PASSIVE VOICE - Key

I.Transform the given sentences so that their meaning stays the same. Use the words provided in
brakcets (do not change them!)

1.       Why didn’t you raise this question at the meeting? (been)

This question _should have been raised at the meeting_ at the meeting.

2.       The management have decided to postpone these activities outside working hours, recently.
(postponed)

These activities have been postponed outside_ working hours, recently.

3.       They took the company over. It really surprised us. (taken)

We _were really surprised_ to find that _the company had been taken over__.

4.       We couldn’t have dispatched the consignment this morning, because we had to attend to an
urgent complaint. (been)

The consignment _would have been dispatched __ this morning, but we had to attend to an urgent
complaint.

5.       Look at this document. They are going to lower withholding rates next year. (be)

Look at this document. Withholding _rates are going to be lowered_ next year.


II.Change the following sentences from the active to the passive form.
1. The Government has promised us to relax regulatory restrictions.
a) We that regulatory restrictions will be relaxed.
b) The of regulatory restrictions
to us.
2. Fill in this application and the bank will lend you the amount you need.
a) The to you when you fill in this application.
b) the amount you need when you fill in this application.
3. They sent our team their feedback on our policies and procedures.
a) their feedback on our policies and procedures.
b) to our team.
4. I should give you the itinerary for the Managing Director's trip to Spain.
a) the itinerary for the Managing Director's trip to Spain.
b) to you.
5. Our company offers the registered customers high quality vitamins and supplements on-line.
a) high quality vitamins and supplements on-line.
b) to the registered customers on-line.


III.Write sentences from the prompts below.  Use active / passive present simple or present perfect
forms. Use the preposition BY if necessary.
1. Consumers / must / protect / against fraud.
2. The student in the USA / pay for / university studies unless the student has / give / a
scholarship.
3. The feasibility study / show / that our services / can customize / for the foreign market.
4. This kind of action / usually / decide / our senior management.
5. Value added tax / just / raise / to 20%.
6. The Head office of IMI / base / in Birmingham.
7. As for power distance, in the US and UK subordinates expect / to consult / and to share
decisions with their managers  but in Saudi Arabia subordinates / expect / take / full
responsibility for their actions. 8. Meetings should / not / see / as a destination, but rather as
a vehicle for reaching strategic objectives.
9. The majority of meetings could / easily / replace / by a memo or a phone call.
10. Prevention and appraisal costs / must / minimize.

Prevention and appraisal costs must be minimized.

IV.Make sentences using HAVE or GET so that you express that someone does the work for somebody
else. Use the same tense as in the sentences given.

1. (formal expression) Someone checks my database backup system bi-annually. I

2. (formal expression) When will someone check the figures for you?
When will you have the figueres checked?

3. (formal expression) Someone should fix the video recorder.
I It is high time to call the servicing staff.
4. (informal expression)Someone is rebuilding their premises.
They

5. (formal expression) Has someone replaced the laser printer?
Have

6. (informal expression) Someone is going to install the new software on my PC.
I

7. (formal expression) Someone must customize cars for the disabled.
The their cars

8. (informal expression)Why don't you ask somebody to evaluate your house?
Why

9. (formal expression) I will tell them to fax the contract through to you.
I

10. (informal expression) Someone carried the baggage for me into my hotel room.
I

V. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence using the
PASSIVE + TO DO, PASSIVE + TO BE DOING, or PASSIVE + TO HAVE DONE.
1. Everybody believes she is on a large list of racist supporters.
She on a large list of racist supporters.
2. In certain political quarters, people assume that Asian Americans are aiding US expansionist
efforts in Asia at present.
In certain political quarters, some US expansionist efforts in Asia at present.
3. What we all think is that our company executives were corrupt in the past.
Our company executives in the past.
4. We know that professional speculators are market gamblers.
market gamblers.