English Grammar Exercises: Passive 2

Exercise 1 

What do these words mean? Use it can … or it can't …. Use a dictionary if necessary.

If something is

1washable , ________ 

2unbreakable , it ________ 

3edible , ________ 

4unusable , ________

5invisible , ________

6portable , ________

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1)

1   it can be washed

2   it can't be broken

3   it can be eaten

4   it can't be used

5   it can't be seen

6   it can be carried

Exercise 2 

Complete these sentences with the following verbs (in the correct form):

arrest    carry    cause    make    repair    send    spend    wake up

Sometimes you need have (might haveshould have etc.).

1) The situation is serious. Something must ________ Before it’s too late.

2) I should have received the letter by now. It might ________ to the wrong address.

3) A decision will not ________ until the next meeting.

4) Do you think that more money should ________ on education?

5) This road is in very bad condition. It should ________ a long time ago.

6) The injured man couldn't walk and had to ________

7) I told the hotel receptionist I wanted to ________ at 6.30 the next morning.

8) If you hadn't pushed the policeman, you wouldn't ________

9) it's not certain how the fire started, but it might ________ by an electrical fault.

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2)

1   be done

2   have been sent

3   be made

4   be spent

5   have been repaired

6   be carried

7   be woken up

8   have been arrested

9   have been caused

Exercise 3 

Rewrite these sentences. Instead of using somebody or they etc., write a passive sentence.

1) Somebody has cleaned the room.

     ________

2) Somebody is using the computer right now.

     The computer ________

3) I didn't realise that somebody was recording our conversation.

     I didn't realise that ________

4) When we got to the stadium, we found that they had cancelled the game.

     When we got to the stadium, we found that ________

5) They are building a new ring road round the city.

     ________

6) They have built a new hospital near the airport.

     ________

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3)

1   The room has been cleaned.

2   The computer is being used at the moment.

3   I didn't realise that our conversation was being recorded.

4   … we found that the game had been cancelled.

5   A new ring road is being built round the city.

6   A new hospital has been built near the airport.

Exercise 4 

Make sentences from the words in brackets. Sometimes the verb is active, sometimes passive.

1) There's somebody behind us. (I think / we / follow) ________

2) This room looks different. (you / paint / the walls?) ________

3) car has disappeared. (it / steal!) It ________

4) umbrella has disappeared. (somebody / take) Somebody ________

5) Sam gets a higher salary now. (he / promote) He ________

6) Ann can't use her office this week. (it / redecorate) It ________

7) There was a problem with the photocopier yesterday, but now it's OK.

     (it / work) It ________ again. (it / repair) It ________

8) When I went into the room, I saw that the table and chairs were not in the same place. (the furniture / move) The ________

9) A neighbour of mine disappeared six months ago. (he / not / see / since then)

     He ________

10) I wonder how Jane is these days. (I / not / see / for ages)

       I ________

11) A friend of mine was mugged on his way home a few nights ago. (you / ever / mug?)

       ________

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4)

1   I think we’re being followed.

2   Have you painted the walls?

3   it's been stolen! / It has been stolen!

4   Somebody has taken it. or … taken umbrella.

5   He's been promoted. I He has been promoted.

6   it's being redecorated. / It is being redecorated.

7   it's working again. / It is working again.

    it's been repaired. / it has been repaired.

8   The furniture had been moved.

9   He hasn't been seen since then.

10   I haven't seen her for ages.

11   Have you ever been mugged?

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