into her room.
Her children ........................................................................... .
Verbs of perception (see, hear, observe)
VOICE FORM
Active Subject + Verb + Object + bare infinitive / Verb -ing
Passive Subject + be + past participle + to verb / Verb -ing + (by O)
Active Subject + Verb + Object 1 + bare infinitive / verb –ing + Object 2
Passive Subject + Verb + Object 2 + past participle/ being past part. + by Object

1 They saw the thief break into that house.

The thief was seen to break into that house.
2. People saw him steal your suitcase.
He ................................................................... .
3. They smell something burning in the kitchen.
Something ................................................................... .
4. Tom saw a car run over an old man this morning.
Tom saw an old man run over by a car this morning.
5. Peter saw a mad dog attack the postman.
Peter saw ................................................................... .
6. We observed a snake swallowing a frog.
We observed ... ................................................................... .

Full infinitive after verbs of liking, loving, hating, wishing, wanting, hoping, expecting...
VOICE FORM
Active Subject + Verb (hope,wish..) + Object 1 + to Verb + Object 2
Passive Subject + Verb + Object 2 + to be past participle ... (by Object l)

1 . We hope the company to accept our proposal.

We hope our proposal to be accepted by the company.
2. He wants his brother to put the garbage in the dustbin.
He wants ...............................................................................
3. She wishes her teacher to understand her more clearly.
She wishes .... ........................................................................
4. He wants the boss to give him a more important job to do.
He wants ...............................................................................

Gerund
VOICE FORM
Active Subject + Verb + Verb –ing + Object
Passive Subject + Verb + That + Subject + should be + past participle
1. The government suggested enlarging this street.
The government suggested that this street should be enlarged.
2. I suggested opening another bookstore on this street.
I suggested ...............................................................................
3. The doctor advised taking more exercise.
The doctor advised ...................................................................
4. She proposed canceling the meeting.
She proposed ............................................................................
Noun clauses following verbs of opinion : say, think, believe, know, report ...
1 People say that he is a famous doctor.
It is said that he is a famous doctor.
He is said to be a famous doctor.
2. People believe that he drove through the town at 90 km an hour.
It is believed that he drove through the town at 90 km an hour.
He is believed to have driven through the town at 90 km an hour.
3. People say that most comer shops are losing business.
Most corner shops are said to be losing business.
4. People think that an apple a day is good for you.
It ............................................................................................. .
5. People say that Chris was in the army.
Chris ............................................................................................. .
6. It is thought that the Prime Minister is considering the plan.
The Prime Minister ....................................................................... .
7. They think that Peter escaped from prison.
It ................................................................................................... .
Peter ..............................................................................................
.8. It is reported that two people were killed in the car accident.
Two people ................................................................................... .
9. People said that the wanted man had been captured.
The wanted man... ........................................................................ .
10. Everybody says that Mr. Green will become the new manager.
Mr Green ............................................................................................. .
It is your duty
Active It is your duty to do something
Passive You are supposed to do something .
Ex. It’s your duty to lock all the doors.
You .... all the doors.
Passive with GET
Get + past participle = Be + past participle
1 . I got fired (= was fired) yesterday.
2. If you get robbed (= ............................ ), report to the police.
3. The balloon got filled (= ........................) with gas.
4. There was a fight, but nobody got hurt ( = ..........................).
PRACTICE
I. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. Toshico had her car (repair) ........................... by a mechanic.
2. Ellon got Marvin (type) ........................... her paper.
3. We got our house (paint) ....................... last week.
4. Dr. Byrd is having the students (write) ........................ a composition.
5. Mark got his transcript (send) ......................... to the university
6. Maria is having her hair (cut) ....................... tomorrow.
7. Will Mr. Brown have the porter (carry) ...................... his luggage to his car?
8. My sister has had a new dress (make) ......................... recently.
9. The Wilsons won’t have a new house (build) ................... on that corner next month.
10 The President had his advisors (arrange) ...................... a press conference.
II. Choose the best answer among A, B, C or D to complete each sentence.
1. "What a beautiful shirt you're wearing!" - "Thank you. It ............. made especially for me
by my mother."
A. is made B. has made C made D. was made
2. I don't understand why the students didn't keep silent while the speech ................ .
A. has been made B. was made C. would be made D was being made
3. It’s hard to believe that my application for a scholarship ................. . I was quite sure I’d
get it.
A. was denied B. has denied C. denied D. was denying
4. Today, many serious childhood diseases ................... by early immunization.
A. are preventing B. can prevent C. prevent D. can be prevented
5. There’s somebody walking behind us. I think .................... .
A. we are following B. we are being followed
C. we are followed D. we are being following
6. Something funny ............... in class yesterday.
A. happened B. was happened C. happens D. is happened
7. The child’s arm was swollen because he ................ by a bee.
A. stung B. had stung C. had been stung D. had being stung
8. I ................ with you on that subject.
A. am agree B. am agreed. C. agreeing D. agree
9. Many U.S automobiles .................. in Detroit, Michigan.
A. manufacture B. have manufactured C. are manufactured D. are manufacturing
10. George is .................... Lisa.
A. marry with B. marry to C. married with D. married to
11. Last night a tornado swept through Rockvill. It ................. everything in its path.
A. destroyed B. was destroyed with C. was being destroyed D. had been destroyed
12 Dynamite ............... by Alfred Bernard Nobel.
A. have been invented B. invented C. was invented D. was being invented
13. ................. this work ................ before you went to Moscow?
A. Will/ have been done B. Has/ been done
C. Will/ be done D. Had/ been done
14. If you ................ about it, will you be able to answer?
A. are asked B. ask C. will be asked D. asked
15. “Can’t we do something about the situation?” - “Something .................... right now.”
A. is doing B. is do C. is being done D. has been doing
16. The university .................. by private funds as well as by tuition income.
A. is supported B. supports C. supporting D. has supported
17. The money/ to him 2 months ago, but it .................. back yet.
A. was lent/ had not been given B. has been lent/ was not given
C. was lent/ has not given D. was lent/ has not been given
18. The runways .................. at all the main airports
A. are lengthening B.are being lengthened C. lengthened D. are be lengthened
19. This box ................ three times a day by the postman.
A. is cleared B. clears C .are cleared D. to clear
20. Some new equipment ................. .
A. have been ordered B. has been ordered C. has ordered D. have ordered
21. A great deal of property ................ .
A. are destroyed B. destroyed C. is destroyed D. destroy
22. ............. this cake .................. by the mother?
A. Was/ made B. Did/ make C. Is/ made D. What/made
23. These difficulties ought .............. .
A. to be overcame B. to overcome C. to be overcome D. overcome
24. Of course, all those who ............... can apply again.
A. have not been listed B. has not been listed C. didn’t list D. have not listed
25. By the time I came here, all the better jobs ............. taken.
A. have been B. were C. are D. had been
26. Animals .............. to survive in the wild, rather than kept in captivity.
A. should be helped B. have been helping C. are helping D. could be helping
27. A very big moon cake ................ on Mid-Autumn Festival.
A. are going to make B. is going to be made C. is going to make D. is going to be make
28. I found it difficult to follow what was ................because of the noise from the engine
room.
A. being told B. being said C. talked D. spoken
29. It’s true that happiness ............. with money, but some money / life easier.
A. mustn’t be bought/ made B. can’t be bought/ makes
C. shouldn’t buy/ has made D. doesn’t buy/ is making
30 ................ broken into while we were away on holiday.
A. We had our house B. Thieves had our house
C. It was our house D. They have
31. A special book for children ................ .
A. have been written B. has been written C. has written D. have written
32. For a long time the earth ................ to be flat.
A. believed B. is believed C. was believed D. is considered
33. Films of violence .............. on TV until after 9:30 at night, the time when the majority of
children ............... to bed.
A. cannot be shown/ went B. shouldn’t be shown/ go
C. aren’t being shown/ had gone D. needn’t be shown/ had gone
34. Titanic film ............ on the true story of the Titanic disaster that occurred in 1912.
A. is based B. based C. basing D. to base
35. This kind of food ............... in the fridge.
A. should be keep B. shouldn’t be kept C. must keep D. shouldn’t keep
36. Your windows need .............. .
A. to be washed B. washed C. being washed D. to wash
37. As a small boy, he was used to .............. in the house for an hour or two.
A. leaving alone B. be left alone C. leave alone D. being left alone
38. On being told about her sack, ............... .
A. her boss felt sorry for Mary B. Mary was shocked
C. Mary's face turned pale , D. All are correct
39. We are considering having .......... for the coming New Year.
A. redecorated our flat B. to redecorate our flat
C. our flat to be redecorated D. our flat redecorated
40. The factory is said ............. in a fire two years ago.
A. being destroyed B. to have been destroyed
C. to have destroyed D. to destroy
41. ................ better than cure.
A. People say that prevention to be B. That prevention to be said
C. It was said that prevention is D. Prevention is said to be
42. Dinosaurs are believed ................ millions of years ago.
A. to have died out B. died out C. having died out D. to die
43. It was believed that ................ .
A. to be waiting for a message B. he was waiting for a message
C. a message to be waited D. to have been waiting for a message
44. Barbara didn’t mention ................ about her progress report at work, but I’m sure she is.
A. concerning B. being concerned C. to concern D. to be concerned
45. The damage ............... by poachers and illegal lumberjacks must .............. to be believed.
A. caused / see B. caused / be seen C. is caused / to be seen D. that is caused / seen
46. Your hair is long. Are you going to ............... ?
A. have it cut B. have cut it C. be cutting it D. have it cutting
47. “Did Shakespeare write this play?”
A. Did this play be written by Shakespeare? B. This play was written by Shakespeare?
C. Was this play written by Shakespeare? D. Did this play Shakespeare write?
48. Which book do the students love?
A. Which book are done love by the students?
B. Which book are loved by the students?
C. Which book is the students loved?
D. Which book is loved by the students?
49. How many slums are they going to clear?
A. How many slums are being gone to clear?
B. How many slums are going to clear?
C. How many slums are being cleared?
D. How many slums are going to be cleared?
50. They think that the owner of the house has gone abroad.
A. The owner of the house is thought to go abroad.
B. The owner of the house is thought to have been going abroad.
C. The owner of the house is thought to have been gone abroad.
D. The owner of the house is thought to have gone abroad.
III. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one.
1. The architect has drawn plans for an extension of the house.
Plans ........................................................................................... .
2. The manager always welcomes new employees.
New employees ........................................................................................... .
3. No one has signed this cheque.
This cheque ........................................................................................... .
4. He couldn’t repair the broken vase.
The ........................................................................................... .
5. They’ll have to change the date of the meeting again.
The date ........................................................................................... .
6. The robber made the bank manager hand over the money.
The bank manager ........................................................................................... .
7. The postman was bitten by our dog.
Our dog ........................................................................................... .
8. They will catch all the prisoners again by tonight.
All the prisoners
9. Sally was given a microcomputer for her birthday by her parents.
Sally’s parents ........................................................................................... .
10. Janet's colleagues gave her a present when she retired.
Janet .............................................................................. when she retired.
11. The mechanic serviced my car last week.
I had ........................................................................................... .
12. They don’t eat the cake because it is very bad.
The cake ........................................................................................... .
13. The garage is going to repair the car for us next week.
We are going to have ........................................................................................... .
14. Somebody repaired her car yesterday.
She got ........................................................................................... .
15. That old house at the end of the road has been sold.
They ........................................................................................... .
16. My suit needs to be cleaned before the interview.
I must get ........................................................................................... .
17. Mr. Dryden mended the washing machine for me.
I had ........................................................................................... .
18. The president is understood to be out of the country.
It is understood ........................................................................................... .
19. It is said that he speaks English very well.
He ........................................................................................... .
20. People know that Roland inherited a lot of money.
Roland ........................................................................................... .
21. My parents made me study every night.
I ........................................................................................... .
22. Vietnamese women continue to wear the unique and fashionable Ao dai.
The unique and fashionable Ao dai continues ......................................................................... .
23. The hairdresser is cutting my hair this afternoon.
I’m having ........................................................................................... .
24. It is considered that football is the world’s most popular sport.
Football ........................................................................................... .
25. Nobody knows anything about Brenda’s family.
Nothing ........................................................................................... .
26. My trousers need to be pressed before I leave.
I must have ........................................................................................... .
27. Who is waiting for him outside?
By ........................................................................................... .
28. Turn off all the lights before going home.
All the lights ........................................................................................... .
29. No one let me touch that bottle.
I ........................................................................................... .
30. We watched a boy beating a small cat.
We watched ........................................................................................... .
31. Joanne had to take her dog to the vet.
Joanne’s dog ........................................................................................... .
32. Isn’t it time someone fixed your television?
Isn’t it time you had ........................................................................................... .
33. Don’t use the office phone for personal calls.
Don’t let ........................................................................................... .
34. What has influenced the current standards of beauty?
By what ........................................................................................... .
35. People think that someone started the fire deliberately.
The fire ........................................................................................... .
36. Take off your hat.
Your hat ........................................................................................... .
37. Don’t do that silly thing again.
Don’t let ........................................................................................... .
38. Is she making big cakes for the party?
Are ........................................................................................... .
39. Why didn’t they help him?
Why ........................................................................................... .
40. How many games has the team played?
How many games ........................................................................................... .
41. Which boy has just broken the glass window?
By ........................................................................................... .
42. People say that the bus driver was listening to his Walkman at the time of the crash.
The bus driver ........................................................................................... .
43. People rumour that Mr. Smith was appointed "Chairman" of our club
Mr. Smith ........................................................................................... .
44. It is said that the Vikings discovered America before Columbus.
The Vikings ........................................................................................... .
45. They have collected the tests and checked the answers.
The tests ........................................................................................... .
46. We believed that Alice would pass the driving test.
Alice ........................................................................................... .
47. He discovered that this cotton was grown in Egypt.
This cotton ........................................................................................... .
48. People explained that this powerful engine pulled the train.
It ........................................................................................... .
49. Nobody finished the project on time.
The project ........................................................................................... .
50. I must have my teeth checked by the dentist.
I must have ........................................................................................... .
51. They promise that the performance will start on time.
It ........................................................................................... .
52. Are you .going to have the shoemaker repair your shoes?
Are you going ........................................................................................... .
53. Their grandmother told them this story when they visited her last week.
This story .................................................................... when they visited her last week.
54. These postcards were sent to us by our friend.
Our friend ........................................................................................... .
55. I didn’t understand a word so I asked my teacher and she explained it to me.
I didn’t understand a word so I got ...................................................................... it to me.
56. The Greens are going to paint this house for Christmas Day.
This house ........................................................................................... .
57. The problem is being studied carefully by the scientists.
The scientists ........................................................................................... .
58. You didn’t show me the special cameras.
The special cameras ........................................................................................... .
59. I will get the dressmaker to make a new dress.
I will get ........................................................................................... .
60. Anne has had her sister type her composition.
Anne has had ........................................................................................... .