Rewrite these sentences, putting the verbs in the passive.
Keep them in the same tense, and
remove they, we, someone, etc.
1. We clean the garages every day. The garages are cleaned every day
2. Someone has given him a lot of money.
3. The police arrested two hundred people.
4. We check every car engine thoroughly.
5. We export this computer to seventy different
countries.
6. They have cancelled the meeting.
7. We opened the factory at nine o'clock.
8. They send two million books to America every year.
9. We have invited all the students in the school.
10. We have told him not to be late again.
11. They posted all the letters yesterday.
1
12. The machine wraps the bread automatically.
13. They paid me a lot of money to do the job.
14. Fortunately, they didn't damage the machinery.
15. We send the newspapers to Scotland by train.
2
Practice
Underline all the passive forms.
Acid rain is caused by burning coal or oil. When either fuel is burned, it releases poisonous gases which are
carried up into the atmosphere and sometimes transported long distances. Over 3,000 research projects have
been carried out to look into acid rain, and a decision to tackle the problem has been taken in most of the
western European countries. Measures have been taken in Scandinavia and in Central Europe to stop the
pollution before it is dumped on the environment, and a diplomatic campaign has been launched to convince
other countries that the problem has to be considered as a major ecological threat. ‘Five years ago, this issue
was not being treated seriously, says one leading environmental group, but now that damage has been reported
in large areas of forest and lakeland, our politicians are being forced to take action. This problem must be solved
quickly: if governments do nothing, they will be faced in two- or three-years’ time with the accusation that they
have allowed our forests to die.' A major international initiative to combat acid rain is expected in the near
future.
Rewrite these sentences in the passive.
The subject of the active sentence can usually be omitted; you should include it in the passive
sentence only if it is necessary.
1. Someone's interviewing Dr Johnson at the moment. Dr Johnson's being interviewed at the
moment
2. You mustn't use this machine after 5.30 p.m.
3. We had warned him the day before not to go too near
the canal.
4. They were painting the outside of the ship when the
accident happened.
5. You must clean this machine every time you use it.
3
6. You should keep the flowers in a warm sunny place.
7. They're mending your shoes at the moment.
8. Someone will drive your car to Edinburgh on Tuesday.
9. We don't allow smoking in this restaurant.
10. You should pay your bill before you leave the hotel.
11. I have told the children about the party.
12. About thirty million people are watching this
programme.
13. We expect students not to talk during the
examination
14. You mustn't touch this button while the experiment is
in progress.
15. Someone will blow a whistle if there is an emergency.
16. Someone was carrying the bomb to a safe place when
it exploded.
17. Someone's moved my chair!
18. The police are questioning Mr and Mrs Davidson.
19. Someone checks the water level every week.
20. We invited two hundred people to the wedding.
