The Passive Voice

1.       A little boy opened the cage.

The cage was opened by a little boy.

2.      Someone has stolen the money.

The money has been stolen

3.      They taught the students in no time.

The students were taught in no time.

4.      Someone accused him, but he was not there at the moment.

He was accused, but he was not there at the moment.

5.      They took the injured people to the nearest hospital

The injured people were taken to the hospital.

1.       Somebody lent Peter the money for the car.

- (1) Peter was lent the money for the car.

- (2) The money for the car was lent to Peter

2.      They showed us the new house yesterday.

- (1) We were shown the new house yesterday.

- (2)  The new house was shown to us yesterday.

3.      Someone has brought these books to Mrs. White.

- (1) Mrs. White has been brought these books.

- (2) These books have been brought to Mrs. White

4.      IBM will offer her a job

- (1) She will be offered a job by IBM

- (2) A job will be offered to her.

5.      The shop gave me a prize when I spent $1,000.

- (1) I was given a prize when I spent $1,000.

- (2) A prize was given to me when I spent $1,000

6.     The tour guide showed us around the city.

- (1) We were shown around the city.

- (2) The city was shown around to us.

7.      The ice-cream vendor gave my child a free ice-cream cone.

- (1) My child was given a free ice-cream cone.

- (2)  A free ice-cream cone was given to my child.

8.     She paid the workers three months’ salary when she closed down her business.

- (1) The workers were paid three months’ salary when she closed down her business.

- (2) Three months’ salary was paid to the workers when she closed down her business.

9.     The boss offered him a rise for his hard work.

- (1) He was offered a rise for his hard work.

- (2) A rise was offered to him for his hard work.

1.       People believe that a witch lived in that house.

- (1) It is believed that a witch lived in that house.

- (2) A witch is believed to have lived in that house.

2.      Experts expect that the government will reduce taxes soon.

- (1) It is expected that the government will reduce taxes soon.

- (2) The government is expected to reduce taxes soon/ to be reducing taxes soon/to be going to reduce taxes soon.

3.      Historians think that this town was built in the 17th century.

- (1) It is thought that this town was built in the 17th century

- (2) This town is thought to have been built in the 17th century.

4.      Doctors know that Mediterranean food is healthy.

- (1) It is known that Mediterranean food is healthy.

- (2) Mediterranean food is known to be healthy.

5.      People say that this sword belonged to King Arthur.

- (1) It is said that this sword belonged to King Arthur.

- (2) This sword is said to have belonged to King Arthur.

6.     They think that the flowers arrived from Holland.

- (1) It is thought that the flowers arrived from Holland.

- (2) The flowers are thought to have arrived from Holland.

7.      Scientists expect that the weather will change soon.

- (1) It Is expected that the weather will change soon.

- (2) The weather is expected to change soon.

8.     People suppose that Daniel eats spiders.

- (1) It is supposed that Daniel eats spiders.

- (2) Daniel is supposed to eat spiders.

9.     Anthropologists consider that the first human beings came from Africa.

- (1) It is considered that the first human beings came from Africa.

- (2) The first human beings are considered to come from Africa.

10.   The police thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing the wall.

- (1) It was thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing the wall.

- (2) The prisoner was thought to have escaped by climbing the wall.

1.       We asked the decorators to paint our house white.

We had/got our house painted white

2.      John’s car was repaired at the garage yesterday.

John had/got his car repaired at the garage yesterday

3.      Our computer is being fixed at the moment.

We are having/are getting our computer fixed at the moment.

4.      The manager will ask his secretary to prepare his documents.

The manager will have his documents prepared.

5.      My car is being repaired this afternoon.

I’m having/am getting my car repaired this afternoon.

6.     Their house is being decorated this week.

They are having/are getting their house decorated this week.

7.      My hair was cut at the hairdresser’s yesterday.

I had/got my hair cut at the hairdresser’s yesterday.

8.     They are going to develop our photographs.

We are going to have/get our photographs developed.

9.     A famous artist painted my grandmother’s portrait.

My grandmother had/got her portrait painted by a famous artist.

10.   They installed a new program on her computer.

She had/got a new program installed on her computer.

1.       You mustn’t leave the milk outside the fridge.

The milk mustn’t be left outside the fridge

2.      We have to translate this story into German.

This story has to be translated into German.

3.      We must pay for our tickets before Thursday.

Our tickets must be paid for before Thursday.

4.      You should inform John’s teacher immediately.

John’s teacher should be informed immediately.

5.      We ought to invite Susan to the party.

Susan ought to be invited to the party.

6.     Scientists can’t explain the origin of the universe.

The origin of the universe can’t be explained.

7.      We needn’t buy tickets for the concert in advance.

Tickets for the concert needn’t be bought in advance.

8.     You ought to hand in the homework now.

The homework ought to be handed in now.

1.       Someone might have prevented the fire.

The fire might have been prevented.

2.      A mouse could have eaten all the cheese.

All the cheese could have been eaten by a mouse.

3.      He should have taken the job, but he refused it.

The job should have been taken by him / The job shouldn't have been refused by him

4.      The bank may have loaned them the money.

The money may have been loaned to them by the bank

5.      Someone must have stolen my bag.

My bag must have been stolen

6.     They can’t have repaired the washing machine because it isn’t working.

The washing machine can't have been repaired because it isn't working.

7.      You should have handed in your homework a week ago, so your teacher is angry.

Your homework should have been handed in a week ago, so your teacher is angry.

8.   Someone must have left the milk out of the fridge overnight. That’s why the milk is sour.

The milk must have been left out of the fridge overnight, that's why the milk is sour.

9.     The traffic might have delayed the director and he is late for work.

The director might have been delayed by the traffic and he is late for work.

10.    It was Susan’s birthday last week. She ought to have invited her grandmother to her party.

It was Susan's birthday last week. Her grandmother ought to have been invited to her party.

1.       They are painting their house this week (being)

Their house is being painted this week.

2.      Did you take the car to the garage yesterday? (taken)

Was the car taken to the garage yesterday?

3.      The government should pass a law against pollution (passed)

A law against pollution should be passed.

4.      Everyone in our school knows her well (She)

She is well-known in our school.

5.      She didn’t tell anyone about the phone call (No one)

No one was told about the phone call.

6.     Do they clean the hotel rooms every day? (Are)

Are the hotel rooms cleaned every day?

7.      They put her in prison for life (She)

She was put in prison for life.

8.     We will call you when your turn comes (be)

You will be called when your turn comes.

9.     Did they invite you to the grand opening? (Were)

Were you invited to the grand opening?

10.   Nobody has ever seen a car like this before. (never)

A car like this has never been seen before.

1.       English is spoken here.

We speak English here.

2.      Your life will be changed by this book.

This book will change your life.

3.      My brother may be given the car for the first time tonight.

My parents may give my brother the car for the first time tonight.

4.      Their guests were shown some photographs of the trip.

They showed their guests some photographs of the trip.

5.      This room is going to be redecorated soon.

He is going to redecorate this room soon.

1.       A jeep picked up the soldiers from the base.

The soldiers were picked up from the base.

2.      The committee hushed up[1] the scandal.

The scandal was hushed up by the committee.

3.      Sheila turned down the offer of a company car.

The offer of a company car was turned down by Sheila.

4.      The police took the angry youth away.

The angry youth were taken away by the police.

5.      The speeding lorry ran over a cat.

A cat was ran over by the speeding lorry.

6.     The scientist showed us around the laboratory.

We were shown around the laboratory by the scientist.

1.       My suit needs cleaning.

My suit needs to be cleaned.

2.      These doors need painting.

These doors need to be painted.

3.      Don’t you think your room needs tidying?

Don’t you think your room needs to be tidied?