Prof. Carlos Villarreal S.

Intensive SELLI course.

EXERCISES

Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use thePresent
Simple. a. English is spoken (speak) in many countries. b. The post
Is delivered (deliver) at about 7 o’clock every morning. c.
Is the building (the building/use) any more? d. How often
Are held (the Olympic Games(hold)? e. How
Is spell your name (your name/spell)? f. My salary is paid (pay) everymonth. g. These cars are not
made (not make) in Japan. h. The name of the
people who committed the crime its not know (not know). i. His travel expenses
aren’t paid (not pay) by his company.

2 Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past
Simple. a. My car was repaired (repair) last week. b. This song
Was not written (not write) by John Lennon. c.
Was the phone answered(the phone/answer) by a young girl? d. The film
Was made (make) ten years ago. e. When was tennis invented (tennis/invent)? f. The car was not
damaged (not damaged) in the accident. g. The original building was pulled (pull) down in 1965. h.
Where was this pot made (this pot/make)? i. When This bridge built (this bridge/build)?

3 Choose the correct form of the verbs in brackets. FIAT 0 was started (started/was
started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899. In 1903, Fiat, 1 produced
(produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of these cars 2 were expected
(exported/were exported) by the company to the United States and Britain. In 1920, Fiat
3 started (started/was started) making cars at a new factory at Lingotto, near Turin.There was a
track on the roof where the cars 4were tasted (tested/were tested) by technicians. In 1936, Fiat
launched the Fiat 500. This car 5 was called (called/was called) the Topolino – the Italian name
for Mickey Mouse. The company grew, and in 1963 Fiat
6exported (exported/was exported) more than 300,000 vehicles. Today, Fiat isbased in Turin,
and its cars 7are sold (sold/are sold) all over the world.

4 Change the following sentences into passive sentences using the words in brackets. a.
We selltickets for all shows at the Box Office. (Tickets for all shows/sell/at the Box Office)

_ b. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. (The electric light bulb/invent/by Thomas
Edison)
The electric light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison

_ c. Someone painted the office last week. (The office/paint/last week)

The office was painted las week

_ d. Several people saw the accident. (The accident/see/by several people)

The accident was seen by several people

_ e. Where do they make these video recorders? (Where/these video recorders/make)

Where are this video records made?

_
5 Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

a. Someone built this house 200 years ago.

This house was built 200 year ago
_ b. A thief stole my purse.
My purse was stolen by a thief
_ c. The police will arrest the robbers.
the robbers will be arrested by the police
_ d. They produce cars in this factory.
cars are produced in this factory
_ e. They serve breakfast at eight o’clock every day.
breakfast is severed at eight o’clock everyday
_ f. People throw away tones of rubbish every day.
those of rubbish every day are thrown away
_ g. They make coffee in Brazil.
coffee is made in Brazil by they
_ h. Someone stole Jim’s bike last night.
Jim’s bike was stolen las night.

6 Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice. a. They will build a new bridge next year.
a new bridge will be built in the next year.
_ b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.
the ultimate space adventure was directed by Brian Brody
_ c. Pierre Matie will design her costume.
Her costume will be designed by Pierre Matie
_ d. Someone found my wallet.
my wallet was found by someone
_ e. One of the students broke the window.
the window was broken by one of the student
_ f. They will deliver my computer on Monday.
my computer will be delivered on Monday
_ g. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.
Pal was invented to Mary’s birthday party
_ h. British astronomers discovered a new planet.
a new planet was discovered by British astronomers
_

7 Form the question.

a. Paper is made from wood.

Is paper made from wood?

b. The telephone was invented by Mr. Bell. Was the telephone invented by Mr. Bell?

c. This picture was painted by Peter. Was the picture painted by Peter?

d. The thieves will be arrested by the police. Will the thieves arrested by the police?

e. Champagne is made in France.is champagne made in France?

f. The letters will be sent next week. will the letters be sent next week?
 g. The animals are fed three times a day. Are the animals fed three times a day?

h. This article was written by Stanley. Was this article written by Stanley?

i. CD’s are made of plastic.

Are CDs made of plastic?

j. The party was organized by Paul. Was therapy organized by Paul?

8 Read and complete. Use Past Simple.

a. The toothbrush / invent / in the 15th century.

The toothbrush was invented in the 15th century
b. Thefirst public basketball game / play / in 1892.
The first public game of basketball was played in 1892
c. Thefirst eyeglasses / wear / in the 1200s.
the first eagle eyes were worn in the 1200s
d. Thefirst bicycle / ride in 1791.
The first bicycle was ridden in 1791
e. Thefirst hot dog / eat / in the 1860s.
the first hot dogs was eaten in 1860
f. Thefirst CDs / sell / in the 1980s.
the first CDs was sold in the 1980
g. Thefirst electric guitar / play / in 1923.
The first electric guitar was played in 1923

h. The first computer mouse / use / 1964.

The first computer mouse was used in 1964

9 Complete with the passive. Use Present Simple.

a. This program watched (watch) by millions of people.

b. Paper made (make) from wood.

c. Hundreds of people killed (kill) in accidents every year.

d. London visited (visit) by thousands of tourists every year.

e. The biology class teacher (teach) by Mr. Green.

f. English speaking (speak) all over the world.

g. Lunch served (serve) at twelve o’clock.

h. Books written (write) by authors.

 10 Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple Passive.
Two men were seen (see) breaking into a house in my street last night. The police were called
(call) and they arrived very quickly. One man caught (catch) immediately. The other escaped,
but he was found (find) very soon. Both men were taken(take) to the police station where they
were questioned (question) separately by a police officer. The two men were charged (charge)
with burglary.

11Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. Somebody has stolen a bus from outside the
school. Some children saw the thief. The police are searching for the bus now. They will use the
children’s descriptions to catch the thief.

A bus from outside the school was stolen. Thief was seen by some children. The bus is been
searching by the police now. The children description will be used to catch thief

12 Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. Some people saw a UFO in the sky above
London last night. They reported it to the police. The army sent a helicopter to look at it more
closer. The UFO shot the helicopter down and killed both men in it. People have given
photographs of the UFO to the police. Experts are looking at them now.
The UFO in sky was seen by some people above London last night which was reported by them at the
police. a helicopter was sent by the army to look at the closer. helicopter was shot down by the fall
and kill both men in it. The photographs of the UFO have been given by the people to the police, and
they are being looked by experts now.

13 Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. Someone broke into a local jewelry shop
yesterday. The owner had just locked up the shop when a robber with a gun threatened him. The
robber told him to unlock the shop and give him all the diamonds in the safe. Then the robber tied
him up. The police have organized a search for the robber. They hope they will find him in a few
days. Doctors are treating the owner of the shop for shock.
Al local your body shop was broken into by someone yesterday. The shop had just looked by the
owner when he was threatened by the rover with a gun. the owner was warned by the robber took
the shop and give him all the robber has been organized by the police. They are hopeful, he will be
found by then in a few days. The owner is been treated by the doctor for a shock.
 14 Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. My uncle painted this picture. Someone
has offered him a lot of money for it. He will deliver the painting tomorrow. When they give
him themoney, he will tell them the truth. He painted it one night while he was sleepwalking!

The picture was painted by my uncle. A lot of money has been offered by someone for it. The
painting will be delivered by him tomorrow. When the money has been the truth will be told by him.
In one night the painting was paint by him who was sleeping working

15 Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. Our school is organizing a contest. The
teacherswill choose the best project about the environment. The students must include pictures
and drawings in their projects. The students will also have to do all the writing themselves. The
schoolwill give the winner a set of encyclopedias.

A contest being organized by our school, the best project about the environment will be
chosen by the teachers . The winner a set of encyclopedias will be given by the school

16 Turn from Active to Passive in two ways. a. He gave me a present.

the present was given by him

_ b. The waiter will bring us the bill.

us bill will be bring by the winter

_ c. Her mother bought Mary some sweets.

some sweets will bought by her mother

_ d. Bob has sold Ted a second-hand car.

a second-hand car has been sold by bob

_ e. Larry is going to send a letter to Tom.

the letter of tom is been gone by Larry

_
 17 Turn from Active to Passive. a. Someone is helping her with the housework.
The housework was helped by someone
_ b. The mail-order company sent Mrs. Green a parcel.

_ c. My friend sent me an invitation.

the invitation was send by my friend
_ d. The secretary has given Mrs. Jones some letters.
some letters has been given by the secretary
_ e. The traffic warden had already given him a ticket for illegal parking.
the ticket for illegal parking had been given by the traffic warden
_ f. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
the beautiful ring of Elizabeth was gone by john
_ g. Her students have sent her flowers.
her flowers have been sent by her students
_ h. He must give the message to the right person.
the right person will be must gone a message
_ i. We teach our students English and French.
our students were tough English and French by we
_ j. Someone bought flowers for the bride.
for the bride someone brought flowers
_ k. They showed the tourists the sights of Athens.
_ l. They pay her an excellent salary.
the excellent salary way pay by they
_ m. They paid the artist £1,000 for his painting.
the painting was paid by an artis
_
 18 Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

1. They sell oysters in the shop next door.

The oysters are sold by them in the shop next door

2. They haven’t delivered the food yet.

The food hasn t been delivered by them yet 3.
Shakespeare wrote King Lear.
King Lear was written by Shakespeare 4. They
have to answer the questions on this sheet.
The questions have to be answered on this
5. Has
sheet upstairs?
anybody put the cases by them
The cases have been put upstairs by anybody
6.
Someone should take this rubbish away.
This rubbish should be taken away by 7. They’ll
ask
someone
you a lot of questions.
A lot of questions will be asked by they
8.
Someone’s going to send her some flowers.
Flowers are going to be sent to her by someone.

9. They didn’t pay me much for that job.

I wasn't paid much by them for that job. 10. Have
they offered him a better job?
10. have
He Voz Pasiva: He have
been offered been offered
a better a better job by
job by them?
them? 11. They
told us a secret.
10. Voz Pasiva: He have been offered a better job by
A
11.secret
them? was told
Voz Pasiva: to us by
A secret them.
was told to us by them. 12. Would
they lend me their car?
12.
11.
TheirVoz
carPasiva:
Voz wouldTheir
Pasiva: Abe carto
secret
lent would
was bybethem.
metold tolent to them.
us by me by them. 13. People
should send their complaints to the head office.
13.
12. Voz
Voz
their Pasiva:
Pasiva: their
complaintsTheir complaints
carhead
to the would to lent
be
office the head
to me
should office
bebysent.
them. 14. They
should be sent.
had to postpone the meeting because of illness.
13.
TheVoz Pasiva:
meeting hadtheir
been complaints
postponed tobythethem
headbecause
office of
14. Voz
should Pasiva: The meeting had been postponed by 15. They
illness. be sent.
are going to hold next
them because of illness year’s congress in San Francisco.
NextVoz
14. year’s congress
Pasiva: in San Francisco
The meeting had beenispostponed
going to beby 16. The
hold
them
bill by them.
because
includes of illness
service.
Service is included by the bill.

17. People don’t use this road very often.

This road isn't used by people.
_ 18. They cancelled all the flights because of fog.
The flights was cancelled by them because of fog.
 _ 19. Somebody accused me of stealing the money.
I was accused by somebody of stealing the money.
_ 20. They are building a new ring-road round the city.
A new ring-road round the city is been built by them.
_ 21. I didn’t realize that someone was recording our conversation.
Someone wasn't realized recording our conversation by me.
_ 22. They have changed the date of the meeting.
The date of the meeting have been changed by them.
_ 23. Brian told me that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street.
I was told that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street by Brian.
_ 24. You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.
The wine should be opened about three hours before you use it.
_ 25. Somebody had cleaned my shoes and brushed my suit.
My shoes and my suit had been cleaned by somebody
_ 26. We use this room only on special occasions.
This room is only used on special occasions by us
_ 27. In some districts farmers use pigs to find truffles.
Pigs are used to find truffles in some districts farmers
_ 28. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
Elizabeth was given that beautiful ring by John.
_ 29. They have offered Sarah a very good job.
A very good job have been offered to Sarah by them.
_ 30. The estate agent showed the house to the young people.
The house to the young people was showed by the state agent.
_ 31. We will pay the gardener a lot of money.
A lot of money will be paid to the gardener by us.
_ 32. Someone is going to repair the roof next week.
The roof is going to be repaired by someone next week.

33. They can’t find Joanna.

Joanna can't be found by them.

_ 34. They should decorate the room with flowers.

The room should be decorated with flowers by them.

_ 35. Archaeologists have discovered an ancient temple.

An ancient temple have been discovered by archaeologists.

_ 36. We will put all these things into boxes.
All these things will be put into boxes by us.
_ 37. The firefighters rescued the teenagers from the burning building.

The teenagers were rescued from the burning building by the firefighters.
_ 38. The youngest student in the class has written the best composition.

The best compositions has been written by the youngest students in the class.
_ 39. The children send me messages every day.
Messages are sent to me by the children every day.
_ 40. The villagers gave the travelers food and water.
The travelers were given food and water by the villagers
_ 41. A very talented young girl wrote the story.
The story was written by a very talented young girl.
_ 42. They are going to finish the new road in a few days.
 _ 43. They cancelled the match because of the rain.
The match was cancelled by them because of the rain.
_ 44. You must not cross this line.
This line mustn’t be cross by you.
_ 45. They had picked the oranges before the storm.
The oranges had been picked by them before the storm
_ 46. Professor Smith should write the book.
The book should be written by Professor Smith.
_ 47. Mr. Elliot will pay the workers.
The workers will be paid by Mr. Elliot.
_ 48. Two men were following Tom.
Tom was been followed by two men.
_ 49. Millions of people use the Internet every day.
The internet is used by millions of people every day.
_ 50. They gave Bob a CD player for his birthday.
A CD player was given by them for his birthday.
_ 51. The prime minister will give a medal to the winners.
A medal will be given to the winners by the prime minister.
_ 52. She is telling the children a story.
A story is been told to the children by her.
_ 53. They’ve offered Sally a job.
A job have been offered to Sally by them.
_ 54. Poisonous chemicals have polluted the river.
The river have been polluted by the poisonous chemicals.
_ 55. Doctor Simms is examining her.
She is been examining by doctor Simms.
_ 56. You must stop him now.
He must be stopped by you now.
_ 57. Someone gave them free tickets for the concert.
Free tickets for the concert are given to them by someone.