Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 42 · B1

Passive 1 (is done / was done)

Use the passive (be + past participle) to say what happens to the subject rather than what the subject does. This unit covers the present simple passive (is done) and the past simple passive (was done).

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 32 minutes

In this lesson

Active and passiveA4 screens of questions
Who did it? Often unknown, often unimportantB2 screens of questions
The form: be + past participleC4 screens of questions

Point A of 3

Active and passive

This bridge was built in 1932. The verb was built is passive.

Side by side:

Sentence Subject Verb
Somebody built this bridge in 1932. somebody (the builder) built (active)
This bridge was built in 1932. this bridge (the thing built) was built (passive)

An active verb tells you what the subject does.

A passive verb tells you what is done to the subject.

  • My great-grandad was an engineer. He designed this bridge.
  • It's a big hospital. It employs three thousand people.
  • "How old is this bridge?" "It was built in 1932."
  • Three thousand people are employed by the hospital.

Point A · Exercise 42.3 · part 1 of 4

The sentences come in pairs (1a and 1b, 2a and 2b, and so on). Put the verb into the correct form, present or past, active or passive.

  1. Example

    1a Three hundred staff are employed (employ) at the factory.

    AnswerThree hundred staff are employed at the factory.

  2. Example

    1b The factory employs (employ) three hundred staff.

    AnswerThe factory employs three hundred staff.

  3. 2a Snow (cover) the hills for most of the winter.

  4. 2b How much of the country (cover) by forest?

  5. 3a While I was in Spain, my wallet (steal) from my bag.

  6. 3b While I was in Spain, my wallet (disappear) from my bag.

Point A · Exercise 42.3 · part 2 of 4

The sentences come in pairs (1a and 1b, 2a and 2b, and so on). Put the verb into the correct form, present or past, active or passive.

  1. 4a Amira's grandad (die) when she was a baby.

  2. 4b Amira and her brother (bring up) by their aunt.

  3. 5a The ferry caught fire and (sink) within minutes.

  4. 5b Luckily, all the passengers (rescue).

Point A · Exercise 42.3 · part 3 of 4

The sentences come in pairs (1a and 1b, 2a and 2b, and so on). Put the verb into the correct form, present or past, active or passive.

  1. 6a Liam (sack) from the call centre. He kept putting the phone down on customers.

  2. 6b Jodie (resign) from the call centre because she found it too stressful.

  3. 7a Our flat is right above a nightclub, but the noise (not / bother) me.

  4. 7b Our flat is right above a nightclub, but I (not / bother) by the noise.

Point A · Exercise 42.3 · part 4 of 4

The sentences come in pairs (1a and 1b, 2a and 2b, and so on). Put the verb into the correct form, present or past, active or passive.

  1. 8a Kemal had an accident. He (knock) off his scooter by a van.

  2. 8b Kemal had an accident. He (fall) off his scooter.

  3. 9a I've never tasted this fruit before. What (it / call)?

  4. 9b I've never tasted this fruit before. What (you / call) it?

Point B of 3

Who did it? Often unknown, often unimportant

In passive sentences the doer is often unknown, or simply beside the point.

To name the doer, add by.

  • Two bikes were stolen from outside the library. (somebody stole them, but we do not know who)
  • Are the windows cleaned every month? (it does not matter who cleans them)
  • This bridge was designed by my great-grandad.
  • Three thousand people are employed by the hospital.

Point B · Exercise 42.4 · part 1 of 2

Instead of using somebody, they, people and so on, write a passive sentence. Begin with the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    Somebody empties the bins every Tuesday. (The bins ...)

    The bins are emptied every Tuesday.

    AnswerThe bins are emptied every Tuesday.

  2. They closed the motorway because of an accident. (The motorway ...)

  3. Somebody blamed me for the mistake. (I ...)

  4. How do you spell your surname? (How ...)

  5. The price includes breakfast. (Breakfast ...)

Point B · Exercise 42.4 · part 2 of 2

Instead of using somebody, they, people and so on, write a passive sentence. Begin with the words in brackets.

  1. People told us not to swim in the river. (We ...)

  2. We don't use this room any more. (This room ...)

  3. They invited two hundred guests to the party. (Two hundred guests ...)

Point C of 3

The form: be + past participle

The passive is be (is/was and so on) + past participle (done, cleaned, seen and so on).

The past participle often ends in -ed (cleaned, damaged), but many common verbs are irregular (built, done, stolen). The irregular ones are, regrettably, the ones people use most.

Tense Active Passive
Present simple Somebody cleans this office every day. This office is cleaned every day. (am/is/are + participle)
Past simple Somebody cleaned this office yesterday. This office was cleaned yesterday. (was/were + participle)
  • A lot of injuries are caused by falls at home.
  • I'm not asked for my opinion very often.
  • How is "Worcester" pronounced?
  • We were kept awake by the neighbours' party.
  • "Did you go to the reunion?" "No, I wasn't invited."
  • How many people were hurt in the crash?

Point C · Exercise 42.1 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences. Use these verbs in the correct form, present or past passive. Each verb is used once.

Use these

causedamagedelivergrowholdinjureinvitemakeovertakeownshowsurround

  1. Example

    A lot of house fires are caused by cigarettes.

    AnswerA lot of house fires are caused by cigarettes.

  2. Paper from wood.

  3. Several cars when a tree came down in the storm last night.

  4. A gallery is a place where paintings .

  5. You to Leanne's wedding. Why didn't you go?

Point C · Exercise 42.1 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences. Use these verbs in the correct form, present or past passive. Each verb is used once.

Use these

causedamagedelivergrowholdinjureinvitemakeovertakeownshowsurround

  1. Tea in India and Sri Lanka, among other places.

  2. I was only cycling at ten miles an hour, so I by everybody.

  3. The village show every July.

  4. Two people in the fire, but fortunately nobody was killed.

Point C · Exercise 42.1 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences. Use these verbs in the correct form, present or past passive. Each verb is used once.

Use these

causedamagedelivergrowholdinjureinvitemakeovertakeownshowsurround

  1. The castle stands on an island. It by water.

  2. My parcel never arrived. It to the wrong house.

  3. The pub on the corner by a big brewery.

Point C · Exercise 42.2

Write questions using the passive. Some are present and some are past.

  1. Example

    Ask about chocolate. (how / make?)

    How is chocolate made?

    AnswerHow is chocolate made?

  2. Ask about the telephone. (when / invent?)

  3. Ask about rainbows. (how / form?)

  4. Ask about penicillin. (when / discover?)

  5. Ask about copper. (what / use for?)

Lesson 42 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Passive 2 (be done / been done / being done)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Active and passive–Not checkedB. Who did it? Often unknown, often unimportant–Not checkedC. The form: be + past participle–Not checked