Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 21 · A2

is done, was done (passive 1)

Build the passive from am, is, are, was or were plus a past participle: the bins are emptied every week, the bins were emptied on Monday. Say I was born, and add by to name whoever did the action.

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 31 minutes

In this lesson

Active and passiveA1 screen of questions
am, is, are, was, were + past participleB7 screens of questions
was born, were bornC1 screen of questions
Passive + byD1 screen of questions

Point A of 4

Active and passive

Somebody cleans the office every day. That is active.

The office is cleaned every day. That is passive: the office is the subject, and who cleans it does not matter.

Active Passive
Somebody cleans the office every day. The office is cleaned every day.
Somebody cleaned the office yesterday. The office was cleaned yesterday.
  • The office is cleaned every day.
  • The office was cleaned yesterday.

Point A · Extra practice

Put the verb into the passive: is/are or was/were + past participle.

  1. The bins every Tuesday. (empty)

  2. This bridge in 1890. (build)

  3. The windows last week. (clean)

Point B of 4

am, is, are, was, were + past participle

Present simple Past simple
am, is, are (not) + cleaned, done, made was, were (not) + cleaned, built, invented

The past participle of regular verbs ends in -ed. For irregular ones (done, built, taken), see Appendices 2 and 3.

  • Cheese is made from milk.
  • Bananas are imported into Britain.
  • How often are these rooms cleaned?
  • I'm never invited to parties.
  • This house was built a hundred years ago.
  • These houses were built a hundred years ago.
  • When was the telephone invented?
  • We weren't invited to the barbecue last week.
  • "Was anyone injured in the fire?" "Yes, three people were treated in hospital."

Point B · Exercise 21.1 · part 1 of 3

Write sentences from the words in brackets. Sentences 1 to 7 are present; 8 to 15 are past.

  1. Example

    (the office / clean / every day)

    The office is cleaned every day.

    AnswerThe office is cleaned every day.

  2. Example

    (these rooms / clean / every day?)

    Are these rooms cleaned every day?

    AnswerAre these rooms cleaned every day?

  3. Example

    (the office / clean / yesterday)

    The office was cleaned yesterday.

    AnswerThe office was cleaned yesterday.

  4. (glass / make / from sand)

  5. (stamps / sell / in a post office)

  6. (this room / not / use / very often)

  7. (we / allow / to park here?)

Point B · Exercise 21.1 · part 2 of 3

Write sentences from the words in brackets. Sentences 1 to 7 are present; 8 to 15 are past.

  1. (how / this word / pronounce?)

  2. (the house / paint / last month)

  3. (three people / injure / in the crash)

  4. (my bike / steal / a few days ago)

Point B · Exercise 21.1 · part 3 of 3

Write sentences from the words in brackets. Sentences 1 to 7 are present; 8 to 15 are past.

  1. (when / this bridge / build?)

  2. (you / ask / to the meeting yesterday?)

  3. (how / these windows / break?)

  4. (we / not / tell / about the change)

Point B · Exercise 21.2 · part 1 of 2

Correct these sentences.

  1. Example

    This house built a hundred years ago.

    This house was built a hundred years ago.

    AnswerThis house was built a hundred years ago.

  2. Cricket plays in a lot of countries.

  3. Why did the parcel send to the wrong address?

  4. A bakery is somewhere bread bakes and sells.

  5. Where are you born?

Point B · Exercise 21.2 · part 2 of 2

Correct these sentences.

  1. What currency is using in Denmark?

  2. Thieves got into the shed, but luckily nothing taken.

  3. When was invented the bicycle?

Point B · Exercise 21.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with the passive (present or past) of these verbs: clean, damage, find, give, invite, make, make, show, steal, take.

Use these

cleandamagefindgiveinvitemakemakeshowstealtake

  1. Example

    The room is cleaned every day.

    AnswerThe room is cleaned every day.

  2. There was a crash on the motorway. Three drivers to hospital.

  3. Paper from wood.

  4. The school flooded on Tuesday. Four classrooms .

  5. "Where did you get this painting?" "It to me by a friend."

Point B · Exercise 21.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with the passive (present or past) of these verbs: clean, damage, find, give, invite, make, make, show, steal, take.

Use these

cleandamagefindgiveinvitemakemakeshowstealtake

  1. Lots of American programmes on British television.

  2. "Did your neighbours come to the barbecue?" "No. They , but they were away."

  3. "How old is this film?" "It in 1965."

  4. Our bikes from the shed on Friday, but on Sunday they in a park.

Point C of 4

was born, were born

We say I was born, not I am born.

  • I was born in Sheffield in 1992. (not I am born)
  • Where were you born?

Point C · Exercise 21.4

Where were they born? Write sentences.

  1. Example

    (Ian / Edinburgh)

    Ian was born in Edinburgh.

    AnswerIan was born in Edinburgh.

  2. (Sally / Birmingham)

  3. (her parents / Ireland)

  4. (Rhys / Swansea)

  5. (my grandparents / Jamaica)

Point D of 4

Passive + by

Use by to say who or what did it.

  • We were kept awake by the neighbours' party. (the party kept us awake)
  • The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
  • My sister was stung by a wasp on Sunday.

Point D · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with the word that says who or what did it.

  1. This picture was painted my grandad.

  2. We were woken up the dog next door.

  3. The match was won a goal in the last minute.

Lesson 21 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: is being done, has been done (passive 2)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Active and passive–Not checkedB. am, is, are, was, were + past participle–Not checkedC. was born, were born–Not checkedD. Passive + by–Not checked