The Passive

I Put the verbs in the correct form (Active / Passive):

  1. Four languages ______(speak) in Switzerland.
  2. The company ______(build) 1000 new houses next year.
  3. In the past, women with red hair ______(think) to be witches.
  4. My key ______(not put) in its place. I can’t find it now.
  5. Last night, three thieves ______(catch) by the police.
  6. Robots ______(do) most of the work in the future.
  7. Last night, all the wine we had at the part ______(drink).
  8. The old man must ______(take) to the hospital immediately.
  9. Redheads ______(notice) when they walk into the classroom.
  10. Children sometimes ______(tease) red-haired pupils at school.

II Change the sentences into Passive / Active:

  1. They serve wine here only on Sundays.
  1. The first prize was won by David Cohen.
  1. All his friends celebrated his birthday last week.
  1. This painting was done by Vincent Van Gogh.
  1. We will return all the presents tomorrow.
  1. My parents are cooking dinner right now.
  1. The French didn’t wear wooden shoes.
  1. You should take the dog to the vet as soon as possible.
  1. The kids can use this room for the party.
  1. Was America discovered by Christopher Columbus?
  1. Tami didn’t burn the cake.
  1. Ben has been studying English for four years.
  1. They had finished their homework by the time their parents arrived.

III Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb:

1. Basketball is a game which ______(play) by two teams with five players on each team. The purpose of the game ______(be) to throw the ball into its own basket. The ball may ______(throw) in any direction.

The game of basketball ______(invent) by James A. Naismoith in 1891. Naismith was a sports teacher in Massachusetts. The winters there are very cold, so Naismith ______(ask) by his boss to create a team game that could be played indoors. Most team games at that time used a ball which was hit or ______(kick) into a goal. Naismith knew that an indoor game needed a ball which was light and large, and could ______(throw) easily. So the players wouldn’t ______(get) hurt, Naismith ______(place) the goal – a basket – above their heads.

Since then, basketball ______(become) one of the most popular sports in the world.

2. Many things ______(do) in our house yesterday. Some painters ______(ask) by my mother to paint the living room. First the small things ______(take) out of the room. Then the furniture ______(cover). The two men ______(come) and ______(bring) the paint. But they ______(forget) to bring a ladder. Finally a ladder ______(borrow) from a friend.