Passive Voice

1. Put the following sentences into the Passive Voice:

a) 1. They often invite me to their parties. 2. People speak English in different parts of the world. 3. One uses milk for making butter. 4. We form the Passive Voice with the help of the auxiliary verb "to be". 5. They build a lot of new houses in this district every year.

b) 1. They built this house in 1950. 2. Somebody locked the front door. 3. Someone broke my pen last night. 4. They punished the boy for that. 5. They finished their work in time.

c) 1. People will forget it very soon. 2. They will translate this book next year. 3. They will tell you when to come. 4. Where will they build a new library? 5. Someone will ask him about it.

2. Put the following sentences into the Passive Voice:

1. No one has seen him anywhere this week. 2. Somebody has invited her to the party. 3. They have done all the exercises in written form. 4. They had done everything before we came. 5. I thought they had already sent the letter. 6. Evidently somebody had informed him of the news before they announced it. 7. They are constructing some new metro lines now. 8. Wait a little. They are examining the last student there. 9. They are discussing this question now. 10. We could not use the cassette-recorder, they were repairing it. 11. When I switched on the radio they were broadcasting a very interesting programme. 12. They have not yet told him about it. 13. The branches of the tree hid her face. 14. I know her family. Her brother Charles has taken me

there more than once. 15. I am sure your presents will please them. 16. They informed me that they had seen you in Oxford Street.

3. Put the following sentences into the Passive Voice making the indirect object the subject of the passive construction.

Note. It is more usual in English to make the indirect object the subject of the passive construction.

M o d e l : They showed me the way. - I was shown the way.

1. He offered me a chair. 2. We gave him all the money. 3. They have just shown me a new magazine. 4. Mother promised the boy a new toy. 5. Nobody has told me the news yet. 6. They sent you the invitation last week. 7. I am sure they will offer you a very interesting job. 8. They recommended me several articles on that problem. 9. Someone taught him French and gave him a dictionary. 10. They asked us to be there at eight o'clock. 11. They have promised me some books on this problem. 12. A passer-by showed us the way to Trafalgar Square.

4. Put the following sentences into the Passive Voice.

M o d e l : They laughed at him. - He was laughed at.

1. People speak much of him. 2. They will look after the children well. 3. People will laugh at you if you say it. 4. They sent for the doctor immediately. 5. Everybody listened to her attentively. 6. They always wait for me after the lessons. 7. Nobody took notice of this little boy. 8. Everybody lost sight of the boat in the fog. 9. Why are they laughing at her? 10. I wonder whether they will listen to him. 11. Students often refer to these books. 12. Nobody has ever spoken to me in such a way. 13. If they send for you don't refuse to come. 14. They have not referred to that incident since then.