1. Basic Passive Construction
Transform the following active voice sentences into passive voice sentences.
Exercise 1
Active: “The gardener plants the flowers.”
Check your answer!
The flowers were planted by the gardener.
Exercise 2
Active: “They publish new books every year.”
Check your answer!
New books are published every year.
Exercise 3
Active: “The company hires many employees.”
Check your answer!
Many employees are hired.
Exercise 4
Active: “She delivers the packages.”
Check your answer!
The packages are delivered.
Exercise 5
Active: “We celebrate the festival annually.”
Check your answer!
The festival is celebrated anually.
2. Long and Short Passives
A. Long Passive
Instructions: Complete the sentences by including the agent (the doer) in the passive construction.
Exercise 1
The novel was written _______ _______ _______ (the author).
Check your answer!
The novel was written by the author.
Exercise 2
The painting was admired _______ _______ _______ _______ (all the visitors).
Check your answer!
The painting was admired by all the visitors.
Exercise 3
The song was performed _______ _______ _______ (the choir).
Check your answer!
The song was performed by the choir.
Exercise 4
The match was won _______ _______ _______ _______ (the underdog team).
Check your answer!
The match was won by the udnerdog team.
Exercise 5
The experiment was conducted _______ _______ _______ (the scientists).
Check your answer!
The experiment was conducted by the scientists.
B. Short Passive
Instructions: Rewrite the sentences in passive voice without mentioning the agent.
Exercise 1
Someone has stolen the jewels.
Check your answer!
The jewels have been stolen.
Exercise 2
They will announce the results tomorrow.
Check your answer!
The results will be announced tomorrow.
Exercise 3
People speak English in many countries.
Check your answer!
English is spoken in many countries.
Exercise 4
They closed the store early.
Check your answer!
The store was closed early.
Exercise 5
Workers are repairing the road.
Check your answer!
The road is being repaired.
3. Continuous Passive Forms
Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “to be” in the continuous passive voice.
Exercise 1
The documents _______ _______ _______ (print) right now.
Check your answer!
The documents are being printed right now.
Exercise 2
The bridge _______ _______ _______ (construct) when we visited.
Check your answer!
The bridge was being constructed when we visited.
Exercise 3
Meals _______ _______ _______ (prepare) by the staff all day.
Check your answer!
Meals are being prepared by the staff all day.
Exercise 4
New policies _______ _______ _______ (discuss) by the board.
Check your answer!
New policies are being discussed by the board.
Exercise 5
Her story _______ _______ _______ (read) when the bell rang.
Check your answer!
Her story was being read when the bell rang.
4. Perfect Passive Forms
Instructions: Complete the sentences using the present perfect passive or past perfect passive as appropriate.
Exercise 1
The project _______ _______ _______ (complete) ahead of schedule.
Check your answer!
The project has been completed ahead of schedule.
Exercise 2
By the time we arrived, the movie _______ _______ _______ (already start).
Check your answer!
By the time we arrived, the movie had already started.
Exercise 3
All the cookies _______ _______ _______ (eat) before the party ended.
Check your answer!
All the cookies had been eaten before the party ended.
Exercise 4
The letter _______ _______ _______ (send), so we expect a reply soon.
Check your answer!
The letter has been sent , so we expect a reply soon.
Exercise 5
They were delighted because their proposal _______ _______ _______ (accept).
Check your answer!
They were delighted because their proposal had been accepted.
5. Infinitive Passive
Instructions: Use the infinitive passive form (“to be” + past participle) to complete the sentences.
Exercise 1
The application needs _______ _______ _______ (review) thoroughly.
Check your answer!
The application needs to be reviewed thoroughly.
Exercise 2
She hopes _______ _______ _______ (choose) for the lead role.
Check your answer!
She hopes to be chosen for the lead role.
Exercise 3
This issue ought _______ _______ _______ (address) immediately.
Check your answer!
This issue ought to be addressed immediately.
Exercise 4
The rooms are ready _______ _______ _______ (occupy).
Check your answer!
The rooms are ready to be occupied.
Exercise 5
Instructions provided are _______ _______ _______ (follow) by users.
Check your answer!
Instructions provided are to be followed by users.
6. Perfect Infinitive Passive
Instructions: Fill in the blanks using the perfect infinitive passive form (“to have been” + past participle).
Exercise 1
The guests were supposed _______ _______ _______ _______ (inform) about the change.
Check your answer!
The guests were supposed to have been informed about the change.
Exercise 2
He is happy _______ _______ _______ _______ (award) the scholarship.
Check your answer!
He is happy to have been awared the scholarship.
Exercise 3
The package appears _______ _______ _______ _______ (lose) in transit.
Check your answer!
The package appears to have been lost in transit.
Exercise 4
They claimed _______ _______ _______ _______ (mislead) by the advertisement.
Check your answer!
they claimed to have been misled by the advertisement.
Exercise 5
The results are believed _______ _______ _______ _______ (affect) by the error.
Check your answer!
The results are believed to have been affected.
7. The “Get” Passive
Instructions: Rewrite the sentences using “get” plus the past participle to express unintentional or unexpected actions.
Exercise 1
She was promoted to manager.
Check your answer!
She got promoted to manager.
Exercise 2
They were stuck in traffic.
Check your answer!
They got stuck in traffic.
Exercise 3
He was chosen for the team.
Check your answer!
He got chosen for the team.
Exercise 4
I was caught in the rain.
Check your answer!
I got caught in the rain.
Exercise 5
The window was broken by a ball.
Check your answer!
The window got broken by a ball.
8. Statal or Adjectival Passive
Instructions: Use the past participle as an adjective to describe the state or condition resulting from an action.
Exercise 1
After the long journey, they felt _______ (exhaust).
Check your answer!
After the long journey, they felt exhausted.
Exercise 2
The door remains _______ during business hours (lock).
Check your answer!
The door remains locked during business hours.
Exercise 3
He appeared _______ by the surprising news (shock).
Check your answer!
He appeared shocked by the surprising news.
Exercise 4
All the seats were _______ before we arrived (take).
Check your answer!
All the seats were taken before we arrived.
Exercise 5
She kept her room _______ (organize) and tidy.
Check your answer!
She kept her room organized and tidy.