PASSIVE VOICE: GRAMMAR PRACTICE

1. TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO THE PASSIVE VOICE

1. She promised him a nice present if he passed the exam.

He was promised a nice present if he passed the exam.
A nice present was promised to him if he passed the exam.
2. Did anyone send you the present which they promised you?
Were you sent the present which they promised you?
Was the present which they promised you sent to you?
3. We must go into this matter.
This matter must be gone into.
4. Are you going to tell her the whole truth?
Is she going to be told the whole truth?
Is the whole truth going to be told to her?
5. They picked the students up from school.
The students were picked up from school.
6. They will send you a letter when the boss arrives.
You will be sent a letter when the boss arrives.
A letter will be sent to you when the boss arrives.
7. Look how well they have brought up those children.
Look how well those children have been brought up.
8. You can only see these particles through a microscope.
These particles can only be seen through a microscope.
9. People are using computers in all kinds of work.
Computers are being used in all kinds of work.
10. You have to keep dangerous chemicals in a safe place.
Dangerous chemicals have to be kept in a safe place.
11. You should have left the laboratory unlocked.
The laboratory should have been left unlocked.
12. We are unlikely to discover intelligent life on other planets.
Intelligent life is unlikely to be discovered on other planets.
13. Three million people watch TV plays every week.
TV plays are watched every week by three million people.
14. The critics gave the play good reviews.
The play was given good reviews by the critics.
 15. A Greek architect is designing the new concert hall.
The new concert hall is being designed by a Greek architect.
16. Two million people have already seen the exhibition.
The exhibition has already been seen by two million people.
17. They are going to knock down the old theatre.
The old theatre is going to be knocked down.
18. They were still painting the walls when I left.
The walls were still being painted when I left.
19. An American invented the laser.
The laser was invented by an American.
20. They ought to mend the roof.
The roof ought to bed mended.
21. Brazil produces large quantities of coffee.
Large quantities of coffee are produced by Brazil.
22. No one ever uses this room.
This room is never used (by anyone).
23. They said that this building was 2,000 years old.
This building was said to be 2,000 years old.
24. The teacher made the class stay in after school.
The class was made to stay in after school by the teacher.
25. Was it a monkey that bit your finger?
Was your finger bitten by a monkey?
26. They were mending the road all last week.
The road was being mended all last week.
27. The police ordered the crowds to move on.
The crowds were ordered to move on by the police.
28. No one ever saw him again.
He was never seen again (by anyone).
29. Rembrandt painted this picture.
This picture was painted by Rembrandt.
30. No one ever discovered the identity of the murdered man.
The identity of the murdered man was never discovered (by anyone).

2. TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO THE PASSIVE VOICE (REPORTING

VERBS). Write both options.
 31. People claim the Mona Lisa is the world’s most famous painting.
It is claimed that Mona Lisa is the world’s most famous painting.
The Mona Lisa was claimed to be the world’s most famous painting.
32. Experts believe it is a portrait of a nobleman.
It is believed that it is a portrait of a nobleman by experts.
33. They say her smile hides a secret.
It is said that her smile hides a secret.
Her smile is said to hide a secret.
34. Many believe it is Leonardo’s masterpiece.
It is believed that it is Leonardo’s masterpiece.
35. Scientists know he was a wonderful engineer too.
It is known to be a wonderful engineer too.
He is known to be a wonderful engineer too.
36. Historians think he was unhappy in old age.
It is thought that he was unhappy in old age.
He is thought to be unhappy in old age.
37. People think the fire started at about 8 o’clock.
It is thought that the fire started at about 8 o’clock.
The fire is thought to have started at about 8 o’clock.
38. They say experts are studying objects from a Spanish ship.
It is said that experts are studying objects from a Spanish ship.
Objects from a Spanish ship are said to be studied by experts.
39. They believe the ship was carrying gold bars.
It is believed that the ship was carrying gold bars.
The ship is believed to carry gold bars.
40. They expect the castle is 500 years old.
It is expected that the castle is 500 years old.
The castle is expected to be 500 years old.

3. HAVE/GET SOMETHING DONE

41. Someone is painting our house.
We are having/getting our house painted.
42. The painters decorated our house last week.
We had/got our house decorated last week by the painters.
43. Mike is going to ask a carpenter to put the doors up.
 Mike is going to have/get his doors put up by a carpenter.
44. Tony asked a mechanic to fix the car.
Tony had/got his car fixed by a mechanic.
45. Ask the maid to tidy your room.
Have/get your room tidied by the maid.
46. Simon is going to ask a tailor to make a suit for him.
Simon is going to have/get his suit made by a tailor.
47. You should ask a plumber to unblock the toilet.
You should have/get your toilet unblocked by a plumber.
48. Did he ask the optician to test his eyes?
Did he have/get his eyes tested by the optician?
49. Tommy asks his brother to do his homework.
Tommy has/gets his homework done by his brother.
50. The girl asked her mother to read the story to her.
The girl had/got the story read by her mother.