The Passive Voice B1/B2

What does NOT usually change when we transform a sentence from active to passive voice?

• the subject

• the main verb

• the tense

• the length of the sentence

What is the "agent" in passive voice?

• the person or thing that does the action

• the person or thing that receives the action

• the person or thing that is always omitted

• the person or thing that determines the tense

Why might we choose to omit the agent in a passive sentence? Choose all that apply:

• change of focus

• unknown agent

• obvious agent

• avoid responsibility

ACTIVE: The police arrested the woman last night.

PASSIVE: The woman was arrested last night.

Why have we omitted the agent?

• change of focus

• unknown agent

• obvious agent

• avoid responsibility

ACTIVE: "I made a mistake," admitted the politician.

PASSIVE: "A mistake was made," admitted the politician.

Why have they omitted the agent?

• change of focus

• unknown agent

• obvious agent

• avoid responsibility

Rewrite this sentence in the passive voice:

The Government is planning a new road near my house.

• A new road is being planned near my house.

• A new road is being planning near my house

• A new road is planning a government near my house.

• A new road was planned near my house.

Rewrite this sentence in the passive voice:

My grandfather built this house in 1943.

• This house was built in 1943.

• This house was building in 1943.

• This house was being built in 1943.

• This house was builded in 1943.

Rewrite this sentence in the passive voice:

Picasso was painting Guernica at that time.

• Guernica was being painted at that time.

• Guernica was been painted at that time.

• Guernica was painting at that time.

• Guernica was painted at that time.

Rewrite this sentence in the passive voice:

The cleaner has cleaned the office.

• The office has been cleaned.

• The office has cleaned.

• The office has been being cleaned.

• The office has been cleaning.

Rewrite this sentence in the passive voice:

By this time tomorrow we will have signed the deal.

• By this time tomorrow the deal will be signed.

• By this time tomorrow the deal will have been signed.

• By this time tomorrow we will be signed.

• By this time tomorrow we will have been signed.