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Year 11 English — The passive in every tense

Form the passive in any tense, and with a modal verb or an imperative.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Complete the passive using "can", with three words: This problem ____ in two ways. (verb: solve)

  2. 2.Which sentence is the passive of the command "Close the gate"?

    • a) The gate is closing.
    • b) Let the gate be closed.
    • c) The gate closed.
    • d) The gate closes.

  3. 3.Change to the passive: "Someone was following us."

    • a) We were followed.
    • b) We are being followed.
    • c) We had been followed.
    • d) We were being followed.

  4. 4.Complete the passive using "must", with three words: The report ____ before Friday. (verb: submit)

  5. 5.Sort each sentence by its voice.

    Groups: Passive · Active

    • The gates are locked at nine.
    • A girl from Pune won the prize.
    • The guard locks the gates at nine.
    • A new library is being built.
    • The council is building a new library.
    • The prize was won by a girl from Pune.

  6. 6.Complete the passive with the two missing words: The letters ____ yesterday. (verb: send)

  7. 7.Change to the passive: "They have finished the work."

    • a) The work is finished by them.
    • b) The work had been finished.
    • c) The work has been finished.
    • d) The work has finished.

  8. 8.Sort each passive verb phrase by whether it carries a modal verb.

    Groups: Passive with a modal · Passive without a modal

    • should be washed
    • has been signed
    • is repaired
    • must be signed
    • can be repaired
    • was washed

Answer key — Year 11 English — The passive in every tense

  1. 1. can be solved
  2. 2. b) Let the gate be closed.
  3. 3. d) We were being followed.
  4. 4. must be submitted
  5. 5. The gates are locked at nine. → Passive; The guard locks the gates at nine. → Active; A new library is being built. → Passive; The council is building a new library. → Active; The prize was won by a girl from Pune. → Passive; A girl from Pune won the prize. → Active
  6. 6. were sent
  7. 7. c) The work has been finished.
  8. 8. should be washed → Passive with a modal; was washed → Passive without a modal; must be signed → Passive with a modal; has been signed → Passive without a modal; can be repaired → Passive with a modal; is repaired → Passive without a modal