English exercises / B2 / Sentence structureRewrite active sentences in the passive, keeping the tense.
Twenty questions and instant feedback on every answer. No account, no ads.
The passive voice
The passive is a form of be plus a past participle: the report was written. It moves the object of the sentence into the subject position, which is what you want when the doer is unknown, obvious, or beside the point. Name the doer with by, or leave them out entirely.
Read the full explanationPassive voice: worked examples
Five from the set, with the answer filled in and the rule that decides it.
- 01
People speak English all over the world. → English is spoken all over the world.
Present simple passive: is/are + the past participle.
- 02
They pay the drivers a bonus every December. → The drivers are paid a bonus every December.
With two objects the person normally comes first in the passive.
- 03
A Japanese company owns the hotel. → The hotel is owned by a Japanese company.
Keep by + the agent when it adds information the reader needs.
- 04
Someone stole my bike last night. → My bike was stolen last night.
Past simple passive: was/were + the past participle.
- 05
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928. → Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928.