Lesson 13 - The City
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This page: Learn how to use the passive voice in English.

The product was made in a factory.
 

The Passive Voice in English
Grammar

We use the passive voice to emphasize the action instead of who performed it. The passive voice is formed with a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle. The verb "to be" must be in the same tense as the sentence (present, past, etc.).

• Present - The car is made in the United States.
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• Past - The car was made in the United States.
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• Present Perfect - The car has been made in the United States.
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• Future - The car will be made in the United States.

Note: If you mention who performed the action, you must use the preposition "by".

• The car is made in the United States by Ford.

 

Exercise - The Passive Voice

Select the correct verb to form the passive voice.

1. Houses   is are made of wood.
     

2. The debate   was were viewed by millions of people.
     

3. The census   has been have been completed.
     

4. The theater   was were built in 1943.
     

5. The newspaper   is are read by thousands of people in the city.
     

6. Letters   was were sent to all of the employees.
     

7. Thousands of products   has been have been sold.
     

8. That horse   has been have been ridden by many people.
     

 

Exercise - Sentences in the passive voice

Change the active sentences to passive sentences. Review the irregular participles HERE.

example
The children ate the cookies.

 

1. The citizens sang the national anthem.

 

2. The teacher read a story.

 

3. Professor Johnson teaches the class.

 

4. The custodian will sweep the floor.

 

5. Mark has finished the report.

 

6. The mechanic fixed the car.

 

7. John will write the book.

 

8. The Eagles have won the championship.

 

 

Instructions Identify the error in the following sentences and write the corrected version. example He are a teacher. → He is a teacher.  1. The products was made by the company.   2. The project will been finished in three years.   3. The house has be cleaned.   4. The computer is make by Apple.   5.  By the girls the cookies were made.

 

Writing

Write four sentences in the passive voice in English.

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Listening Exercise

 

Advanced English - Lesson 13 - The City
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