Change the verb to the
active voice and rewrite the sentence. Be sure to keep the same tense. In some
cases, it will be necessary to supply a subject (see the second example).
1. The books
were taken by John.
John took the books.
2. The boxes
were mailed today.
He mailed the boxes
today.
3. The two
packages were opened by my secretary.
My secretary opened the
two packages.
4. Our
homework is corrected by our teacher.
Our teacher corrects our
homework.
5. Two
buildings have been constructed by that company.
That company had
constructed two buildings.
6. That room wasn’t cleaned carefully yesterday.
He didn’t clean that room
carefully yesterday.
7. The truck
is being loaded by the men now.
The men are loading the
truck now.
8. Was
that machine checked by the inspector?
Did the inspector check
that machine?
9. Will
that report be written by the same committee?
Will the same committee
write that report?
10. Has the news
been announced by the president yet?
Has the president
announced the news yet?
11. The mail is
delivered to this office twice a day.
This office receives the
mail twice a day.
12. All of us were
surprised by his frank attitude.
His frank attitude
surprised all of us.
13. Was the repair
work done by the mechanic?
Did the mechanic do the repair work?
14. He wasn’t very
much respected by the employees.
The employees didn’t
respect him very much.
15. Are many courses
in English given during the summer?
Are they giving many
courses in English during the summer?
·
USING PASSIVE VERBS
Change
the verb to the passive voice and rewrite the sentence. Be sure to keep the
same tense.
1.
He
signed the letter.
The letter was signed by
him.
2.
The
secretary opens the mail every morning.
The mails is opened by
the secretary every morning.
3.
The
committee is considering that proposal right now.
That proposal is being
considered by the committee right now.
4.
The
army will complete that project next year.
That project will be
completed by the army next year.
5.
His
boss has transferred him to another department.
He has been transferred
to another department by his boss.
6.
Will
the company distribute the announcements?
Will the announcements be
distributed by the company?
7.
An artist wrote that interesting article about
Paris.
That interesting article
about Paris was written by an artist.
8.
Today
a large number of people speak English.
English is spoken by a
large number of people today.
9.
Didn’t
they return those books to the library?
Were those books not
return by them to the library?
10. The government has not
changed that regulation yet.
That regulation has not
been changed by the government yet.
11. Someone stole all her
valuable jewelry last night.
All her valuable jewelry
were stolen by someone last night.
12. Miss Peters wrote all of
the reports for Mr. Johnson.
All of the reports were
written my Miss Peters for Mr. Johnson.
13. Bad weather has delayed
Flight 202 from Miami.
Flight 202 from Miami has
been delayed due to bad weather.
14. Did the court divide the
money among the children?
Were the money divided by
the court among the children?
15. Many scholars have
translated that famous Greek epic.
That famous Greek epic
has been translated by many scholars.
·
ACTIVE vs PASSIVE
Use
the correct voice (active or passive) and the correct tense of verb in each
sentence.
1.
Everyone
(shock) by the terrible news yesterday.
Active :
The terrible news was shocked everyone yesterday.
2.
Almost
everyone (enjoy) the lecture last night.
Passive
: The lecture was enjoyed by almost everyone last night.
3.
English
(teach) in the schools of almost every nation.
Active : English taught in the schools of almost
every nation.
4.
That
proposal (consider) by the members right now.
Passive
: That proposal is considering by the members right now.
5.
The
accident (happen) right here at 6:30 last night.
Active : The accident happened right here at 6:30
last night.
6.
Smith
(teach) at the University of Washington since 1948.
Active : Smith has taught at the University of
Washington since 1948.
7.
Mr.
Harris (divide) the class into two sections tomorrow.
Passive
: The class will be divided into two sections by Mr. Harris tomorrow.
8.
Wilson
(borrow) the money from Brown two weeks ago.
Active : Wilson borrowed the money from Brown two
weeks ago.
9.
Not
much (say) about the matter since that time.
Active : Not much said about the matter since that
time.
10. My friend (write) to me
about it several times now.
Active : My friend is writing to me about it
several times now.
11. Davis (promote) to the
rank of sergeant last week.
Active : Davis was promoted to the rank of sergeant
last week.
12. That event (occur)
shortly after the meeting last week.
Active : That event occurred shortly after the
meeting last week.
13. All the students (bring)
guests to the party tomorrow night.
Passive
: Guests will be brought by all the students to the party tomorrow night.
14. Less than half of the
cans of paint (use) up to now.
Passive
: The cans of paint is being used less than half up to now.
15. More classes in English
(list) in the catalog next fall.
Passive
: The catalog will be listed more classes in English next fall.
16. Everything (go) well so
far. There (be) no trouble yet.
Active : Everything is going well so far. There is
no trouble yet.
17. That movie about
Napoleon’s life (disappoint) me greatly.
Active : That movie about Napoleon’s life disappointed
me greatly.
18. The mail (deliver,
always) to this office before 10 a.m.
Active : The mail is always deliver to this office
before 10 a.m.
19. Who (furnish) the food
for the picnic next weekend?
Active : Who will furnish the food for the picnic next
weekend?
20. At this time, much
attention (devote) to that problem.
Active : At this time, much attention is devoting
to that problem.
21. Think carefully. I’m sure
you (remember) his name.
Active : Think carefully. I’m sure you remember his
name.
22. We (treat) very kindly by
our hosts last Saturday.
Active : Our hosts were treated us very kindly last
Saturday.
23. Mr. Wilson (make)
something interesting statements yesterday.
Passive
: Something interesting statements were made by Mr. Wilson yesterday.
24. A new textbook (publish)
by that company next year.
Active : That company will publish a new textbook
next year.
25. The noise from the trains
(annoy) me terribly last night.
Active : The noise from the trains annoyed me
terribly last night.
26. That old red house
(build) in the year 1822.
Active : That old red house was built in the year
1822.
27. The report (examine, not)
by a committee of experts yet.
Active : A committee of expert has not examine the
report yet.
28. Cocktails (serve) to the
guests about 10 minutes from now.
Passive
: Cocktails will be served to the guests about 10 minutes from now.
29. His sharp remarks
(embarrass) everyone last night.
Active : His sharp remarks embarrassed everyone
last night.
30. Fred (introduce) to the fellow by Mr. Brown
yesterday.
Active : Mr. Brown introduced Fred to the fellow
yesterday.
31. Listen to this! I think
this news (surprise) you!
Active : Listen to this! I think this news will
surprise you!
32. The Ajax Shoe Company
(employ) 25 new men next month.
Active : The Ajax Shoe Company will employ 25 new
men next month.
33. Only 25 new students
(admit) into the department in 1955.
Active : Only 25 new students were admitted into
the department in 1955.
34. A second coat of paint
(spread) over that surface tomorrow.
Active : A second coat of paint will spread over
that surface tomorrow.
