Language at Work: Using the Passive U10

Language at Work: Using the Passive

U10 - Leadership

For the following sentences, write the passive forms that you can identify in each one of them.

Only write the verb group.

Open Ended

OK, you're all aware that a decision was taken at last week's strategy meeting that affects all of us.

Open Ended

It has been agreed that we are going to combine our e-banking systems into a...

Open Ended

We've been given a deadline of the 30th of September.

Open Ended

The switch over to the new system will be coordinated centrally and you'll be briefed about it well in advance.

Open Ended

It is proposed that we hold a series of seminars for team leaders...

Open Ended

It's been suggested that the regional centres should contribute a certain amount of the training costs, on the basis that this will be recouped in increased business later on...

Open Ended

I've been told that the costs need to be shared around.

Open Ended

Anyway, the decision has already been made.

Now, identify the tense of each passive voice sentence.

Multiple Choice

OK, you're all aware that a decision was taken at last week's strategy meeting that affects all of us.

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Multiple Choice

It has been agreed that we are going to combine our e-banking systems into a...

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Multiple Choice

We've been given a deadline of the 30th of September.

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Multiple Choice

The switch over to the new system will be coordinated centrally and you'll be briefed about it well in advance.

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Multiple Choice

It is proposed that we hold a series of seminars for team leaders...

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Multiple Select

It's been suggested that the regional centres should contribute a certain amount of the training costs, on the basis that this will be recouped in increased business later on...

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Multiple Select

I've been told that the costs need to be shared around.

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Multiple Choice

Anyway, the decision has already been made.

• present perfect passive

• future passive

• past simple passive

• present simple passive infinitive

• present simple passive

Why does the speaker use a passive form in each sentence?

Choose the correct options (there can be more than 1 for each sentence).

Multiple Select

OK, you're all aware that a decision was taken at last week's strategy meeting that affects all of us.

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Multiple Select

It has been agreed that we are going to combine our e-banking systems into a...

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Multiple Select

We've been given a deadline of the 30th of September.

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Multiple Select

The switch over to the new system will be coordinated centrally and you'll be briefed about it well in advance.

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Multiple Select

It is proposed that we hold a series of seminars for team leaders...

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Multiple Select

It's been suggested that the regional centres should contribute a certain amount of the training costs, on the basis that this will be recouped in increased business later on...

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Multiple Select

I've been told that the costs need to be shared around.

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Multiple Select

Anyway, the decision has already been made.

• because the speaker wants to be more formal

• because it's not important who is involved in the action

• because the speaker doesn't know who is involved in the action

• because the speaker wants to distance himself/herself from the action

Answer the following questions.

Choose the correct answer.

Multiple Choice

Which active sentence has an indirect object?

• My boss suggested that the costs are too high.

• It has been suggested that the costs are too high.

• My boss told me that the costs are too high.

• I've been told that the costs are too high.

Multiple Choice

What happens to this word (me) in the passive sentence?

Active: My boss told me that the costs are too high.

Passive: I've been told that the costs are too high.

• It disappears.

• Nothing.

• It becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

Multiple Choice

Is the following sentence possible?

I've been suggested that the costs need to be shared around.

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

I've been suggested that the costs need to be shared around.

Why is the previous sentence not possible?