The passive voice: present and past simple

Time for super grammar!

The passive voice

start

index

1. active voice

2. passive voice

Let's have a look at the first point: the active voice!

3. comparing active and passive

4. From active to Passive sentences

5. All the tenses

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

01

subject

Look at this sentence:

verb

Gustave Eiffel built the Eiffel tower in 1881.

object

time adverbial

Next

02

subject

Look at this sentence:

verb

This tower was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1881.

agent

time adverbial

Next

active voice

Passive voice

• When we use a passive verb, we say what happens to the subject.

• When we use an active verb, we say what the subject does.

Example: The Metropolis bank was broken into yesterday evening, and $5 million was stolen.

Example: The Joker broke into the Metropolis bank yesterday evening and stole $5 million.

• If we know who did the action, we use an agent ("by the Joker"). If we don't know that, we don't mention the agent.

Next

exercise 1

let's fight aliens

start

A Genially by N. Michiels, A.R.Ath

From active to passive

Follow these steps

1. Find the object in the active sentence
2. This will become the subject of the passive sentence.
3. Use "be + past participle" to add the verb. Respect the tenses (here, "be" must be used in the past simple)
4. the subject of the active sentence becomes the agent in the passive sentence

Batman stopped the Joker.

The Joker ...

The Joker was stopped ...

The Joker was stopped by Batman.

Next

Tenses (1)

02

01

Present simple passive

Present simple active

Lenovo produces these computers.

These computers are produced by Lenovo.

04

Past simple passive

Past simple active

03

These computers were produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo produced these computers.

Next

No!

Try again...

Exercise 2

1) 200 people are employed by the company. 2) Somebody cleans this room every day. 3) The thief was finally arrested last week. 4) The ennemy will be defeated. 5) The White House was built in 1792. 6) I am tall and I have blond hair. 7) Many accidents are caused by careless driving. 8) We were woken up by a loud noise during the night. 9) The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, was a best seller. 10) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone was published in 1997.

Do you recognise the passive voice? Tick only on the passive sentences!

check

-> next

Well done!

Exercise 3

Choose the correct proposition for each sentence.

QUESTION 1 OF 5

These smartphones ..... in Hong Kong

were made

didn't make

made

RIGHT ANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 2 OF 5

The book ... by all the students.

are read

are readed

is read

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 3 OF 5

His classroom ... by maite.

are cleaned

is cleaned

is clean

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 4 OF 5

How ... this word ...?

was... translate

have... been translated

is...translated

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 5 OF 5

My toys ... by Carla

are repaired

is repair

IS repaired

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

WRONGANSWER!

TRY AGAIN?

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU HAVE Gathered ALL THE POWERS in this exercise!

Next

questions with present passive

passive voice questions

1. Identify the subject and the verb to be.

Next

Subject

The table is made of wood.

Verb to be

2. Write the verb to be before the subject.

Is the table made of wood.

start

3. Now, pay attention to the following transformation.

- Recyclable material is taken to a materials recycling facility. - Where is recyclable material taken?

Wh- words go first, then verb to be and the subject.

exercise 4

Let's construct interrogative passive senteces!

Play

Next

thanks!