Passive Verb Tenses
All sorts of things (leave) ________ in buses every day.
are left
We will not admit children under sixteen.
Children under sixteen will not be admitted.
Has someone posted my parcel?
Has my parcel been posted?
Use the passive voice if you don’t know who performed the action described in the sentence.
Correct
Oranges have been grown here for centuries.
People have grown oranges here for centuries.
All the sandwiches (eat) __________ at the party last night.
were eaten
People steal things from supermarkets every day.
Things are stolen from supermarkets every day.
When did they book the hotel rooms?
When were the hotel rooms booked?
Use the passive voice if you want to put the receiver of the action in the spotlight.
Correct
The fire had been put out successfully by midnight. (hint: who helps us to put out the fire?)
Firefighters had put out the fire successfully by midnight.
Her luggage is still in the hotel room but her bed (not use) _____________ for days.
has not been used
Nobody has used this room for ages.
This room has not been used for ages.
Do they import these oranges from Spain?
Are these oranges imported from Spain?
Use passive if the receiver of the action is not a passive recipient of the action.
Incorrect – only if the receiver is a passive recipient
We are being followed. (Hints: use indefinite pronouns)
Someone is following us.
As soon as I got into my car, I noticed that the radio (remove) ________.
had been removed
The police shouldn’t allow people to park there.
People shouldn’t be allowed to park there.
Are they demolishing the entire block?
Is the entire block being demolished?
If we use the causative form (subject + have/get + object + P.P) when we arrange for someone to do for us
Correct
This could be done much more easily by a machine.
A machine could do this much more easily.
If you can't see properly, you should________(your eyes/test). (hint: causative form: have/get + object + P.P)
get/have your eyes tested
You should have taken those books back to the library.
Those books should have been taken back to the library.
Why did no one inform me of the change of plan?
Why wasn’t I informed of the change of plan?
The following sentence could be put into passive voice: The apple fell from the tree.
Incorrect - The verb “fall” is an intransitive verb (a verb without object followed behind)
Have you ever been punished before?
Has anyone ever punished you before?