145. PASSIVE VERB FORMS
Change the verb to the active voice
and rewrite the sentence. Be sure to keep the same tense. In some cases, it
will be necessary to supply a subject (see the second example).
1.
The books were taken by John.
John took the
books.
2.
The boxes were mailed today.
He mailed the
boxes today.
3.
The two packages were opened by my secretary.
My secretary
opened the two packages.
4.
Our homework is corrected by our teacher.
Our teacher
corrects our homework.
5.
Two buildings have been constructed by that
company.
That company had
constructed two buildings.
6.
That room wasn’t cleaned carefully yesterday.
He didn’t clean
that room carefully yesterday.
7.
The truck is being loaded by the men now.
The men are
loading the truck now.
8.
Was that machine checked by the inspector?
Did the inspector
check that machine?
9.
Will that report be written by the same
committee?
Will the same
committee write that report?
10.
Has the news been announced by the president
yet?
Has the president
announced the news yet?
11.
The mail is delivered to this office twice a
day.
This office
receives the mail twice a day.
12.
All of us were surprised by his frank attitude.
His frank attitude
surprised all of us.
13.
Was the repair work done by the mechanic?
Did the mechanic
do the repair work?
14.
He wasn’t very much respected by the employees.
The employees
didn’t respect him very much.
15.
Are many courses in English given during the
summer?
Are they giving
many courses in English during the summer?
146. USING PASSIVE VERBS
Change the verb to the passive voice and rewrite the
sentence. Be sure to keep the same tense.
1.
He signed the letter.
The letter was
signed by him.
2.
The secretary opens the mail every morning.
The mails is
opened by the secretary every morning.
3.
The committee is considering that proposal right
now.
That proposal is
being considered by the committee right now.
4.
The army will complete that project next year.
That project will
be completed by the army next year.
5.
His boss has transferred him to another
department.
He has been
transferred to another department by his boss.
6.
Will the company distribute the announcements?
Will the
announcements be distributed by the company?
7.
An artist
wrote that interesting article about Paris.
That interesting
article about Paris was written by an artist.
8.
Today a large number of people speak English.
English is spoken
by a large number of people today.
9.
Didn’t they return those books to the library?
Were those books
not return by them to the library?
10.
The government has not changed that regulation
yet.
That regulation
has not been changed by the government yet.
11.
Someone stole all her valuable jewelry last
night.
All her valuable
jewelry were stolen by someone last night.
12.
Miss Peters wrote all of the reports for Mr.
Johnson.
All of the reports
were written my Miss Peters for Mr. Johnson.
13.
Bad weather has delayed Flight 202 from Miami.
Flight 202 from
Miami has been delayed due to bad weather.
14.
Did the court divide the money among the
children?
Were the money
divided by the court among the children?
15.
Many scholars have translated that famous Greek
epic.
That famous Greek
epic has been translated by many scholars.
147. ACTIVE vs PASSIVE
Use the correct voice (active or passive) and the correct
tense of verb in each sentence.
1.
Everyone (shock) by the terrible news yesterday.
Active :
The terrible news was shocked everyone yesterday.
2.
Almost everyone (enjoy) the lecture last night.
Passive : The lecture was enjoyed by almost everyone
last night.
3.
English (teach) in the schools of almost every
nation.
Active : English taught in the schools of almost
every nation.
4.
That proposal (consider) by the members right
now.
Passive : That proposal is considering by the members
right now.
5.
The accident (happen) right here at 6:30 last
night.
Active : The accident happened right here at 6:30
last night.
6.
Smith (teach) at the University of Washington
since 1948.
Active : Smith has taught at the University of
Washington since 1948.
7.
Mr. Harris (divide) the class into two sections
tomorrow.
Passive : The class will be divided into two sections
by Mr. Harris tomorrow.
8.
Wilson (borrow) the money from Brown two weeks
ago.
Active : Wilson borrowed the money from Brown two
weeks ago.
9.
Not much (say) about the matter since that time.
Active : Not much said about the matter since that
time.
10.
My friend (write) to me about it several times
now.
Active : My friend is writing to me about it several
times now.
11.
Davis (promote) to the rank of sergeant last
week.
Active : Davis was promoted to the rank of sergeant
last week.
12.
That event (occur) shortly after the meeting
last week.
Active : That event occurred shortly after the
meeting last week.
13.
All the students (bring) guests to the party
tomorrow night.
Passive : Guests will be brought by all the students to
the party tomorrow night.
14.
Less than half of the cans of paint (use) up to
now.
Passive : The cans of paint is being used less than
half up to now.
15.
More classes in English (list) in the catalog
next fall.
Passive : The catalog will be listed more classes in
English next fall.
16.
Everything (go) well so far. There (be) no
trouble yet.
Active : Everything is going well so far. There is
no trouble yet.
17.
That movie about Napoleon’s life (disappoint) me
greatly.
Active : That movie about Napoleon’s life
disappointed me greatly.
18.
The mail (deliver, always) to this office before
10 a.m.
Active : The mail is always deliver to this office
before 10 a.m.
19.
Who (furnish) the food for the picnic next
weekend?
Active : Who will furnish the food for the picnic
next weekend?
20.
At this time, much attention (devote) to that
problem.
Active : At this time, much attention is devoting to
that problem.
21.
Think carefully. I’m sure you (remember) his
name.
Active : Think carefully. I’m sure you remember his
name.
22.
We (treat) very kindly by our hosts last
Saturday.
Active : Our hosts were treated us very kindly last
Saturday.
23.
Mr. Wilson (make) something interesting
statements yesterday.
Passive : Something interesting statements were made by
Mr. Wilson yesterday.
24.
A new textbook (publish) by that company next
year.
Active : That company will publish a new textbook
next year.
25.
The noise from the trains (annoy) me terribly
last night.
Active : The noise from the trains annoyed me
terribly last night.
26.
That old red house (build) in the year 1822.
Active : That old red house was built in the year
1822.
27.
The report (examine, not) by a committee of
experts yet.
Active : A committee of expert has not examine the
report yet.
28.
Cocktails (serve) to the guests about 10 minutes
from now.
Passive : Cocktails will be served to the guests about
10 minutes from now.
29.
His sharp remarks (embarrass) everyone last
night.
Active : His sharp remarks embarrassed everyone last
night.
30.
Fred
(introduce) to the fellow by Mr. Brown yesterday.
Active : Mr. Brown introduced Fred to the fellow
yesterday.
31.
Listen to this! I think this news (surprise)
you!
Active : Listen to this! I think this news will
surprise you!
32.
The Ajax Shoe Company (employ) 25 new men next
month.
Active : The Ajax Shoe Company will employ 25 new
men next month.
33.
Only 25 new students (admit) into the department
in 1955.
Active : Only 25 new students were admitted into the
department in 1955.
34.
A second coat of paint (spread) over that
surface tomorrow.
Active : A second coat of paint will spread over
that surface tomorrow.