answer key activity a 1 said 2 will collect 3 should obey 4 has destroyed 5 is suggesting 6 was pulling 7 had driven activity b 1 a falling brick hit tina 2 my mother taught me the principles of good

Change the verb from passive form to active form by crossing out verb (be) and putting the main verb in the same tense as verb (be).. Tom dropped ………….[r]

How to turn a passive verb into active verb:

Passive Verb = Verb (be) + past participle (main verb)

So to change a passive verb to an active verb, cross out

verb (be) and put the main verb in the same tense of that

of verb (be)

Examples:

was written (passive)  wrote (active)

‘was” (form of verb ‘be’) is crossed out

‘was’ is the past form of verb (be), this means that

‘written’ should be changed to ‘wrote’ (past form) of the

verb ‘write’

had been eaten (passive)  had eaten (active)

‘been’ (form of verb be) is crossed out

‘had been’ (past perfect)  ‘eaten’ should be changed to

‘had eaten’ (past perfect of ‘eat’)

Forms of verb “Be”:

(present) = am, is , are (past) = was, were (present participle) = being (past participle) = been

The past participle of a verb is:

verb + ed (regular verbs):

paint  painted

3rd column in the list of irregular

verbs: break  broken

Name: ………

Date: ………

 A verb is said to be in the active voice when the subject

does the action

 A verb is said to be in the passive voice when the

sentence shows what is done to the subject

A Change the underlined passive verbs into active.

1 These words are said by Sue Sue said these words

2 Our papers will be collected by the teacher tomorrow

The teacher ……… our papers tomorrow

3 The speed limit should be obeyed by all drivers

All drivers ……… the speed limit

4 The small village has been destroyed by the hurricane The hurricane ……… the small village

5 A new idea is being suggested

by Charley

Charley ……… a new idea

6 The farmer’s wagon was being pulled by two horses

Two horses ……… the farmer’s wagon

7 The enemies had been driven away by our soldiers

Our soldiers ……… the enemies away

Changing Passive Voice into Active Voice:

Take this sentence as an example:

The cup was dropped on the floor by Tom.

1 Find the agent in the passive sentence and put it at the

beginning of the active sentence (as a subject)

Tom ………

2 Change the verb from passive form to active form by

crossing out verb (be) and putting the main verb in the

same tense as verb (be)

Tom dropped …………

3 Make the subject of the passive sentence the object of

the active one

Tom dropped the cup …………

4 Complete the rest of the sentence

Tom dropped the cup on the floor

The verb should agree in number with the subject.

B Change the following sentences from passive into active:

1 Tina was hit with a falling brick 

C Change to the opposite voice (active to passive or passive to active).

1 Earthquakes kill hundreds of people

2 This party was organized by Danny 

3 This museum was built many years ago 

4 The company offered Sally a good job 

5 Salma needs to fax the letters now 

6 People should not waste energy at all 

7 Sam was putting the tins and cans in the

8 The kidnappers are being followed by the

9 Bad weather had delayed the flight 

10 My room at the hotel was being cleaned

11 My car has been stolen from the garage 

12 Governments must take action against

Name: ……… Date: ………

Changing Passive Voice into Active Voice:

Take this sentence as an example:

subjectverbcomplimentagentThe cupwas dropped on the

floorby Tom.Find the agent in the passive sentence and

put it at the beginning of the active sentence (as a

subject)

Tom ………

Change the verb from passive form to active form by

crossing out verb (be) and putting the main verb in the

same tense as verb (be)

Tom dropped …………

Make the subject of the passive sentence the object of

the active one

Tom dropped the cup …………

Complete the rest of the sentence

Tom dropped the cup on the floor

The verb should agree in number with the subject.

How to turn a passive verb into active verb:

Passive Verb = Verb (be) + past participle (main verb)

So to change a passive verb to an active verb, cross out

verb (be) and put the main verb in the same tense of that

of verb (be)

Examples:

was written (passive)  wrote (active)

‘was” (form of verb ‘be’) is crossed out

‘was’ is the past form of verb (be), this means that

‘written’ should be changed to ‘wrote’ (past form) of the

verb ‘write’

had been eaten (passive)  had eaten (active)

‘been’ (form of verb be) is crossed out

‘had been’ (past perfect)  ‘eaten’ should be changed to

‘had eaten’ (past perfect of ‘eat’)

Forms of verb “Be”:

(present) = am, is , are (past) = was, were (present participle) = being (past participle) = been

The past participle of a verb is:

verb + ed (regular verbs):

paint  painted

3rd column in the list of irregular

verbs: break  broken

 A verb is said to be in the active voice when the subject

does the action

 A verb is said to be in the passive voice when the

sentence shows what is done to the subject

B Change the underlined passive verbs into active.

8 These words are said by Sue Sue said these words

9 Our papers will be collected by the teacher tomorrow

The teacher ……… our papers tomorrow

10 The speed limit should be obeyed by all drivers

All drivers ……… the speed limit

11.The small village has been destroyed by the hurricane The hurricane ……… the small village

12 A new idea is being suggested

by Charley

Charley ……… a new idea

13 The farmer’s wagon was being pulled by two horses

Two horses ……… the farmer’s wagon

14 The enemies had been driven away by our soldiers

Our soldiers ……… the enemies away

C Change the following sentences from passive into active:

13 Tina was hit with a falling brick 

14 I was taught by my mother the principles

Answer key:

Activity A:

D Change to the opposite voice (active to passive or passive to active).

13 Earthquakes kill hundreds of people

14 This party was organized by Danny 

15 This museum was built many years ago 

16 The company offered Sally a good job 

17 Salma needs to fax the letters now 

18 People should not waste energy at all 

19 Sam was putting the tins and cans in the

20 The kidnappers are being followed by the

21 Bad weather had delayed the flight 

22 My room at the hotel was being cleaned

23 My car has been stolen from the garage 

24 Governments must take action against

1 said 2 will collect 3 should obey 4 has destroyed

5 is suggesting 6 was pulling 7 had driven

Activity B:

1 A falling brick hit Tina

2 My mother taught me the principles of good conduct

3 The mayor will open the library

4 The police should arrest the burglars

5 Did your father teach you to drive?

6 Most drivers don’t obey the speed limit on highways

7 The plumber has fixed the leaking pipe

8 The weird scientist created a horrible monster

9 Has the company accepted the plans for the new project?

10 Many friends always send Suzie lots of emails

11.Lucy is playing the guitar now

12 The guests in the party let the cat loose

Activity C:

1 Hundreds of people are killed by earthquakes each year (active to passive)

2 Danny organized this party (passive to active)

3 They built this museum many years ago (passive to active)

4 Sally was offered a good job by the company (active to passive)

5 The letters need to be faxed by Salma now (active to passive)

6 Energy shouldn’t be wasted at all (active to passive)

7 The tins and cans were being put (by Sam) in the recycle container

8 The police are following the kidnappers at this moment (passive to active)

9 The flight had been delayed by bad weather (active to passive)

10 They (the maids) were cleaning my room in the hotel when I arrived (passive to active)

11 Someone has stolen my car from the garage (passive to active)

12 Action must be taken against crime (active to passive)