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EXERCISES for CHAPTER 12. THE PASSIVE VOICE

1. Change the following affirmative statements into questions. For example:
      You are required to attend the meeting.
      Are you required to attend the meeting?

      She is being ignored.
      Is she being ignored?

1. They should be notified.
2. He might have been allowed to come.
3. You had been told about it.
4. They will be needed.
5. It has been adjourned.
6. They were being prepared.
Answers

2. Change the following affirmative statements into negative statements. For example:
      They would have been instructed to join us.
      They would not have been instructed to join us.

      It was sent on time.
      It was not sent on time.

1. We could have been seen from the island.
2. It is being dealt with satisfactorily.
3. They were being kept under observation.
4. You will be held responsible.
5. They were expected at six o'clock.
6. He will be asked to participate.
Answers

3. Change the following affirmative statements into negative questions. Do not use contractions in this exercise. For example:
      He is respected by everyone.
      Is he not respected by everyone?

      She should be consulted.
      Should she not be consulted?

1. They were recognized immediately.
2. We were being assisted by volunteers.
3. It had been delivered.
4. They should have been guarded more carefully.
5. We will be given financial assistance.
6. It had been organized by the club members.
Answers

4. For each of the following sentences, first indicate the tense of the underlined verb, and then change the verb from the Active Voice to the corresponding tense in the Passive Voice. Take note of the resulting change in the meaning of the sentence. For example:
      They drive to work at seven o'clock every morning.
      Simple Present: They are driven to work at seven o'clock every morning.

      Did he notice?
      Simple Past: Was he noticed?

      She is not telling the truth.
      Present Continuous: he is not being told the truth.

      We have sent a message.
      Present Perfect: We have been sent a message.

      I will pay.
      Simple Future: I will be paid.

1. Do they expect to leave? _________________
2. He is giving instructions. __________________
3. They have moved to a new location. __________________
4. She will fly to London. _________________
5. He has offered a discount. __________________
6. They have stopped. __________________
7. Will you have given the order? _________________
8. We sent a favorable reply. __________________
9. We were teaching German. __________________
10. I understand. ___________________
11. He is offering free advice. _________________
12. She will rush to the reception. __________________
Answers

5. For each of the following sentences, first indicate the tense of the underlined verb, and then change the verb from the Passive Voice to the corresponding tense in the Active Voice. Take note of the resulting change in the meaning of the sentence. For example:
      We are paid regularly.
      Simple Present: We pay regularly.

      She is not assisted every day.
      Simple Present: She does not assist every day.

      Was he not being flown to Boston?
      Past Continuous: Was he not flying to Boston?

      It has been grown here for the past twenty years.
      Present Perfect: It has grown here for the past twenty years.

      Might they be called at nine o'clock?
      Simple conjugation with might: Might they call at nine o'clock?

1. We can be heard easily. _________________
2. She is being given advice. __________________
3. Were they not flown over the lake? ________________
4. I had been transferred to another department.
5. He is being stopped. __________________
6. We have been sent a letter. __________________
7. He is not being taught music theory. _________________
8. Should they have been flown to their next destination? ______________
9. They will be watched constantly. __________________
10. We had been driven to the beach this morning. __________________
11. Has he been checked into the hotel? ______________
12. Could I have been told the news yesterday? __________________
Answers

6. Change the underlined verbs in the following sentences from the Active Voice to the corresponding tenses in the Passive Voice. Preserve the meaning of the sentences by using the preposition by and making the necessary changes in word order. For example:
      The teenager rowed the boat.
      The boat was rowed by the teenager.

      The girl is riding the horse.
      The horse is being ridden by the girl.

      The student has prepared the lunch.
      The lunch has been prepared by the student.

      The president will thank the members.
      The members will be thanked by the president.

      The children can understand the poem.
      The poem can be understood by the children.

1. The woman founded the club.
2. This entry took the prize.
3. The girl is playing the guitar.
4. The mailman has delivered the letter.
5. The chauffeur can drive the car.
6. The child chose the hat.
7. The cat chased the mouse.
8. The workers will weave the carpet.
9. The stranger could have bought the hiking boots.
10. The dealer has sold the car.
11. The dog splashed the water.
12. The man has watered the garden.
Answers

7. Change the underlined verbs in the following sentences from the Passive Voice to the corresponding tenses in the Active Voice. Preserve the meaning of the sentences by omitting the preposition by and making the necessary changes in word order. For example:
      The news was heard by everyone.
      Everyone heard the news.

      The orders were followed by the officials.
      The officials followed the orders.

      The money is being counted by the cashier.
      The cashier is counting the money.

      The ducks have been fed by the tourists.
      The tourists have fed the ducks.

      The flowers will be photographed by the naturalist.
      The naturalist will photograph the flowers.

1. The bill was paid by the manager.
2. The bread was made by the baker.
3. The wiring must be checked by the electrician.
4. The crow was being scolded by the squirrel.
5. The book was written by a doctor.
6. The house was painted by a student.
7. The seeds were taken by the chickadee.
8. The cider has been drunk by the guest.
9. The mail is opened by the secretary.
10. The ingredients have been measured by the cooks.
11. The bird was seen by the photographers.
12. His work will be published by the magazine.
Answers

8. Complete the following sentences using the Simple Present Subjunctive of the Passive Voice of the verbs shown in brackets. For example:
      She ordered that the most important details _______ known. (to make)
      She ordered that the most important details be made known.

      He advises that the plane ________ at a high altitude. (to fly)
      He advises that the plane be flown at a high altitude.

1. They demand that the change of plans _____________ at nine o'clock. (to announce)
2. We ask that permission to compete ____________ to everyone. (to grant)
3. It is important that their accomplishments ____________. (to recognize)
4. It is crucial that we _____________ of any change. (to advise)
5. He asks that his affairs ____________ in order. (to put)
6. They requested that their qualifications ______________. (to accept)
7. We insist that he not _____________ his rights. (to deny)
8. It is necessary that the requirements _____________. (to meet)
9. She requests that the most experienced candidate ___________. (to choose)
10. It is recommended that care __________ in making the repairs. (to take)
11. He insists that smoking ______________. (to forbid)
12. It is essential that supplies _____________ well in advance. (to order)
Answers
 

ANSWERS for CHAPTER 12. THE PASSIVE VOICE

Answers to Exercise 1:
1. Should they be notified? 2. Might he have been allowed to leave? 3. Had you been told about it? 4. Will they be needed? 5. Has it been adjourned? 6. Were they being prepared?

Answers to Exercise 2:
1. We could not have been seen from the island. 2. It is not being dealt with satisfactorily. 3. They were not being kept under observation. 4. You will not be held responsible. 5. They were not expected at six o'clock. 6. He will not be asked to participate.

Answers to Exercise 3:
1. Were they not recognized immediately? 2. Were we not being assisted by volunteers? 3. Had it not been delivered? 4. Should they not have been guarded more carefully? 5. Will we not be given financial assistance? 6. Had it not been organized by the club members?

Answers to Exercise 4:
1. Simple Present: Are they expected to leave?
2. Present Continuous: He is being given instructions.
3. Present Perfect: They have been moved to a new location.
4. Simple Future: She will be flown to London.
5. Present Perfect: He has been offered a discount.
6. Present Perfect: They have been stopped.
7. Future Perfect: Will you have been given the order?
8. Simple Past: We were sent a favorable reply.
9. Past Continuous: We were being taught German.
10. Simple Present: I am understood.
11. Present Continuous: He is being offered free advice.
12. Simple Future: She will be rushed to the reception.

Answers to Exercise 5:
1. Simple conjugation with can: We can hear easily.
2. Present Continuous: She is giving advice.
3. Simple Past: Did they not fly over the lake?
4. Past Perfect: I had transferred to another department.
5. Present Continuous: He is stopping.
6. Present Perfect: We have sent a letter.
7. Present Continuous: He is not teaching music theory.
8. Perfect conjugation with should: Should they have flown to their next destination?
9. Simple Future: They will watch constantly.
10. Past Perfect: We had driven to the beach this morning.
11. Present Perfect: Has he checked into the hotel?
12. Perfect conjugation with could: Could I have told the news yesterday?

Answers to Exercise 6:
1. The club was founded by the woman. 2. The prize was taken by this entry. 3. The guitar is being played by the girl. 4. The letter has been delivered by the mailman. 5. The car can be driven by the chauffeur. 6. The hat was chosen by the child. 7. The mouse was chased by the cat. 8. The carpet will be woven by the workers. 9. The hiking boots could have been bought by the stranger. 10. The car has been sold by the dealer. 11. The water was splashed by the dog. 12. The garden has been watered by the man.

Answers to Exercise 7:
1. The manager paid the bill. 2. The baker made the bread. 3. The electrician must check the wiring. 4. The squirrel was scolding the crow. 5. A doctor wrote the book. 6. A student painted the house. 7. The chickadee took the seeds. 8. The guest has drunk the cider. 9. The secretary opens the mail. 10. The cooks have measured the ingredients. 11. The photographers saw the bird. 12. The magazine will publish his work.

Answers to Exercise 8:
1. be announced 2. be granted 3. be recognized 4. be advised 5. be put 6. be accepted 7. be denied 8. be met 9. be chosen 10. be taken 11. be forbidden 12. be ordered

 

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