Passive Form

We only use the passive when we are interested in the object or when we do not know who caused
the action.
Example: Appointments are required in such cases.
We can only form a passive sentence from an active sentence when there is an object in the active
sentence.
Form
to be + past participle
How to form a passive sentence when an active sentence is given:
- object of the "active" sentence becomes subject in the "passive" sentence
- subject of the "active" sentence becomes "object" in the "passive" sentence" (or is left out)
Active:

Peter

builds

a house.

Passive:

A house

is built

by Peter.

Examples
Active

Peter

builds

a house.

Passive: A house

is built

by Peter.

Active:

built

a house.

was built

by Peter.

Peter

Passive: A house
Active:

Peter

Passive: A house

Active:

Peter

Simple Past

has built

a house. Present Perfect

has been
built

by
Peter.

will build

a house.

Passive: A house

will be built by Peter.

Active:

can build

Peter

Simple Present

will-future

a house.
Modals

Passive: A house

can be built by Peter.

Here you find some examples of how to form the passive depending on the tense.
tense

active

passive

Simple Present

Peter builds a house.

A house is built by Peter.

Simple Past

Peter built a house.

A house was built by Peter.

Present Perfect

Peter has built a house.

A house has been built by Peter.

Past Perfect

Peter had built a house.

A house had been built by Peter.

will-future

Peter will build a house.

A house will be built by Peter.

going to-future

Peter is going to build a house

in summer.

A house is going to be built in summer

Passive Forms in Business English

Change these sentences as in the example :

We will send the goods this morning -The goods will be sent this morning
We will organize the customs formalities
We checked the documents last week.
We have accepted your suggestions.
You should check all of the outstanding invoices.
You can return any unwanted materials.
You should have returned the signed contract.
We are developing a new invoicing system.
We have not yet received your payment.
The marketing department in your country will handle
this complaint.
10 We will transport the goods immediately.
11 We produce most of the documentation in this office.
12 We are building a new office block not far from here.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

1. The customs formalities will be organized

What will be organized?

Why will customs formalities be organized?
When will customs formalities be organized?
Who will organize customs formalities? (active)
2. The documents were checked last week.

When were the documents checked?

What documents were checked last week?
Why were the documents checked?
How were the documents checked?
3. Your suggestions have been accepted.

What has been accepted?

When were your suggestions accepted?
Which suggestions have been accepted?

Number 4 and so forth, try to make questions like the examples given above, if you find
difficulties, send back your problems to my email..!!
All of the outstanding invoices should be checked
Any unwanted materials can be returned.
The signed contract should have been returned.
A new invoicing system is being developed.
Your payment has not been received yet.
This complaint will be handled by the marketing department in your country.
10. The goods will be transported immediately.
11. Most of the documentation is produced in this office.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

12. A new office block is being built not far from here.

The rice has been cooked

How has the rice been cooked?
How will the rice be cooked?
The rice should have been cooked
Why should have the rice been cooked?

Fill the gaps with the adjectives in brackets.

1 He's such a monotonous speaker. I was ________________ stiff. (bored / boring)
2 Most sequels are ________________. (disappointed / disappointing)
3 I had such a ________________ day I went straight to bed. (tired / tiring)
4 Everyone's very ________________ about the news. (excited / exciting)
5 That lamp produces a very ________________ effect. (pleased / pleasing)
6 The whole school was ________________ by the tragic event(saddened / saddening)
7 I don't like watching ______________ films on my own. (depressed / depressing)
8 I was ____________ when she told me she'd got divorced. (amazed / amazing)

9 He's such a __________ guy. He only ever talks about himself. (bored / boring)

10 I'm very ________________ in films and theatre. (interested / interesting)

11 No one knew what would happen next. We were all _________(intrigued /intriguing)
12 It was a very ________________ situation. (interested / interesting)
13 There's been some very ________________ news. (surprised / surprising)
14 His mother was _________by what she found under his bed. (disgusted/disgusting)
15 Their hamburgers are _______________(disgusted / disgusting)
16 Dad always arrives home from work thoroughly ________(exhausted / exhausting)
17 He's always showing off. It's really _______________(annoyed / annoying)
18

I think Alex is one of the most ___________ people I've ever met. He can't

keep still for a second. (annoyed / annoying)

19

I walked into this restaurant and there was Andy with a strange woman. He seemed really
________________ . (embarrassed / embarrassing)

20

She kept talking about her boyfriend problems all night. It was rather _____________(embarrassed /
embarrassing)