1. HOW THE PASSIVE IS FORMED: We form the passive by using the verb to be followed by the past participle.

Only
transitive verbs (verbs which take an object) can be used in the passive voice.

Active Passive

The police officer saw the robber at the airport. The robber was seen at the airport.
Shes following him. Hes being followed.

Get is used in colloquial English instead of be to express something happening by accident:

Hell get hurt if he plays like that.

2. WHEN THE PASSIVE IS USED: The passive is used quite often in English, both in speech and writing. We use the
passive when:
We dont know who or what did something.
My bicycle has been stolen. (= Someone has stolen my bicycle.)
The action is more important than who did it.
Income tax was introduced in England in 1798. (= We dont really care who introduced it.)
It is obvious who or what did something.
The thief has been arrested. (= It is obvious that police did it.)

NOTE!!
- We can use by + person / thing to show who does the action if this information is important:
The robber was seen by some witnesses at the supermarket.

- In passive questions with who, whom or which we do NOT omit by:

Who offered her the job? = Who was she offered the job by?

- With + instrument or material is used to add information and say what the agent used:
The policeman was stabbed with a knife.

- Make, hear, help, see are followed by a to-infinitive in the passive:

They saw him cross the street. = He was seen to cross the street.

3. VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS: Sometimes an active verb (e.g. give) has two objects
A witness gave the police some information. Or A witness gave some information to the police.

Either object can be the subject of the passive sentence:

The police were given some information by a witness.
Some information was given to the police by a witness.
4. PRACTICE:
4.1. Rewrite the following sentences into the passive form.

1. They dont make Volvos in Norway.

Volvos _________________________________________________________________________.
2. They built our house in the 17th Century.
Our house______________________________________________________________________.
3. Has someone decorated your bedroom?
_______________________________________________________________________________.
4. Stephan is decorating my living room at the moment.
My living room __________________________________________________________________.
5. We moved out of our house while they were building the road.
While the road __________________________________________________________________.
6. They dont recognize her with those dark glasses.
She ___________________________________________________________________________.
7. They have sold all the books of the book shop.
All the books ____________________________________________________________________.
8. They are offering computers at reduced prices.
Computers _____________________________________________________________________.
9. Specialists will repair the damaged pictures of the museum.
The damaged pictures ____________________________________________________________.
10. They dont advertise the Chinese restaurant in this booklet.
The Chinese restaurant ___________________________________________________________.

4.2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct passive form.

1. Polar bears ...are hunted... (hunt) for their fur.

2. A lecture ____________________ (give) in the main hall at the moment.
3. After _________________ (award) a medal for bravery, he became a local hero.
4. Her ankle _________________ (hurt) when she fell down.
5. She thinks her car ________________ (steal) by someone she knows.
6. The apartment ____________________ (sell) last week.
7. I hate _____________________ (lie to) by my friends.
8. Nurses really ought ____________________ (pay) more than they are.
9. The music must ______________________ (turn down) by 12 oclock at the latest.
10. Your free gift ____________________ (send) to you in the next few days.
11. I wish I ___________________ (teach) how to use a computer when I was at school.
12. Human bones ______________________ (find) by archeologists yesterday.
13. My car ________________________ (repair) at the moment, s I cant give you a lift.
14. New York ______________________ (say) to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
15. Hopefully, all forms of discrimination ___________________ (wipe out) by the end of this century.

4.3. In five of these sentences there is a mistake in a verb form. Underline each mistake and write the correction.

1. The children wanted to be allow to stay up late and see the fireworks. to be allowed
2. Our flight was delaying by fog and we missed our connection.
3. Lauren was sulking because she hadnt been invited to Ralphs party.
4. By the time we arrived at the market the best fruit had be sold.
5. While the meal was being prepare we had a drink on the terrace.
6. The new library will be opened by the Mayor next Saturday.
7. I cant see any coffee in this cupboard. Was it all been finished?
4.4. Fill in by or with.

1. This suit was designed ...by... Armani.
2. This case is filled .......... fresh cream.
3. Who was Australia discovered ..........?
4. Ford cars are made .......... experts.
5. The baby was covered .......... a blanket.
6. The opera Carmen was composed .......... Bizet.
7. The coat was lined .......... fur.
8. The food will be provided .......... caterers.
9. The stew was flavoured .......... garlic.
10. The Royal Wedding was watched .......... millions.

4.5. Match the two halves of the conversations and fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

4.6. Rewrite these sentences. Instead of using people, somebody or they, write a passive sentence with an
appropriate verb form.

1. Somebody introduced me to Dr Felix last year. I was introduced to Dr Felix last year.
2. People are destroying large areas of forest every day.
3. Somebody has bought the land next to our house.
4. Somebody had already reported the accident before I phoned.
5. I hope they will have completed all the marking by tomorrow.
6. People were using the tennis court, so we couldnt play.
7. Somebody will tell you when you should go in to see the doctor.
8. They should have finished the hotel by the time you arrive.
9. No doubt somebody will blame me for the problem.
10. People expected better results soon.

4.7. Make one corresponding passive sentence or two, if possible as in the example.

1. Someone threw a lifebelt to me.

I was thrown a lifebelt. / A lifebelt was thrown to me.
2. Someone mentioned the problem to me.
3. Someone had reported the theft to the police.
4. Someone told the story to me.
6. Someone has given 1,000 to the charity.
7. Someone was offering drinks to the guests.
8. Someone explained the procedure to me.
9. Someone sold the car to Tom.

4.8. Change the sentences from the active into passive. Omit the agent where it can be omitted.

1. The British eat over thirty million hamburgers each year.

Over thirty million hamburgers are eaten by the British each year.

2. Who wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude?

3. The bad weather has spoiled my holiday plans.
4. Do they always pay their workers on time?
5. The children picked the strawberries.
6. She saw them go out.
7. You should wash those walls before you paint them.
8. Penguin has translated all her books into English.
9. He objects to people telling him what to do.
10. Tesco is converting the old bank into a supermarket.
11. They told him not to say anything to her.
12. Did they give you a reward for finding their cat?
13. The nurses take very good care of their patients.
14. Everyone heard her shouting at the students.
15. Why have they given him a promotion?
16. I love people giving me presents.
17. When we got to the theatre, they had sold all the tickets.
18. The police have just arrested the man who broke into our house.
19. What did he tell you to do?
20. Oxfam will hold a fashion show next week.
21. They are holding the next World Cup in France.
22. When did they demolish that building?
23. The officers took the suspect in for questioning.
24. Will they hand out free T-shirts at the concert?
25. Does the school provide accommodation for all new teachers?

4.9. Look at the notes, then write a report using the passive.