THE PASSIVE VOICE
MR. ANH

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CÂU BỊ ĐỘNG
(The passive voice)
Active: S +
V+ O
Passive: S +
Be PP + By O
Notes: - The subject is changed into the object.
- The object is changed into the subject.
- “To be” replaces the verb in the correct tense
and person.
- The verb is changed into the past participle
(column 3).
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 Thomas writes a letter.
A letter is written by Thomas.
 Jack has bought some books.
Some books have been bought by Jack.
* Only personal pronouns are changed in form
when they are changed in position, as follows:
-Subjects: I You He She It
We They
- Object: me youhim her it

us

them
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 She will send a parcel.
A parcel will be sent by her.
* By me/you/him/her/it/us/them/people/someone ...
can be omitted.
 She will send a parcel.
A parcel will be sent.
* Adverbs of place are before By O; Adverbs of time
are after By O.
 Mary cooked curry yesterday.
Curry was cooked by Mary yesterday.
 Daisy takes some flowers into the living-room.
Some flowers are taken into the living-room by Daisy.
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Exercise 1: Change into the opposite voice
1. They will carry that table into the dining-room.
2. Jack has typed the article recently.
3. The soup was cooked by Mary yesterday.
4. The Paris agreement was signed in 1973.
5. Tran does her homework every day.
6. Why did he water the flowers?
7. The driver will not carry the old man.
8. What can he play today?

9. She doesn’t eat bread every day.
10. Is Henry feeding the pigs?

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Exercise 2: Change into the active voice
1. Who has been helped many times by Lan?
2. Which clock is chosen by Tuan?
3. That man was hit by a car last week.
4. Coffee is not drunk by Jack.
5. Am I supported by you?
6. Is he loved by Lien?
7. The patient has been examined by the doctor.
8. The sick poultry were killed by the authorities.
9. Many chickens are raised on the farm.
10. That apple may be eaten by the boy.

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Các dạng thụ động đặc biệt
S + Make + O + V ...  S + Be + Made + To Inf ...
 The boss made him clean the toilets.
He was made to clean the toilets by the boss.
 He will make his son learn computer science.
His son will be made to learn computer science.
S + Perceptive verbs + O + V ...  S + Be +
Perceptive verbs (PP) + To V
 She hears him sing in the room.

He is heard to sing in the room.
 They watched her feed the poultry.
She was watched to feed the poultry.

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Exercise 3: Change into the passive voice
1. His wife made him stay at home last week.
2. The police will make her leave the room.
3. The government can make farmers destroy sick
chickens.
4. Her parents made her marry an old man.
5. John will make me water the flowers.
6. They heard her cry in the room.
7. Teacher noticed him sleep in the class.
8. Tuong Linh listens to Dan Truong sing on the cassette.
9. Hieu smells something burn in the kitchen.
10. Mr. Brown watched her tease the dog.
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S1 + V1 + That + S2 + V2…  It + Be V1(PP) + That +
S 2 + V2 …
V1 before V2
 People say that he will move to London.
It is said that he will move to London.
S1 + V1 + That + S2 + V2...  S2 + Be V1(PP) + To Inf
(V2) ...
V1 and V2 are simultaneous.

 They rumoured that he lived with a young girl.
He was rumoured to live with a young girl.
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S1 + V1 + That + S2 + V2...  S2 + Be V1(PP) + To Have
V2 (PP) ...
V1 after V2
 They think that she sold her own car.
She is thought to have sold her own car.
Exercise 4:
1. They say that he is miserable now.
2. People thought that she was happy then.
3. We think that you stay at home.
4. We know that they sell good food.
5. People believed that the earth was square in the
old days.
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6. They say that he bought a new house.
7. They think that she has met him before.
8. People rumoured that he had married a woman
before.
9. They say that you were there then.
10. They reported that the prisoner had escaped.
11. They said that he would leave his hometown.
12. People say that Yen Vy will win the prize.
13. They rumour that the director will commit a
crime.

14. They state that a new ambassador will come.
15. The police report that he will hold a party.

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S + let + O1 + V + O2  S + let + O2 + Be + V (PP)
Reflexive passive
 He has let people cheat him.
He has let himself be cheated.
 Don't let anyone help you.
Don't let yourself be helped.
Exercise 5: Change into the opposite voice
1. She let them help her then.
2. Don’t let people insult you.
3. He will let the police arrest him tomorrow.
4. They have let someone treat them.
5. Let someone recommend you there.

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V + O  Let + O + Be + V (PP)
Imperative passive
 Do this homework now.
Let this homework be done now.
 Eat this cake.
Let this cake be eaten.
Exercise 6: Change into the opposite voice
1. Drink this glass of milk.

2. Cut the grass in the lawns.
3. Catch that fish over there.
4. Watch this film today.
5. Check this machine now.

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S + Have + Operson + V + Othing  S + Have + Othing
+ V (PP) (passive 1)
Sthing + Have + to be + V
(PP) (passive 2)
Causative passive
 They will have someone cut the tree down.
They will have the tree cut down. (passive 1)
The tree will have to be cut down. (passive 2)
 He can have someone repair his car.
He can have his car repaired.
His car can have to be repaired.
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Exercise 7: Change into the opposite voice
1. They can have someone paint the house.
2. He will have them photocopy the document.
3. She should have someone cut her hair.
4. They must have someone check the brakes.
5. She will have people publish her book.
6. People should have him check the machine.
7. They would have her mend their clothes.

8. One will have her grow some flowers.
9. Jack will have her cook some food.
10. They could have her draw a map.
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S + V + O1+ O2  S1 + Be + V (PP) + O2 + By O
 S2 + Be + V (PP) + Prep. + O1 + By O
O1 là người; O2 là vật.
 A vassal offered the king a precious jug.
The king was offered a precious jug by a vassal.
A precious jug was offered to the king by a vassal.
 Mary buys him a tie.
He is bought a tie by Mary.
A tie is bought for him by Mary.
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Exercise 8: Change into the opposite voice
1. Jack gave me some money yesterday.
2. Mrs Brown makes us some coffee.
3. Mai has sent Jane a letter.
4. My mother bought me a new dress.
5. They offered us some dry fish last month.
6. Jack taught me a lesson.
7. The grandmother told us a story.
8. The teacher explained the lesson to her.
9. Next week Sarah will write him a letter.
10. Everyday she cooks some food for the dog.
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Exercise 9: Change into the active voice
1.Hai Tam is praised by her teacher.
2.Khanh has been telephoned by his friend.
3. The television was turned off at ten o’clock.
4. Some mosquitoes are killed in the net by Anh Thu.
5. The table is fixed by Mr Ba.
6. The box was thrown away by the boss.
7. This exercise is written by Mr Anh.
8. The fish will be caught by him next week.
9. The basket has to be emptied by Nga every day.
10. This exercise ought to be done by students.
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Multiple choice:
1. My wedding ring …… of yellow and white gold.
a. is made b. is making
c. made d. maked
2. If your brother ………………., he would come.
a. Invited b. were invited c. were inviting d. invite
3. Mr. Wilson is …………… as Wilie to his friend.
a. knowed b. knew c. known d. is known
4. References …………. in the examination room.
a. not are used b. is not used c. didn’t used d. are not
used
5. Laura ………….. in Boston.
a. are bornb. were born
c. was born

d. born
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6. My mother is going …………… this house.
a. sold
b. to be sold
c. to sold d. to sell
7. There’s somebody hehind us. I think we are …….
a. being followed b. are followed c. follow d. following
8. Have you …………….. by a dog?
a. Bite b. ever been bit c. ever been bitten d. bit
9. The room is being ………….. at the moment.
a. was cleaned b. cleaned c. cleaning d. clean
10. The road to our village ……. widened next year.
a. is b. will
c. can
d. will be
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