Passive

TO BE (WAS, WERE) + PAST PARTICIPLE

		The book	was	given	to Peter	yester- day
		The book	was not	given	to Peter	yester- day
		The book	was not	given	to Peter	yester- day,	was it?
		What	was	given	to Peter	yester- day
	Was	the book		given	to Peter	yester- day?
Whom	was	the book		given	to?
When	was	the book		given	to Peter?

Exercise 1. Read the following sentences. Pay attention to the use of the Past Simple Passive. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. I was offered an interesting job yesterday. 2. His car was not fixed in time, so he couldn’t go to the city. 3. Rome wasn’t built in a day. 4. Our car was stopped because we were driving too fast. 5. He couldn’t get into the house as the door was locked. 6. Was everything done in time? 7. Why weren’t the letters signed yesterday? 8. I was given two hours to make a decision. 9. This house was not built a very long time ago. 10. Were you introduced to the Head of the Department at the meeting? 11. The dictation was written without mistakes. 12. Everything was arranged in good time.

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions.

Model: - I think Mary baked the cakes, didn’t she?

- Yes, the cakes were baked by Mary.

1. Betty cleaned the flat, didn’t she? 2. Roger sent the parcel, didn’t he? 3. I think Lucy typed the article, didn’t she? 4. I think Steve photo-copied the papers, didn’t he? 5. I think Susan learnt the poem by heart, didn’t she? 6. John gave Mary a ring, didn’t he? 7. Mrs Robinson lost her key to the office yesterday, didn’t she? 8. The secretary locked the documents in the safe, didn’t she? 9. The manager dictated two letters before lunch, didn’t he? 10. The waiter brought the menu at once, didn’t he? 11. I think Donald caught that big fish, didn’t he? 12. Last year many tourists visited our town, didn’t they? 13. Mr Rock translated this article, didn’t he? 14. Ch. Dickens wrote this novel, didn’t he? 15. The Sales Manager took the delegation round the factory, didn’t he? 16. John parked the car in the wrong place, didn’t he?

Exercise 3. Respond to the following.

Model: - They didn’t ask me any questions. And Jack?

- Jack wasn’t asked any questions either.

1. They didn’t promise him help. And Robert? 2. They didn’t give Dick a visa. And Aleck? 3. They didn’t invite Mike to the picnic. And Roger? 4. She didn’t inform me about her arrival. And you? 5. They didn’t tell me the news. And you? 6. He didn’t allow me to use his dictionary. And Alice? 7. They didn’t promise me a good salary. And Helen? 8. The police didn’t catch the man. And the woman? 9. The thief didn’t steal the TV-set. And the tape-recorder? 10. The postman didn’t deliver the letter. And the parcel? 11. The secretary didn’t send the telegram. And the fax? 12. The mechanic didn’t check the oil level. And the brakes? 13. The fire didn’t destroy the cottage. And the car? 14. They didn’t speak Japanese at the conference. And Chinese? 15. The Manager didn’t sign the document. And the contract? 16. The company didn’t advertise washing-machines last year. And microwave ovens?

Exercise 4. Express your surprise at hearing the following statements.

Model: - Lions attacked the travellers.

- Were the travellers really attacked by lions?

1. The fire destroyed many valuable paintings. 2. A car ran over our dog. 3. George wrote this poem. 4. The company paid him a big Christmas bonus. 5. Robert changed the tyre in ten minutes. 6. Helen called John a fool. 7. The boss promised my wife a pay rise. 8. The police found a dead man in the house. 9. The parties signed the contract at once. 10. Mr Johnson left his daughter all his money. 11. They held the meeting of the Board of Directors in the theatre. 12. Mrs Fleming gave her son a car for his birthday. 13. The Custom officer asked the man to open all his suit-cases. 14. An ambulance took the sick man to hospital. 15. Bill introduced me to his sister after all. 16. The boss sacked his secretary because she was inefficient.

Exercise 5. Make the following sentences a) negative and b)interrogative.

Model: This order was placed ten days ago.

a) This order was not placed ten days ago.

b) Was this order placed ten days ago.

1. The man was taken at once into the Manager’s office. 2. The second course was followed by fruit salad. 3. We were shown around the building. 4. I was punished for being late for work. 5. The stranger was requested to leave the meeting. 6. They were promised higher wages. 7. All the papers were lost. 8. A reception was held in his honour. 9. The report was delivered in English. 10. He was offered the post of Sales manager. 11. I was taught music and singing at school. 12. My homework was regularly checked by my father. 13. All the letters were thrown into the fire. 14. The Board meeting was held yesterday. 15. The world’s first underground railway was opened in London. 16. The park gates were locked at 6.30 p.m. yesterday.

Exercise 6. Ask special questions. Begin with the given interrogative word.

Model: He wasn’t recommended to that post.(why)

Why wasn’t he recommended to that post?

1. Charlie wasn’t sent abroad.(who) 2. Their documents were not typed in time.(whose) 3. The meeting was held in the new business centre. (where) 4. The passengers were not invited on board the plane for a long time. (who) 5. The visitors were taken round the Institute.(who) 6. He was given a good mark at the English exam. (what mark) 7. She was paid $800 last month. (how much) 8. John was taught German at school.(what language) 9. The text was translated by Henry.(by whom) 10. All the documents were photo-copied after lunch.(when) 11. The newspaper was delivered early in the morning. (when) 12. The tickets were books two weeks ago. (what) 13. His dictionary was found in the corridor.(whose) 14. His things were packed in a small suit-case.(where) 15. The girl was presented with roses on her birthday.(who) 16. The carriage was filled with people.(what) 17. The picture was spoilt by fire.(how) 18. He was educated at Oxford.(where) 19. I wasn’t told about your decision to change the job.(why) 20. The guests were shown all the places of interest in the city. (what)

Exercise 7. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple Passive.

1. The telegram (send) at five o’clock yesterday. 2. When this road (make)? 3. She always felt uncomfortable when she (look). 4. All his documents (lose) during the war. 5. Many towns (destroy) by the earthquake in Japan last year. 6. The helicopter (construct) in Russia. 7. He (throw) out of class for cheating. 8. The petrol tank (fill) last week. 9. His brother (fine) for exceeding speed limit yesterday. 10. The old man (look) by his younger daughter. 11. The baby (feed) an hour ago. 12. This fact (not to mention) in his last report. 13. She (teach) music in her childhood. 14. The windows (break) by the strong wind. 15. The children (tell) to go to bed at once. 16. He (ask) this question at the examination. He (give) an excellent mark for his answer. 17. As soon as the fire broke out the fire brigade (send). 18. They say golf (be born) in Denmark. 19. The sportsmen (give) instructions before the match. 20. Ask the librarian about the new books which (receive) last week. You (give) all the necessary information.

Exercise 8. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple Passive.

1. This purse (leave) in the classroom yesterday. It (find) by the cleaner. 2. I (ask) at the lesson yesterday. 3. These trees (plant) last autumn. 4. We (invite) to a concert last Saturday. 5. Many houses (burn) during the Great Fire of London. 6. St. Petersburg (found) in 1703. 7. These earrings (wear) by the famous actress. They (give) to the museum by her daughter. 8. In 1921 Ireland (divide)into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 9. The bank robber didn’t get far. He (catch) near London last night. 10. He (save) from bankruptcy by a very rich friend. 11. The man (send) to prison for six months. 12. This house is very old. It (build) over 100 years ago.

13. The problem (solve) only yesterday. 14. When Nick fell ill, he (put) in a hospital. 15. The sound of a violin (hear) in the hall and we stopped to listen. 16. When the telegram (receive)? 17. The visitor (look) with great interest. 18. Luckily, my car (park) some distance from the front door, so I didn’t get very wet in the rain. 19. The whole story much (laugh). 20. 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.

Exercise 9. Turn from active into passive.

1. The policeman fined the driver for exceeding the speed limit. 2. A light wall surrounded the garden. 3. The earthquake ruined several big cities. 4. They set up their joined venture a long time ago, didn’t they? 5. The guests ate all the sandwiches and drank all the beer. They left nothing. 6. Why did no one inform me of the change of plan? 7. She didn’t introduce me to her mother. 8. They took him for a Frenchman, his French was so good. 9. They didn’t look after the children properly. 10. They handed round coffee and biscuits. 11. He published his new book last year. 12. Somebody switched on the light and opened the door. 13. Who wrote this novel? 14. Many students attended this lecture. 15. The bank manager turned down his request for a loan. 16. The film disappointed us very much.

Exercise 10. Turn the following sentences from active into passive. Give two passive constructions. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Model: They showed us the way to the station.