The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Exercises: passive voice and causative structures

Passive voice and causative structures - Exercise 1

Fill in the corresponding active or passive verb phrases in the table below using third person singular forms. There is an example at the beginning.

Active voice

Passive voice

destroys

is destroyed

1

will open

...

2

had decided

...

3

...

has been being discussed

4

...

ought to be protected

5

...

was called

6

is examining

...

7

is going to make

...

8

had been taking

...

9

...

has been seen

10

...

will be being investigated

11

...

should have been promoted

12

...

was being trained

13

needn't have answered

...

14

might be following

...

15

...

would have been being taken

16

breaking

...

17

to tell

...

Passive voice and causative structures - Exercise 2

Put each verb in brackets into a suitable active or passive form.

... her hair ... yet? (CUT)

Your answers must ... in ink. (WRITE)

Who ... this letter? (SEND)

By the time I got to the fair, all the good things ... . (SELL)

... the suspect ... at the moment? (QUESTION)

Somebody ... my bike last week. (STEAL)

I hate ... seriously because I look young. (NOT TAKE)

If he ... to hospital earlier, they could have saved his life. (TAKE)

As he ... by the forest, he noticed a fire among the trees. (WALK)

When ... my refund ... to my account? (SEND)

Passive voice and causative structures - Exercise 3

Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

Vitamin C is assumed to cure the common cold.

Most people ...

Everybody says that Dan was the first who arrived.

Dan ...

Did anybody know he had lived in Norway before?

Was ...

She was believed to be renting a flat with her cousin.

It ...

Why did everybody think that he was the smartest kid in the class?

Why was he ...?

We expect Sophie to pass with flying colours.

Sophie ...

It is known that Portuguese grammar is very complicated.

Portuguese grammar ...

Was Gary thought to have cheated?

Did they ...

American football is said to have been much tougher twenty years ago.

Fans ...

It is rumoured that they are building a new shopping centre there.

A new shopping centre ...

Passive voice and causative structures - Exercise 4

Rewrite the sentences using causative structures (have/get + object + past participle, make + object + bare infinitive, get + object + to-infinitive).

When is the dentist checking Bill's teeth?

Our house needs redecorating.

Someone scratched my car in the car park yesterday.

Did you have to pay extra for the air conditioning?

It is recommended that you take your motorcycle to a garage for an oil change every 10,000 kilometres.

Can you give me your lecture notes so that I can photocopy them?

I tried everything, but the printer still didn't work.

Was his leg broken in the accident?

I must get some prints of these photos.

She smiled because of what I said.

Passive voice and causative structures - Exercise 5

Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word(s) in capital letters and the meaning stays the same. Do not change the words given.

Unfortunately, we couldn't go inside the museum because it was being restored. (RESTORING)

The doctor gave me a painkiller, and, after a while, I felt better. (GIVEN)

How many times has the river flooded the village before? (BEEN)

The new clinic is treating more patients now than a year ago. (TREATED)

They must have delivered the package to the wrong address. (BEEN)

What do most people use computers for? (USED)

When I wanted to ring my mom, I realised that somebody had stolen my phone. (GOT)

I don't like being tickled. (WHEN)

If you would like to be informed about future events, sign up for our newsletter. (INFORM)

Who directed this movie? (BY)

Passive voice and causative structures - Exercise 6

Complete the questions with the passive (be + past participle) or causative (have + object + past participle, make + object + bare infinitive) form of the verbs in brackets and then discuss them with your partner. Ask for more information.

Who ... your favourite book ... by? What is it about? (WRITE)

What was the last film that ... you ... a lot? (LAUGH)

Have you ever ... to do something that you thought was wrong? (ASK)

What was the last thing you ... on? (COMPLIMENT)

What kind of music ... you ... to dance? (WANT)

Have you ever ... any of your belongings ... ? (STEAL)

When was the last time you ... to a party? (INVITE)

How often do you ... your hair ... ? (CUT)

Have you ever ... by a dog? (CHASE)

Is there anything that should ... in your home? (DO)

Have you ever ... the wrong change in a shop? If yes, what did you do? (GIVE)

Did you take your last ID photo, or did you ... it ... ? (TAKE)

What was the last present you ... that you really liked? (GIVE)

Have you ever ... by an insect? (STING)

Were you ... housework when you were young? (DO)