Look at all the dust in here! It looks as if this room hasn’t been cleaned for a month!

Let’s learn
the Passive!

The Passive is used:
1. When the agent (=the person who does the action) is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context.
This church was built in 1995. (unimportant agent)
He has been arrested. (obviously be the police)
Jane was called.
(we don’t know who called)

2. To make more polite or formal statements.
The Passive is used:
The car hasn’t been cleaned. (more polite)
You haven’t cleaned the car. (less polite)

3. When the action is more important than the agent, as in processes, instructions, events, reports, headlines, news items, and advertisements.
The Passive is used:
30 people were killed in the earthquake.
Taking pictures is not allowed.
(written notice)
Bread is baked in an oven for 45 minutes.
(process)

4. To put emphasis on the agent.
The Passive is used:
The new library will be opened by the Queen.
The Pyramids were built by the ancient Egyptians.

Past Simple
Present Simple
Future Simple
I drank tea.
Tea was drunk.
I drink tea.
Tea is drunk.
I will drink tea.
Tea will be drunk.
to be + V3
Simple

Past Continuous
I was drinking tea.
Tea was being drunk.
Tea is being drunk.
to be + being+ V3
Continuous
Present Continuous
Future Continuous
I am drinking tea.
I will be drinking tea.

Past Perfect
I had drunk tea.
Tea had been drunk.
Tea has been drunk.
to have + been+ V3
Perfect
Present Perfect
Future Perfect
I have drunk tea.
I will have drunk tea.
Tea will have been drunk.

Can
That painting can be seen in the Louvre.
Should
The work should be done on time.
Would
The tickets would be sold there if possible.
Might
It might be finished by next week.
Must
Employees must be paid on the last day of the month.
modal + be + V3
Modals

Infinitive / Present Infinitive
He has to deliver the letters.
They will have to repair the car.
The letters have to be delivered.
The car will have to be repaired.
Perfect Infinitive
They ought to have repaired the car.
The car ought to have been repaired.
Gerund
He likes people admiring his new car.
He likes his new car being admired.
He likes people serving his dinner.
He likes his dinner being served.
Perfect Gerund
Having repaired the car, …
The car, having been repaired, …
Having served dinner, …
Dinner, having been served, …

Complete the sentences, use Present Simple Passive.
Say
Call
Dress
Own
Feed
Keep
There is a chimpanzee which ………………… “Bubbles”. It ………………… by Michael Johnson.
It ………………… in his home. It ………………… every day by Michael Johnson himself.
It ……………… (always) in funny clothes. It ………………… that “Bubbles” is Michael Johnson’s only friend.
say/said/said
owned
feed/fed/fed
keep/kept/kept
is called
is owned
is kept
is fed
dressed
called
is always dressed
is said

Look at the Hotel Information table and write sentences as in the example.
Breakfast/serve – where and when?
Dinner/serve – where and when?
Newspapers / sell – where?
Telephone calls / can make – where?
Rooms / clean – who by and how often?
Hot water / supply – when?
Films / show – where and when?
Breakfast is served in Pierrot’s Restaurant between 7 and 9.30 am.
Dinner is served in Main Restaurant between 8 and 10 pm.
Newspapers are sold at the Reception Desk.
Telephone calls can be made at the Reception Desk.
Rooms are cleaned by maids daily.
Hot water is supplied 24 hours a day.
Films are shown in the hotel cinema every night at 10 pm.
scheme

Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple Passive.
Two men ……………………… (see) breaking into a house in my street last night. The police ……………………… (call) and they arrived very quickly. One man ………………………… (catch) immediately. The other escaped, but he ……………………… (find) very soon. Both men ………………………… (take) to the police station where they …………………………… (question) separately by a police officer. The two men ……………………… (charge) with burglary.
were seen
were called
were caught
was found
were taken
were questioned
were charged
Police is always plural.
(Police are/were/have and etc.)
scheme
see/saw/seen
called
find/found/found
take/took/taken
questioned
charged

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
FOOTBALLER OFFERED MILLION FOR TRANSFER
The footballer has been offered a million pounds for the transfer.
Present Perfect Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
NO CHILDREN ADMITTED INTO SPORTS CLUB
Children are not admitted into the Sports Club.
Present Simple Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
CHILDREN BEING BRAINWASHED BY TV
Children are being brainwashed by TV.
Present Continuous Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
PLANET BEING DESTROYED BY POLLUTION
Our planet is being destroyed by pollution.
Present Continuous Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
BOMB DISCOVERED IN OLD LADY’S GARDEN
A bomb has been discovered in an old lady’s garden.
Present Perfect Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
NO CAMERAS ALLOWED IN MUSEUM
No cameras are allowed in the museum.
Present Simple Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
ANIMALS BEING USED TO TEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Animals are being used to test beauty products.
Present Continuous Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
PICASSO PAINTINGS EXHIBITED NATIONAL GALLERY NEXT MONDAY
Picasso paintings will be exhibited at the National Gallery next Monday.
Future Simple Passive

Rewrite the newspaper headlines as complete sentences.
MICHAEL JACKSON ASKED TO SPONSOR CHARITY EVENT YESTERDAY
Michael Jackson was asked yesterday to sponsor a charity event.
Past Simple Passive

Fill in the correct passive form.
Mr Pryce was having his house done up. Write what he saw when he went to inspect the work.
1. The windows …………………………………… . (clean)
2. New curtains ……………………………… . (put up)
had been cleaned
were being put up
Past Perfect Passive
Past Continuous Passive
put/put/put

Fill in the correct passive form.
Mr Pryce was having his house done up. Write what he saw when he went to inspect the work.
3. The walls …………………………………… . (paint)
4. Light fittings ……………………………… . (still/install)
had been painted
were still being installed
Past Continuous Passive
Past Perfect Passive

Fill in the correct passive form.
Mr Pryce was having his house done up. Write what he saw when he went to inspect the work.
5. Some furniture …………………………. (deliver)
6. New carpets ………………………………… . (buy)
was being delivered
had been bought
Past Perfect Passive
buy/bought/bought
Past Continuous Passive