ACTIVE AND

PASSIVE VOICE
“It's Wibble fair
again. I love the fair.
The street is
decorated with
games and balloons.
The houses are
painted red, and
the...”
THERE ARE TWO KINDS
OF SENTENCES:

Active Sentences and

Passive Sentences.
Look at the difference:
ACTIVE
PEOPLE PAINT THE HOUSES
FOR THE FAIR EVERY
YEAR.
PASSIVE
The houses are painted for
the fair every year.
YOU CAN USE THE PASSIVE
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO
DOES SOMETHING OR IT
ISN'T IMPORTANT WHO DOES
IT.
RON DECORATES THE
STREET EVERY YEAR. =
ACTIVE.

(I KNOW THAT RON DECORATES THE

STREET EVERY YEAR.)
The street is decorated every
year. = Passive.

(I don't know who decorates the street, or it

isn't important who does it.)
As you notice before, active
sentences turn into passive
according to their tenses.
If the active sentence is in
present tense, its passive has to
be in present.
If the active sentence is in
past tense, its passive has to
be in past.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PRESENT
SIMPLE TENSE ACTIVE SENTENCE.

Person + Present Simple + Complement.

Verb (Object)

I love that book. (Active)

MAKE THE PRESENT SIMPLE
PASSIVE WITH THE PRESENT OF
VERB TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE
VERB.
Person + to be + Past participle +
verb
(Object) (is/(am)/are) (3rd column)

That book is loved. (Passive)

REMEMBER!
There are words called past
participles. You need them to make
the passive.
Infinitive Past Past participle
work worked worked
eat ate eaten
drink drank drunk
EXERCISE A: UNDERLINE THE PASSIVE
VERBS.

Wibble fair is good fun. Everyone

enjoys it. The houses are painted red,
and flowers are planted in the gardens.
The children draw pictures and make
cakes, and the cakes are eaten at the
street party. People wear fancy dress
clothes, and a prize is given to the
person with the best clothes.
ANSWER OF EXERCISE A:
Wibble fair is good fun. Everyone
enjoys it. The houses are painted red,
and flowers are planted in the gardens.
The children draw pictures and make
cakes, and the cakes are eaten at the
street party. People wear fancy dress
clothes, and a prize is given to the
person with the best clothes.
 EXERCISE B: READ THE SENTENCES.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

1.The Wibble song is sung at the start of the fair.

Do I know who sings the song?

2. Pineapple bushes are planted in the park.

Do I know who plants the bushes?

3. Balloons are hung from the trees.

Do I know who Hangs the balloons?
EXERCISE C: COMPLETE THE
SENTENCES. USE PRESENT SIMPLE
PASSIVE.

1. Lots of cakes _________ (make) for

the
party.

2. The cakes_________ (eat) at the street

party.
 ANSWERS OF EXERCISE C:

1. Lots of cakes _________ (make) for the

party. are made

2. The cakes_________ (eat) at the street

party. are eaten
3. At the start of the fair, the Wibble song
_________ (sing).

4. On the first day, a racing competition

___________ (organize).

5. Prizes _________ (give) to the fastest

runners.
3. At the start of the fair, the Wibble song
_________ (sing).
is sung
4. On the first day, a racing competition
___________ (organize).
is organized
5. Prizes _________ (give) to the fastest
runners. are given
Exercise on Passive Voice - Simple Present
Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
He opens the door. - 
1.

We set the table. - 

2.

She pays a lot of money. - 

3.

I draw a picture. - 
4.

They wear blue shoes. - 

5.

They don't help you. - 

6.

He doesn't open the book. - 

7.

You do not write the letter. - 

8.

Does your mum watch TV.? - 

9.

10. Does the police officer catch the thief? - 

 change the passive into active voice
1. Cars are produced in this factory.
2. Carrots are grown in his field.
3. Her cow is milked twice a day.
4. Golf is played every Sunday morning.
5. A lot of nature photos are taken at weekends.
6. Diana is loved and respected.
7. Story books are read every day.
8. Ice-cream is eaten three times a week.
9. Roast turkey is cooked on special days.
10. Our street is cleaned every morning.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PAST
SIMPLE TENSE ACTIVE
SENTENCE.

Person + Past Simple + Complement.

Verb (Object)

People organized a party last year.

MAKE THE PAST PASSIVE WITH THE
PAST OF VERB TO BE + PAST
PARTICIPLE.
Person + to be + Past participle + C.

verb.
(Object) (was/were) (3rd column)

A party was organized last year.

EXERCISE D: MAKE THE SENTENCES
INTO PAST SIMPLE PASSIVE SENTENCES.

1. The houses are usually painted yellow.

Last year Alfredo's house __________
pink.

2. This year the fountain is decorated

with flowers. Last year it ___________
with ribbons.
 ANSWERS OF EXERCISE D:

1. The houses are usually painted yellow.

Last year Alfredo's house __________
pink. was painted

2. This year the fountain is decorated

with flowers. Last year it ____________
with ribbons. was decorated
3. A competition is organized every year.
Last year a car race ______________

4. Flowers are planted in the town every

year. Last year some trees __________

5. Blue balloons are hung in the town

every year. Last year some pink
balloons ___________ in the town.
3. A competition is organized every year.
Last year a car race ______________
was organized
4. Flowers are planted in the town every
year. last year some trees ___________
were planted
5. Blue balloons are hung in the town
every year. Last year some pink
balloons ___________ in the town.
were hung
FORMATIVE EVALUATION: REWRITE THE
SENTENCES ACCORDING TO THEIR
ACTIVE TENSE.

1. People bring flowers to the town hall.

_____________________________

2. Somebody planted a pineapple bush.

_____________________________

3. People hide sweets for children to find.

______________________________
1. People bring flowers to the town hall.
_____________________________
Flowers are brought to the town hall.
2. Somebody planted a pineapple bush.
_____________________________
A pineapple bush was planted.
3. People hide sweets for children to find.
______________________________
Sweets are hidden for children to find.
4. Children fly kites in the field outside their
town.
________________________________

5. The Riddibugs sold chocolate to their

enemies for bars of gold.
________________________________
4. Children fly kites in the field outside their
town.
________________________________
Kites are flown in the field outside...

5. The Riddibugs sold chocolate to their

enemies for bars of gold.
________________________________
Chocolate was sold to their enemies...
Rewrite the given sentences in Passive voice.

She bought four apples.

1.

We won the match.

2.

The man stole the blue car.

3.

The police arrested the thieves.

4.

Jack swam the 200 metres.

5.

The dog bit the old lady.

6.

Tom and Max ate five hamburgers.

7.

Oliver taught the children.

8.

Victoria rode the brown horse.

9.

10. Grandmother told good stories.

 Now here you have some
examples of how to turn an
active sentence into a passive
one by using other tenses.
Future Simple:

He will tidy his room.

The room will be tidied.

Present Perfect Simple:

They have organized Monica's

visit.

Monica's visit has been

organized.
Present Continuous:

The students are preparing a

party.

A party is being prepared.

Past Continuous:

Some citizens were cleaning the

streets.

The streets were being cleaned.