PASSIVE I

It's Wibble fair

again. I love the
fair. The street is
decorated with
games and
balloons. The
houses are
painted red, and
the...
There are two kinds of
sentences:

Active Sentences and

Passive Sentences.
Look at the difference:
 ACTIVE
People paint the houses for
the fair every year.

PASSIVE
The houses are painted for
the fair every year.
You can use the passive if you
don't know who does
something or it isn't important
who does it.
Ron decorates the street
every year. = Active.

(I know that Ron decorates the street every

year.)
The street is decorated every
year. = Passive.

(I don't know who decorates the street, or it

isn't important who does it.)
As you notice before, the
active sentences turn into
passive according to their
tenses.
If the active sentence is in
present tense, its passive
has to be in present.
 If the active sentence is
in past tense, its passive
has to be in past.
This is an example of a Present
Simple tense active sentence.

Person + Present Simple + Complement.

Verb (Object)

I love that book. (Active)

Make the Present Simple passive
with the present of verb to be +
past participle verb.
Person + to be + Past participle + C.
verb.
(Object) (is/(am)/are) (3rd column)

That book is loved.

(Passive)
REMEMBER!
There are words called past
participles. You need them to make
the passive.
Infinitive Past Past participle
Work Worked Worked
Eat Ate Eaten
Drink Drank Drunk
Exercise A: Underline the passive
verbs.

Wibble fair is good fun. Everyone enjoys

it. The houses are painted red, and
flowers are planted in the gardens. The
children draw pictures and make cakes,
and the cakes are eaten at the street
party. People wear fancy dress clothes,
and a prize is given to the person with
the best clothes.
Answer of exercise A:

Wibble fair is good fun. Everyone enjoys

it. The houses are painted red, and
flowers are planted in the gardens. The
children draw pictures and make cakes,
and the cakes are eaten at the street
party. People wear fancy dress clothes,
and a prize is given to the person with
the best clothes.
Exercise B: Read the sentences.
Answer the questions.

1.The Wibble song is sung at the start of the fair.

Do I know who sings the song?
2. Pineapple bushes are planted in the park.
Do I know who plants the bushes?
3. Balloons are hung from the trees.
Do I know who Hangs the balloons?
Exercise C: Complete the
sentences. Use present simple
passive.

1. Lost of cakes _________ (make) for the

party.

2. The cakes_________ (eat) at the street

party.
Answers of exercise C:

1. Lost of cakes _________ (make) for the

party. are made

2. The cakes_________ (eat) at the street

party. are eaten
3. At the start of the fair, the Wibble song
_________ (sing).

4. On the first day, a racing competition

___________ (organize).

5. Prizes _________ (give) to the fastest

runners.
3. At the start of the fair, the Wibble song
_________ (sing).
is sung
4. On the first day, a racing competition
___________ (organize).
is organized
5. Prizes _________ (give) to the fastest
runners. are given
This is an example of a Past
Simple tense active sentence.

Person + Past Simple + Complement.

Verb (Object)

People organized a party last year.

Make the Past Passive with the
past of verb to be + past participle.

Person + to be + Past participle + C.

verb.
(Object) (was/were) (3rd column)

A party was organized last year.

Exercise D: Make the sentences
into past simple passive sentences.

1. The houses are usually painted yellow.

Last year Alfredo's house __________
pink.

2. This year the fountain is decorated

with flowers. Last year it ___________
with ribbons.
Answers of exercise D:

1. The houses are usually painted yellow.

Last year Alfredo's house __________
pink. was painted

2. This year the fountain is decorated

with flowers. Last year it ____________
with ribbons. was decorated
3. A competition is organized every year.
Last year a car race ______________

4. Flowers are planted in the town every

year. Last year some trees __________

5. Blue balloons are hung in the town

every year. Last year some pink
balloons ___________ in the town.
3. A competition is organized every year.
Last year a car race ______________
was organized
4. Flowers are planted in the town every
year. last year some trees ___________
were planted
5. Blue balloons are hung in the town
every year. Last year some pink
balloons ___________ in the town.
were hung
Formative Evaluation: Rewrite the
sentences according to their active
tense.
1. People bring flowers to the town hall.
_____________________________

2. Somebody planted a pineapple bush.

_____________________________

3. People hide sweets for children to find.

______________________________
1. People bring flowers to the town hall.
_____________________________
Flowers are brought to the town hall.
2. Somebody planted a pineapple bush.
_____________________________
A pineapple bush was planted.
3. People hide sweets for children to find.
______________________________
Sweets are hidden for children to find.
4. Children fly kites in the field outside their
town.
________________________________

5. The Riddibugs sold chocolate to their

enemies for bars of gold.
________________________________
4. Children fly kites in the field outside their
town.
________________________________
Kites are flown in the field outside...

5. The Riddibugs sold chocolate to their

enemies for bars of gold.
________________________________
Chocolate was sold to their enemies...
 Now here you have some
examples of how to turn an
active sentence into a passive
one by using other tenses.
 Future Simple:

He will tidy his room.

The room will be tidied.

Present Perfect Simple:

They have organized

Monica's visit.
Monica's visit has been
organized.
 Present Continuous:

The students are preparing a

party.

A party is being prepared.

 Past Continuous:

Some citizens were cleaning

the streets.

The streets were being

cleaned.
Material prepared and selected by...

Danitza Lazcano Flores.

Teacher of English
Master in Education
Educational Counselor