Can you use the passive voice correctly? Take a moment to do this exercise.
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate passive verb form.
1. They are painting the walls. (Active) / The walls ………………. (Passive)
In the present continuous tense, the passive form is ‘is/am/are + being + past participle form of the verb’
2. He closed the door. (Active) / The door …………………. by him. (Passive)
In the simple past tense, the passive form is ‘was/were + past participle form of the verb’
3. The loan recovery officials sealed the house. (Active) / The house …………………. by the loan recovery officials. (Passive)
In the simple past tense, the passive form is ‘was/were + past participle form of the verb’
4. I have cleaned the carpets. (Active) / The carpets …………………. (Passive)
In the present perfect tense, the passive voice is ‘has/have + been + past participle form of the verb’.
5. I had sent the parcel in the morning. (Active) / The parcel ……………….. in the morning. (Passive)
In the past perfect tense, the passive form is ‘had + been + past participle form of the verb’.
6. You should post this letter. (Active) / This letter ………………… (Passive)
‘Should post’ becomes ‘should be posted’ in the passive voice.
7. They will announce the results tomorrow. (Active) / The results ………………… tomorrow. (Passive)
In the simple future tense, the passive form is ‘will + be + past participle form of the verb’.
8. I have fed the dog. (Active) / The dog ………………. (Passive)
In the present perfect tense, the passive form is ‘has / have + been + past participle form of the verb’.
9. We will have finished the work by Monday. (Active) / The work ………………… by Monday. (Passive)
In the future perfect tense, the passive form is ‘will + have + been + past participle form of the verb’.
10. The reporter is announcing the news. (Active) / The news ……………….. (Passive)
In the present continuous tense, the passive form is ‘is/am/are + being + past participle form of the verb’.
11. They took the patient to the hospital in an ambulance. (Active) / The patient ………………. to the hospital in an ambulance. (Passive)
In the simple past tense, the passive form is ‘was/were + past participle form of the verb’
12. I bought food at the restaurant. (Active) / Food ……………… at the restaurant. (Passive)
Answers
1. They are painting the walls. (Active) / The walls are being painted. (Passive)
2. He closed the door. (Active) / The door was closed by him. (Passive)
3. The loan recovery officials sealed the house. (Active) / The house was sealed by the loan recovery officials. (Passive)
4. I have cleaned the carpets. (Active) / The carpets have been cleaned. (Passive)
5. I had sent the parcel in the morning. (Active) / The parcel had been sent in the morning. (Passive)
6. You should post this letter. (Active) / This letter should be posted. (Passive)
7. They will announce the results tomorrow. (Active) / The results will be announced tomorrow. (Passive)
8. I have fed the dog. (Active) / The dog has been fed. (Passive)
9. We will have finished the work by Monday. (Active) / The work will have been finished by Monday. (Passive)
10. The reporter is announcing the news. (Active) / The news is being announced. (Passive)
11. They took the patient to the hospital in an ambulance. (Active) / The patient was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. (Passive)
12. I bought food at the restaurant. (Active) / Food was bought at the restaurant. (Passive)
