6.4. Passive Voice

Exercise 6.4.1. Rewrite these sentences using the Passive Voice.

Example: Mother waters the flowers in the evening. – The flowers are watered in the evening. (by a mother)

1. The workers will paint the roof of the house. 2. The mechanics repaired the car. 3. The student made a report. 4. The teacher is giving the assignment. 5. Max will translate the article tomorrow. 6. They will send him a letter. 7. The boy followed his mother. 8. In summer I often drive a motorbike. 9. Ivan Susanin led the Poles into the thickest part of the forest. 10. The waves carried the boat away. 11. We shall do the translation in the evening. 12. You promised me these books long ago. 13. The explorers gave the newspaper reporters a long interview. 14. Mr. Wilson will teach you English.

Exercise 6.4.2. Rewrite these sentences using the Passive Voice.

1. We received this letter after his departure. 2. Have the dogs ever attacked you? 3. The boy carries a heavy bag. 4. The storm prevented the aircraft from flying. 5. Who discovered the structure of atom? 6. They are selling delicious fruit there now. 7. The old man told us about the war-time. 8. They offered her some interesting work. 9. The doctor prescribed her new medicine. 10. They often speak about it. 11. Everybody laughed at this funny joke. 12. We have been looking for you the whole morning. 13. We shall insist on strict discipline. 14. They teach three foreign languages at this University.

Exercise 6.4.3. Put the verbs in brackets into Passive Voice.

1. The letter (to receive) yesterday. 2. Nick (to send) to Moscow next week. 3. I (to ask) a question at the lesson yesterday. 4. I (to give) a very interes- ting book at the library last Friday. 5. Many houses (to build) in our town every year. 6. This work (to do) tomorrow. 7. This text (to translate) at the last lesson. 8. These trees (to plant) last autumn. 9. Many interesting facts always (to tell) at the lessons on regional geography. 10. We (to invite) to a concert last Saturday. 11. My question (to answer) yesterday. 12. Hockey (to play) in winter. 13. Many houses (to burn) during the Great Fire of London. 14. His new book (to finish) next year. 15. St. Petersburg (to found) in 1703.

Exercise 6.4.4. Rewrite the sentences using the Passive Voice.

1. I bought some potatoes yesterday. 2. We shall bring the books back to the library tomorrow. 3. They are repairing the clock now. 4. They sell shoes in this shop. 5. I have translated the whole text. 6. They broke the window last week. 7. When I came home, children had eaten all the sweets. 8. We shall do this work in the evening. 9. This author wrote this book in the 19th century. 10. They were playing tennis from four till five. 11. At 2 p.m. the workers were loading the trucks. 12. By 3 p.m. the workers had finished loading. 13. They will show this film on TV soon. 14. They are building a new concert-hall in our street. 15. Scientists have made a number of important experiments in this laboratory.

Exercise 6.4.5. Rewrite the sentences using the Active Voice. Add the appropriate subject.

1. This mountain has never been climbed before. 2. Why have these cups been put here in this cupboard? 3. Nick was told to go home at once. 4. Invitations have been sent to all the old pupils to be present at the military school's anniversary. 5. The work was finished in time. 6. The child is taken care of carefully. 7. What museums were visited by you last year? 8. Have your compositions been handed in? 9. What has been said is true. 10. After the facts had been thoroughly (тщательно, подробно) explained to her, she no longer felt worried. 11. The Greeks were attacked by the Persians from the sea. 12. This regulation must be read by every student. 13. This film can be seen at the cinema only. 14. Spartan children were taught by their parents to endure all hardships (выдерживать, преодолевать все трудности). 15. Which article was translated by your yesterday?

Exercise 6.4.6. Choose the correct item.

1. The day before yesterday we (invite) to the restaurant by Tom Jenkins.

a) are invited

b) were invited

c) invite

2. Look! The bridge (repair).

a) is being repaired

b) is been repaired

c) has been repaired

3. The letter and the parcel (post) tomorrow.

a) will be post

b) will have been posted

c) will be posted

4. In Greece the Olympic Games (hold) once in four years.

a) were held

b) are being held

c) are held

5. The problem (study) for three years, but they haven’t got any results.

a) has been studied

b) has being studied

c) was studied

6. This book (republish) by the end of September.

a) would be republished

b) will have been republished

c) will been republished

7. A police car came when the injured man (carry off) the road.

a) was being carried off

b) was been carrying off

c) has been carried off

8. I (bear) in a small Russian town not far from Samara.

a) was borne

b) am born

c) was born

9. Dad phoned us and asked if our luggage (already / pack).

a) was already being packed

b) had already been packed

c) was packed

10. What a pity, John won’t come. He (tell) about the meeting beforehand.

a) should have been told

b) should be told

c) should been told

Exercise 6.4.7. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.