Grammars cram up: Active-passive voice

How to do it

Examples
Active

Peter

builds

a house.
Simple Present

Passive:

A house

is built

by Peter.

Active:

Peter

built

a house.
Simple Past

Passive:

A house

was built

by Peter.

Active:

Peter

has built

a house.
Present Perfect

Passive:

A house

has been built

by Peter.

Active:

Peter

will build

a house.
will-future

Passive:

A house

will be built

by Peter.

Active:

Peter

can build

a house.
Modals

Passive:

A house

can be built

by Peter.

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Grammars cram up: Active-passive voice

Build the correct passives-

Present Passive

Past Passive

1. He opens the door.

1.

She sang a song.

2.

Somebody hit me.

3.

We stopped the bus.

4.

A thief stole my car.

5.

They didn't let him go.

6.

She didn't win the prize.

7.

They didn't make their beds.

8.

I did not tell them.

9.

Did you tell them?

10.

Did he send the letter?

2. We set the table.

3. She pays a lot of money.
4. I draw a picture.
5. They wear blue shoes.
6. They don't help you.
7. He doesn't open the book.
8. You do not write the letter.
9. Does your mum pick you up?
10. Does the police officer catch the thief?

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Grammars cram up: Active-passive voice

Change the following from passive to active voice.
1. The poem was read aloud by Margaret.
___________________________________________________________________________
2. The Yankees were beaten by the Tigers in the playoffs.
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Her personal computer was given to Edith by her parents.
___________________________________________________________________________
4. The turnoff for Route 287 was finally reached by Carla.
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Many letters are sent by me to your office.
___________________________________________________________________________
6. Kim was invited to a party by Raymund.
___________________________________________________________________________
7. The truth was suddenly realized by the contestants.
___________________________________________________________________________
8. The computers were shipped by the Tucson branch on Monday.
___________________________________________________________________________
9. Projects were judged by the teachers.
___________________________________________________________________________
10. A brilliant performance is given by the choir.
___________________________________________________________________________
11. Adam and JoAnne were married by the priest.
___________________________________________________________________________
12. The test was taken by Amanda last week.
___________________________________________________________________________
13. The truck was broken by little Tommy while he played.
___________________________________________________________________________
14. The National Enquirer was sued by a famous actor for publishing a scandalous photo.
___________________________________________________________________________
15. The movie was seen by the class before the exam.
___________________________________________________________________________

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Grammars cram up: Active-passive voice

Passive with two objects
Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects
becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject
depends on what you want to put the focus on.

Subject

Verb

Object 1

Object 2

Active:

Rita

wrote

a letter

to me.

Passive:

A letter

was written

to me

by Rita.

Passive:

was written

a letter

by Rita.

Form the passive and rewrite both variations of the

object whenever possible

1. Rachel gave you some advice.

2. I sent him a letter.

1.

She told me a lie.

2.

They write her a postcard.

3.

Kerrie makes you a cup of tea.

4.

The waiter did not bring us the coffee.

5.

They did not offer her a seat.

3. The police officer showed us the way.

4. Our neighbor gave me a lift.

5. We ask him a favor.

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Grammars cram up: Active-passive voice

1 ) He ____________________________ (offer) a new job last week.
2)

The bridge

_______________________(blow off) yesterday.

3)

This novel ______________________________(write) by Hemingway.

4)

Flies___________________________________(catch) by spiders.

5)

All the trees________________________________(cut) down yesterday.

6) We _______________________________(tell) to go home now.

7)

Their purse _______________________________ (steal) yesterday night in the disco.

8)

Rain ___________________________________(hold) up by fog.

9)

He__________________________________ (throw) out of the bar a week ago.

10)

Pigs ________________________________(use) to find truffles.

11)

The old theatre _____________________________________(reopen) last Friday.

12)

She ________________________________(ask) about the accident by the police yesterday.

13) Rotten eggs _____________________________________throw) at him last month in Bristol.

14)

Mice __________________________________________(catch) by cats.

15 ) I_______________________________________________ (often / ask) for her address.

Translation:
1. Jedes Jahr werden tausende Delphine versehentlich in Fischernetzen gefangen.
2. Sie werden durch Tierschtzer teilweise befreit.
3. Die Luft wird durch die Industrie stark verschmutzt.
4. Durch neue Technologien kann die Umweltverschmutzung verringert werden.
5. Bis vor einiger Zeit wurde Strom fast nur aus Atomkraft gewonnen.

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