ex 1: Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs.

Latisha is very excited because there is a big match tomorrow. A lot of work _____________ (to do) before a football match. The shoes _______________ (to clean), the shirts ________________ (to wash) and the grass of the pitch __________________ (to cut). Latisha and her team had their last practice yesterday. Passes ________________ (to practice) and a lot of balls _________________ (to shoot) at the goal. The goalkeeper had a really good day and a lot of the balls ________________ (to catch) by her. Latisha hopes that the goalkeeper will be good at the match, too. In the last game, two goals ________________ (to score) by the other team and they lost the game 2:1. Also, one of the players __________________ (to hurt). Latisha hopes that they can win the game this time.

ex.2: Change the sentences from active to passive. If you have problems, do the following:

• Underline all the subjects in the active sentences with a blue pen
• Underline all the objects in the active sentences with orange
• Underline all verbs in the active sentences with red
• Change the sentences from active voice into passive voice.

1. The man eats an apple every week.
2. Someone builds the new wall.
3. They move the old cinema somewhere else.
4. The police catches the robber.
5. They don't sell the old house in our street.
6. Somebody rings the bell like mad.

7. Tom drinks a bottle of lemonade.

ex. 3: fill in the correct forms of the passive (watch out for the tenses!)

1. Green tea __________________ (produce) in China, India, and other countries.
2. The play Romeo and Juliet __________________ (write) by Shakespeare.
3. Paper ____________________ (make) from wood pulp.
4. This church _________________________ (build) in the 15th century.
5. This road _________________________ (use) since the 12th century.
6. I had to wait in the hotel lobby while my hotel room _______________________ (clean).
7. This problem _______________________ (solve) by our specialists in the near future.

ex. 4: Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs (active or passive)

Nothing seems to be more American than baseball. Its tradition is clean and clear. People think that Abner Doubleday ______________ (invent) baseball in 1839 at Cooperstown, New York. They are mistaken, however, because baseball _______________________ (not/ invent) by Abner Doubleday. There is no proof to show that Doubleday ever______________________ (see) a baseball game in his life. The beginnings of the sport are much more interesting than most people believe. In fact, of all popular American sports, only basketball __________________(invent) by an single man. A man called James Naismith ______________________ (want) to create a sport and so he _____________________(produce) basketball. The truth is, baseball ______________________ (bring) to America from England in a simple form. Many people _________________ (play) cricket in the 19th century America and later, they picked up the game of baseball for fun, because it did not have many rules. Until about 1860, cricket matches _____________ (attract) large crowds, but baseball contests ___________________ (watch) by only a few spectators. Today, this changed.

ex.5: Download the file below and do the worksheet while watching this clip of Rararouille.

(I don't take credit for this exercise but Claudio Azevedo does (here's his website with great exercises, if you are interested). However, this exercise is too good not to do it ;) ).

ex. 6: Transform the sentences into the passive. If there are two objects, use the object of persons as the subject in the passive.

1. They offered you a better job
2. She should tell us the truth 
3. They have given Paul a cake
4. Peter and Klaus are showing Barbara the new models
5. They paint pictures.
6. She sent Dave lovely Christmas cards
7. He read a book.
8. They showed me a new flat

9. J.K. Rowling finished the first Harry Potter book in 1995.
10. People have translated the books into 65 languages.
11. People have made the books into films.
12. They filmed the scenes in many different places.

ex.7: Transform the sentences into the passive voice. Use the object of persons as the subject.

1. The manager promised Mr Gonzales more money.
2. Mr. Gonzales gives a customer some new products.
3. Lots of passengers gave the taxi drivers tips.
4. A Paper boy has sold a man newspapers.
5. The weatherman gave the audience the weather forecast on a TV screen in Piccadilly Circus.

ex.8: Transform the sentences into the passive voice. Use the object of things as the subject.

1. He gives a friend a ticket for a musical show.
2. He sent his parents a postcard from Trafalgar Square.
3. He brought his girl friend a giant Italian pizza.
4. The taxi driver told his passengers the latest news.
5. Restaurants had offered their guests special weekend meals.

ex.9: Transform the sentences into the passive voice.

1. A dog had swallowed a piece of plastic
2. The designer gave three models different clothes.
3. Loud rain frightens our dog.
4. Viewers notice the vibrant colours in the painting.
5. The author presents the story in a boring way.
6. The overtired workers keep the shop open until 11:00 pm.
7. The batter hit the ball straight into the sky.
8. Chemical companies produce new drugs every year.
9. The man's son painted the house in bright blue.
10. The teacher has not given much homework to the students this school year.