Lengua Inglesa II

UNIT 5. THE PASSIVE VOICE

1. PASSIVE VOICE

The passive voice is used to say what happens to people and things, to
say what is done to them. In English the passive voice is more commonly
used than in Spanish, specially in the written language.

TENSE STRUCTURE Example

Present Simple S+ is/are + past participle A letter is written by John.

Past Simple S+ was/were + past participle A letter was written by John
Present Continuous S+ is/are being + past participle A letter is being written by John.
Past Continuous S+ was/were being + past particip A letter was being written by John.
Present Perfect S. S+ have/has been + past. participl A letter has been written by John.
Past Perfect Simple S+ had been + past participle A letter had been written by John.
Future Simple S+ will be + past participle A letter will be written by John.
Future Perfect S+ will have been + past participle A letter will have been written by John.
Modal verbs S+ modal + be + past participle A letter must be written by John.
Conditional I S+ would be + past participle A letter would be written by John.
Conditional II S+ would have been + past participl A letter would have been written by John.

2. IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PASSIVE VOICE

Passive sentences with two objects.

In English, some verbs can have two direct objects, one is for a person and the
other is for a thing or animal; Look at next sentences.
Rita explained this rule to him.
Now look at the same sentence put in Passive Voice:
FIRST WAY: This rule was explained to him by Rita.
SECOND WAY: He was explained this rule by Rita.
Lengua Inglesa II
UNIT 5. THE PASSIVE VOICE

EXERCISES PASSIVE VOICE (ADVANCED) C1-C2

Lengua Inglesa II
UNIT 5. THE PASSIVE VOICE
Lengua Inglesa II
UNIT 5. THE PASSIVE VOICE
SOLUCIONES A LOS EJERCICIOS.

1st Exercise
2.She was offered a second-hand bicycle./ A second-hand bicycle was offered to her.
3. Improvements have been proposed to the developers.
4. Some interesting changes were suggested to me.
5. He was awarded a prize./ A prize was awarded to him.
6. The President’s arrival will be announced to the waiting journalists.
7. The password had been mentioned to the thieves.
8. I have been lent some skis./ Some skis have been lent to me.
9. He is being sent threatening letters./ Threatening letters are being sent to him.
10. The changes are going to be explained to the students.
2nd Exercise.
2. The product was phased out (by the company) over a period of three years.
3. No passive
4. Many people have been deprived of the right to vote (by the decision).
5. No passive
6. No passive
7. The last two items were held over (by the chairman) until the next committee meeting.
8. Walkers were prevented from crossing the field after it was fenced off (by the farmer).
3rd Exercise
2. The recent flooding is being blamed on climate change./ Climate change is being
blamed for the recent flooding.
3. Keith Jones has been described as the world’s greatest guitarist.
4. The painting had been stolen from the gallery.
5. The litter will have been cleared from the pitch before the match starts./ The pitch will
have been cleared of litter before the match starts.
6. The game was being watched outside the stadium on a huge screen.
7. The walls will be sprayed with green paint./ Green paint will be sprayed on the walls.
8. Mary should have been offered a drink when she arrived./ A drink should have been
offered to Mary when she arrived.
9. You will be provided with food for the journey./ Food will be provided for you for the
journey.
10. The fields have been planted with cotton./ Cotton has been planted in the fields.
4th Exercise
2. is being ruled (or more naturally “is now being ruled”)
3. are disappearing/ have disappeared.
4. fear
5. is estimated/ has been estimated
6. will be turned into
7. is using/ has used
8. to be abandoned
9. be affected
10. expect
11. are being destroyed/ are destroyed