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Unit 21 · Passive

is done was done (passive 1)

Study

A
›

The office is cleaned every day.

›

The office was cleaned yesterday.

Compare active and passive:

›

Somebody cleans the office every day.

(active)

›

The office is cleaned every day.

(passive)

›

Somebody cleaned the office yesterday.

(active)

›

The office was cleaned yesterday.

(passive)

B

The passive is:

present simple past simple past participle
am/is/are was/were cleaned
(not) done
invented
built
injured
taken etc.

The past participle of regular verbs is -ed (cleaned/damaged etc.). For a list of irregular past participles (done/built/taken etc.), see Appendix 2–3.

›

Butter is made from milk.

›

Oranges are imported into Britain.

›

How often are these rooms cleaned?

›

I am never invited to parties.

›

This house was built 100 years ago.

›

These houses were built 100 years ago.

›

When was the telephone invented?

›

We weren't invited to the party last week.

›

'Was anybody injured in the accident?' 'Yes, two people were taken to hospital.'

C

was/were born

›

I was born in Berlin in 1993.

(not I am born)

›

'Where were you born?' 'In Cairo.'

D

passive + by ...

›

The telephone was invented by Alexander Bell in 1876. (= Alexander Bell invented it)

›

I was bitten by a dog a few days ago.

›

Do you like these paintings? They were painted by a friend of mine.

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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21.1

Write sentences from these words. Some of the sentences are questions. Sentences 1–7 are present.

  1. 1
    (the office / clean / every day)
    The office is cleaned every day. example
  2. 2
    (how often / these rooms / clean?)
    How often are these rooms cleaned? example
  3. 3
    (glass / make / from sand)
    Glass
  4. 4
    (the windows / clean / every two weeks)
    The windows
  5. 5
    (this room / not / use / very much)
    This room
  6. 6
    (we / allow / to park here?)
  7. 7
    (how / this word / pronounce?)
  8. 8
    Sentences 8–15 are past.
  9. 9
    (the office / clean / yesterday)
    The office was cleaned yesterday. example
  10. 10
    (the house / paint / last month)
    The house
  11. 11
    (my phone / steal / a few days ago)
    My phone
  12. 12
    (three people / injure / in the accident)
    Three people
  13. 13
    (when / this bridge / build?)
  14. 14
    (I / not / wake up / by the noise)
    I
  15. 15
    (how / these windows / break?)
  16. 16
    (you / invite / to Jon's party last week?)
21.2

These sentences are not correct. Correct them.

  1. 1
    This house built 100 years ago. example
  2. 2
    Football plays in most countries of the world.
  3. 3
    Why did the letter send to the wrong address?
  4. 4
    A film studio is a place where films make.
  5. 5
    Where are you born?
  6. 6
    How many languages are speaking in Switzerland?
  7. 7
    Somebody broke into our house, but nothing stolen.
  8. 8
    When was invented the bicycle?
21.3

Complete the sentences. Use the passive (present or past) of these verbs:

cleandamagefindgiveinvitemakemakeshowstealtake
  1. 1
    The room is cleaned every day. example
  2. 2
    I saw an accident yesterday. Two people were taken to hospital. example
  3. 3
    Paper from wood.
  4. 4
    There was a fire at the hotel last week. Two of the rooms .
  5. 5
    'Where did you get this picture?' 'It to me by a friend of mine.'
  6. 6
    Many American programmes on British TV.
  7. 7
    'Did James and Sue go to the wedding?' 'No. They , but they didn't go.'
  8. 8
    'How old is this film?' 'It in 1985.'
  9. 9
    My car last week, but the next day it by the police.
21.4

Where were they born?

  1. 1
    (Ian / Edinburgh)
    Ian was born in Edinburgh. example
  2. 2
    (Sarah / Manchester)
    Sarah
  3. 3
    (her parents / Ireland)
    Her
  4. 4
    (you / ???)
    I
  5. 5
    (your mother / ???)
    My mother