Mastering English Grammar: Passive Voice and Causative Forms

English Grammar Exercises

Exercise 2: Transforming Active to Passive Voice

Convert the following sentences from active to passive form:

• 1. Someone had stolen the school computers before everyone arrived.
  The school computers had been stolen before everyone had arrived.
• 2. Someone must have heard something.
  Something must have been heard.
• 3. Has a chef prepared all these desserts?
  Have all these desserts been prepared by a chef?
• 4. They won't give us a map, we'll have to manage by ourselves.
  Option A: We won’t be given a map, so we’ll have to manage by ourselves.
  Option B: A map won’t be given to us, so we’ll have to manage by ourselves.
• 5. They gave me the information very late, so I couldn't tell you.
  Option A: I was given the information very late, so I couldn’t tell you.
  Option B: The information was given to me very late, so I couldn’t tell you.
• 6. In German cities, they often clean the streets at night.
  In German cities, the streets are often cleaned at night.
• 7. The babysitter was looking after the babies.
  The babies were being looked after by the babysitter.

Exercise 3: Using Causative Forms

Complete the sentences using a causative form and the correct verb tense:

• 1. I will ask somebody to install the pipes in the kitchen.
  I will have them installed in the kitchen.
• 2. His coat is being cleaned at a specialist cleaner’s.
  He is having it cleaned at a specialist cleaner’s.
• 3. Somebody is going to redecorate our living room.
  We are going to have it redecorated.
• 4. Gina may ask someone to dye her hair blonde next week.
  Gina may have it dyed blonde next week.
• 5. The woman from the local shop delivers her groceries.
  She has them delivered by the woman from the local shop.

Exercise 4: Verb Tenses

Complete the text with the correct verb tenses:

I have always wanted to visit a jungle, so when my friend Trina invited me to travel to Ecuador with her, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Luckily, it was an incredible experience!

We started our trip in Quito, in the mountains. As we were riding downhill, the scenery became greener and full of brightly coloured flowers and birds. When we arrived at a river, we rode in a small boat to an island. We weren’t wearing lifejackets and I was afraid of falling into the muddy water! We stayed in a hotel made of wood that had no electricity at night – it was so dark.

I had never seen anywhere like the jungle before that trip! Since coming home, I have shown pictures of the jungle to all of my friends. I hope to go back there as soon as I get another chance.