1. Change the following sentences into the Passive Voice.
A Using the Indefinite Tenses (pay attention to prepositions).
E x a m p l e: She looks after him well. – He is well looked after (by her).
1. We sent for the police. 2. They speak much about this book. 3. They often laugh at him. 4. They listened to our conversation very attentively. 5. I thing they will wait to for us only in a week. 6. Nobody took notice of his late arrival. 7. We looked through all the advertisements very attentively. 8. He was a brilliant speaker, and whenever he spoke, the audience listened to him with great attention. 9. They will look after him in hospital much better. 10. Everybody looked at her new dress with interest.
B using the Continuous Tenses.
E x a m p l e: They are solving a difficult problem now. – The problem is being solved now.
1.Don’t come in! The Professor is examining students. 2. Can I read the article? – No, the secretary is students. 3. We had to hurry. They were waiting for us. 4.It was noisy. Nobody was listening to him. 5. Does he realize that they are laughing at him? 6. Look at this man. I think he is following us. 7. Listen carefully! He is giving a very interesting talk. 8. The waiter is serving us rather fast. 9. The secretary was looking through morning mail. 10. The interpreter is translating their conversation rather well.
C using the Perfect Tenses.
E x a m p l e: They have already brought the medicine. – The medicine has already been brought.
1. We have repaired our house lately. 2. When the fire brigade came, the fire had destroyed the building. 3. The athlete has shown much better results since this coach trains him. 4. I will have answered all the business letters by noon. 5. The president of the board has signed the document. 6. Is she washing the floor? – No, she has already washed it. 7. By his arrival they had repaired his car. 8. He has booked the tickets and the clerk will have brought them by 2 o’clock. 9. They had painted the house by his arrival. 10. The police haven’t found the reason for the accident yet.
D using modal verbs.
E x a m p l e: He can do this work. – The work can be done ( by him).
1, She can find a job easily. 2. The matter is urgent. They should phone her immediately. 3. The boss wants Mr. Black. You must find him. 4. I can make an interesting offer to you. 5. He’s got a pay rise and now they can buy a new house. 6. You must send the document as quickly as possible. 7. The weather is warm. She may plant the flower. 8. The document is of great importance. He must show it to us. 9. He must give back the book on Sunday. 10. Their kitchen is large and they can use it as a dining room.
3. Open the brackets and use the verb in the appropriate form of the Passive Voice.
1. The first draft resolution (not discuss) yesterday; it (withdraw) long before the beginning of the meeting. 2. He is not in town; he (send) on a special mission. 3. Don’t come into the compartment; the berth (fix) now. 4. A new underground line (construct) now. They say one of its stations (build) in my street. 5. He wants to know when the final decision (take). The activities of the committee and their delays already much (speak) about. 6. It was three o’clock. We (tell) to hurry up because we (wait). 7. Do you believe that such a problem can (solve)? 8. It must (do) without delays. 9. On September 9, 1850, California (admit) to the Union as the thirty-first state. 10. Don’t speak in a loud voice: we (listen) to. 11. The plan (approve)? – No, it (discuss) now. – How long it (discuss)? 12. By the time he arrives everything (settle). 13. Not all the necessary things (buy) for our trip that’s why the departure (postpone). 14. The money (lend) to him two months ago, but it (not give) back yet. 15. The business day was in high gear: the mail (look) through, documents (type), letters (answer), talks (hold). 16. Wait a minute. The table (lay). 17. Dynamite (invent) by Alfred Bernhard Nobel. 18. This exercise may (write) with a pencil. 19. This work (do) before you went to Moscow? 20. If you (ask) about it, will you be able to answer?