Choose the correct sentence.

1

a I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe that your homework stole!

b I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe that your homework was stolen!

2

a Summer temperatures are said to be getting higher every year.

b Summer temperatures say to be getting higher every year.

3

a He has bitten.

b He has been bitten.

4

a The man is chasing.

b The man is being chased.

5

a Is this trophy made of silver?

b Is this trophy made by silver?

6

a The plants don’t water very often.

b The plants aren’t watered very often.

Active Passive

Present Simple He washes the car. ➞ The car is washed.

Present Continuous He is washing the car. ➞ The car is being washed.

Past Simple He washed the car. ➞ The car was washed.

Past Continuous He was washing the car. ➞ The car was being washed.

Present Perfect Simple He has washed the car. ➞ The car has been washed.

Past Perfect Simple He had washed the car. ➞ The car had been washed.

Future Simple He will wash the car. ➞ The car will be washed.

be going to He is going to wash the car. ➞ The car is going to be washed.

Modals He should wash the car. ➞ The car should be washed.

Semi-modals He has to wash the car. ➞ The car has to be washed.

Modal Perfect He must have washed the car. ➞ The car must have been washed.

Notes

1 To change a sentence from active to passive, we put the verb be in the same tense as the active verb and add the past participle. We form negative passive statements by adding not.

They sell bread in the supermarket. Bread is sold in the supermarket. Bread isn’t sold at the chemist’s.

2 We use an active verb to say what the subject does. We use a passive verb to say what happens to the subject. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. Look at the example.

3 To form questions in the passive, we change the word order of the subject and the auxiliary verb. A photo is taken every year. ➞ Is a photo taken every year? The photo has been taken. ➞ Has the photo been taken?

4 We often use the passive when the person who does the action is obvious, not known or not important. The thief has been arrested. (It is obvious that the police arrested the thief.) My passport was taken from my bag. (I don’t know who took it.) The work had been done quickly. (We are interested in how quickly the work was done, not who did it.)

5 If we want to say who or what causes the action, we use by + person / thing (the agent). This song will be sung by Adele. Their journey was made difficult by the icy roads.

6 In the passive, the verbs believe, consider, expect, know, say, suppose and think are followed by the infinitive. Fred is expected to win the race. In ancient Greece, Zeus was believed to cause lightning.

7 For a list of irregular verbs, see page 189.

object

They fixed our motorbike last week.

Our motorbike was fixed last week.

subject

P

Read some facts about drones. Look at the verbs in bold and write P (Passive) or A (Active) next to each sentence.

❏ 1 The original drones were shaped like planes and were programmed to fly until they ran out of fuel.

❏ 2 Drones were first used by armies.

❏ 3 These days, people in many different jobs, like farmers, photographers and even lifeguards, use drones.

❏ 4 In the past, pictures from high up had to be taken from helicopters or planes.

❏ 5 Today, ordinary people take pictures using smaller, cheaper drones.

❏ 6 Many people enjoy flying drones as a hobby.

❏ 7 Now drones are controlled with an app on your tablet or phone.

❏ 8 In the future, all sorts of things may be delivered by drones – even pizza!

THe PASSIveUNIT■ CheCk whAT yoU kNow

■ CheCk yoUr grAmmAr rUles

See GRAMMAR APPeNDIX, PAGe 174

CoNTINueD ➜

72 73

the passive

P

A

P

A

A

P

P

SNACKS �5 each

sea lion horsepolar bear kangAroo lion

grAmmAr PrACTICe

1 Circle the correct answer.

1 A beach party organized / is organized every summer.

2 Luckily, nobody hurt / was hurt in the accident.

3 The director expects / is expected his new film to be a success.

4 Our school has invited / has been invited to enter a competition.

5 When we arrived in the city centre, a parade was taking / was being taken place.

6 Dinner is going to serve / is going to be served at eight o’clock.

7 This door should have locked / should have been locked.

8 The tourists are being shown / are showing around the palace at the moment.

2 Read the sentences. Which sentences need by + agent? Write 3 or 7.

1 The school will be decorated by painters next summer.

2 The new plants in my garden had been eaten by my neighbour’s rabbit!

3 The Starry Night was painted by Van Gogh in 1889.

4 A lot of money was stolen from the bank by robbers.

5 Our house is cleaned once a week by a woman called Josie.

3 Read the text. Circle the correct answer. The London EyeThe London Eye was 1 built / build as part of the celebrations for the millennium

year, 2000. It 2 was / has opened on 31st December 1999. One thousand seven hundred

tonnes of steel were 3 use / used to build it. At first, the plan was that the wheel would

be 4 take / taken down after five years, but now it seems it will 5 stay / stayed in

London for many years to come.

Many London landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben,

can 6 be / being seen from the Eye. It is said 7 to be / being the most popular tourist

attraction in Britain, and it is 8 visiting / visited by more than three and a half million

visitors a year.

7

4 Some changes are needed at the park. Complete the sentences. use the modal and the correct form of the verbs given.

can be put

5 Complete the text. use the words below.

been | by | going | was | will | being | be

One of the world’s most amazing swimming pools is on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel

in Singapore. The pool 1 opened in 2010 and has 2

designed so that the edges of the pool cannot 3 seen. People who

swim right up to the edge have wonderful views of the city 200 metres below. The pool

can only be used 4 hotel guests, so it never gets too crowded.

Another amazing swimming pool is 5 built in the city of London,

35 metres above the ground between two tall buildings. The pool is made of a

transparent material, so swimmers 6 be able to see down

to the ground. It is 7 to be opened quite soon so that swimmers

can have an amazing – and possibly frightening – experience!

was

7 Complete the sentences. use the correct passive form of the verbs given.

1 know / kick This animal has strong legs and its enemies.

2 say / reach When it is in a hurry, it speeds of 70 kph.

3 expect / stay This animal is not in danger of extinction, and the population the same as it is now.

4 suppose / taste The meat of this animal like the meat of a deer.

5 believe / have This animal two heads by early explorers!

6 consider / be This animal the national animal of Australia.

What kind of animal is being described?

It’s a .

is known to kick

6 QueSTIoNS Change the questions from active to passive. Then give a logical answer. use passive, where possible.

1 How do people usually celebrate their name days?

How ?

Answer: .

2 What do people usually wear at weddings?

What ?

Answer: .

3 Who should you call if there is a forest fire?

Who ?

Answer: .

4 What are they planning at your school at the moment?

What ?

Answer: .

5 Where did they hold the last Olympics?

Where ?

Answer: .

6 What could they do to improve your town?

What ?

Answer: .

are name days usually celebrated

Special Swimming Pools

1 There is litter all over. can / put

All the litter in bins.

2 People have written graffiti everywhere. have to / paint

The walls .

3 The snacks are very expensive. shouldn’t / sell

Expensive snacks .

4 The gate has been broken for a long time. ought to have / repair

The gate by now.

5 There are not enough trees for shade. could have / plant

More trees for shade.

74 75

the passive

3

3

7

3

have to be painted

shouldn’t be sold

could have been planted

ought to have been repaired

been

be

by

being

will

going

Accept all logical answers.

is usually worn at weddings

should be called if there is a forest fire

is being planned at your school at the moment

were the last Olympics held

could be done to improve your town

is said to reach

is expected to stay

is supposed to taste

was believed to have

is considered to be

kangaroo

Pizza

Trivia

Rhodes

9 Circle the correct answer.

1 We can’t keep this secret from Tom any more. He must . a be told b have told c have been told

2 The Internet when my parents were growing up. a isn’t invented b hasn’t been invented c hadn’t been invented

3 How long can before it goes off? a be kept milk b milk be kept c be milk kept

4 These tomatoes in my aunt’s garden. a will be grown b be grown c were grown

5 The bill ought to yesterday. a have been paid b be paid c had paid

1 All over the world more than five billion pizzas (sell) each year.

2 It is estimated that over three billion pizzas (eat) next year in the USA alone.

3 Kids aged 3-11 (prefer) pizza to all other foods.

4 Though pizza only became a popular food in the USA after World War II, it (bring) to America by Italian immigrants 50 years earlier.

5 Of all the toppings available, pepperoni (a kind of salami) (choose) more often by Americans than any other.

6 Europeans have been eating pizza since the late 18th century but it (exist) long before that.

7 Pizza (prepare) by people of Pompeii when the volcano erupted and buried the city in 79 AD.

8 Pizza Margherita (give) its name by a chef who worked for an Italian queen. She ate her pizza with tomatoes and cheese.

8 Complete the sentences about pizza. use the correct form of the verbs given, active or passive.

Complete the text. use the correct passive form of the verbs given.10

The Namib Desert in Africa 1 (cover) with

mysterious circles which 2 (know) as fairy circles.

A fairy circle is a small area of dry, red soil with grass around the edge. According to

mythology, fairy circles 3 (create) by ancient gods as they

walked on Earth.

Fairy circles usually last between 30 and 60 years before they are completely covered by grass and

disappear. New ones may appear in nearby locations. Nobody knows how they form but over the years,

different explanations 4 (suggest) by scientists. For example, it

5 (think) that some kind of insect might be responsible for making the fairy circles.

Another scientist studied some photos which 6 (take) from the air and he offered

another explanation – that the plants grew in this pattern because they couldn’t find enough water. A different

theory is that the circles 7 (may / cause) by gases under the earth.

8 (the mystery / solve) some day or will the fairy circles remain a puzzle?

is covered

It’s hardly surprising that Rhodes 1 by millions of tourists every year. Most of

the island’s hills and low mountains 2 with forests, making it one of the most

beautiful Greek islands. Many Hollywood movies 3 there over the years.

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was in Rhodes. It 4

the Colossus of Rhodes and it 5 to have stood in the harbour.

It 6 by an earthquake in 226 BC.

A medieval festival 7 in the old town every year. In 1988, the old town

of Rhodes 8 one of the most important historic areas in the world.

Lindos is a very special village on the island. No cars 9 in the

village, but tourists 10 up to the Acropolis of Lindos by donkey!

An introduction for visitors

Complete the text. use the correct passive form of the verbs below.

cover | hold | name | can take | call | visit | allow | destroy | think | make

11

6 I can’t find my purse. I hope it ! a isn’t stolen b isn’t being stolen c hasn’t been stolen

7 A new bridge across the river this year. a is built b is being built c would be built

8 Are esports included in the Olympic Games in future?

a going to be b will be c are being

9 I couldn’t wear my favourite jeans yesterday because they .

a are being washed b will be washed c were being washed

10 The band’s new single released next week. a will be b being c going to be

are sold

is visited

76 77

the passive

77

will be eaten

prefer

was brought

is chosen

existed

was being prepared

was given

are known

were created

have been suggested

is thought

were taken

may be caused

are covered

have been made

Will the mystery be solved

was called

is thought

was destroyed

is held

was named

are allowed

can be taken

2 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

1 They will deliver the new washing machine next Saturday. GoING

The new washing machine next Saturday.

2 Did Margot really write this poem? bY

Was Margot?

3 By the time we got to the theatre, there were no tickets left. HAD

All the tickets by the time we got to the theatre.

4 You don’t have to give a dog a bath every day. HAve

A dog given a bath every day.

5 Everyone says that London has some of the best museums in the world. SAID

London some of the best museums in the world.

6 People sometimes call Pythagoras the first mathematician. CALLeD

Pythagoras the first mathematician.

1 Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

1 We couldn’t go swimming because the pool . a still was being cleaned b was still being cleaned c still being was cleaned d was being cleaned still

2 “The exam starts at 10 o’clock tomorrow, doesn’t it?” “ the time been changed to 10.30?”

a Isn’t b Didn’t c Wasn’t d Hasn’t

3 “When are we getting our certificates?” “They given out next Friday.”

a being b are going be c will be d have been

4 “Why doesn’t my new mobile phone work?” “The battery charged for at least six hours

before you can use it.” a has to be b has been c will be d must

Many Bats! Every year, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, USA is visited 1

thousands of people. They come to see the amazing stalactites and stalagmites in the caves. But not all of the

attractions are underground.

Every night, from April to October, hundreds of thousands of bats 2 be seen flying out of the

caves to look for food. About half an hour after the sun 3 gone down, the bats leave their caves

and the sound of their wings can 4 heard as the sky fills with hungry bats. Young bats 5 left in the cave while the adults go out to feed. At least 17 different kinds of bats are known 6 live in the park.

In late October, the bats fly south to Mexico, where they spend the winter.

Scientists have tried to find out exactly where they go, but most of the

caves have not 7 found yet. In fact, very little 8 known about what the bats do during the winter.

But every spring, the bats return to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

3 Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. use only one word in each gap.

The Passive

The school is holding a prom this evening. say what will be done before or during the prom.

Possible answer for number 1

Signs will be put up.

5 The patient’s temperature must every two hours. a take b have taken c been taken d be taken

6 Dad my bike for me. a fixing b is fixing c is fixed d was fixed

7 Sugar is known bad for your teeth. a be b to be c being d that it is

8 Free ice cream given out in the square yesterday. a is being b was being c has been d is to be

9 Some trees lightning during the storm. a were struck b been struck c struck by d were struck by

10 The wedding invitations until next week. a aren’t sending b not going to send c aren’t going to be sent d are going not to be sent

11 The number 13 unlucky. a is believed being b it is believed it is c believes to be d is believed to be

12 “The house we rented was dirty.“ “Really? It cleaned before you arrived.”

a should have b ought have been c should have been d ought to have

The prom will be held in the school hall. I can’t wait.

!sPeAk UP

B2 eXAm PrACTICe

54 6

give guests a drink when they arrive

serve food at 9 p.m.

2

blow up balloons to decorate the school hall

3

drive guests to the party by limo

1

put up signs

take photos outside

78 79

the passive

is going to be delivered

this poem really written by

had been sold

does not / doesn’t have to be

is said to have

is sometimes called

by

can

has

be

are

to

been

is