English Grammar Exercises for B1 – The passive 2 exercise

A. Look at the picture and match to make sentences.

A   been given a banana by the pirate.

B   going to be given a balloon by the astronaut.

C   be sung by the cowboy.

D   being driven by a clown.

E   been bought from a fancy-dress shop?

F   been decorated with lots of flowers.

B. Look at the picture again and circle the correct word.

1   The balloons had all been blowing / blown up before the carnival started.

2   The bananas haven’t / aren’t all been eaten yet.

3   The lorry isn’t been / being driven by the gorilla.

4   A young boy was / has just taken a balloon from the astronaut.

5   A prize is going to have / be given to the person in the best fancy dress.

6   The prize might not be awarding / awarded to the clown.

7   Has / Is the lorry been decorated well?

8   Can songs be sung by / with people in the crowd, too?

C. Complete using by or with.

1   That book was written ………………….. my uncle!

2   Are the best photos usually taken ………………….. digital cameras?

3   That song has been sung ………………….. lots of famous singers.

4   Is your hair cut ………………….. a professional hairdresser?

5   Should the paper be cut ………………….. a pair of scissors?

6   All the candles had been lit ………………….. the same match.

7   The film isn’t going to be directed ………………….. Steven Spielberg after all.

D. Complete each second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Write no more than four words.

1   I think John has taken my jacket.

     I think my jacket ……………………………………. John.

2   You should cook the chicken for at least an hour.

     The chicken ……………………………………. for at least an hour.

3   They’re showing that film at the cinema in town.

     That film ……………………………………. at the cinema in town.

4   They hadn’t invented digital cameras when we took that photo.

      Digital cameras ……………………………………. when that photo was taken.

5   When I got there, Carly was doing the ironing, so I didn’t have to do it!

     When I got there, the ironing ……………………………………. Carly, so I didn’t have to do it!

6   They were using hot soapy water to wash all the cars.

     All the cars ……………………………………. hot soapy water.

E. Read the text and answer the questions. Use the correct form of the passive.

Doing the housework   by Lisa Porter, Class 4b

At home, we all share the housework. My dad loves cooking, so he cooks all the food. Sometimes we help him, though. Next weekend, for example, we’re having a party so I’m going to help him. In the past, my mum did all the shopping. She started a new job last year though, so I’ve done most of the shopping since then. It’s easy, because I shop online. That means I order everything on the Internet (my dad lets me use his credit card!) and someone from the supermarket delivers it to our house.

My brother, Andy, cleans the bathroom nearly every day. He didn’t do it yesterday, so he might do it later today. My sister Angelina sweeps the floors. She uses a really old brush. I think she should use a vacuum cleaner! You can save time if you use electrical equipment.

1   Does only one person do the housework in Lisa’s house?

     No, the housework ………………………………………… .

2   Who cooks the food?

     The food ………………………………………… .

3   Who is going to help Lisa’s dad next weekend?

     Lisa’s dad …………………………………………

4   Who did all the shopping until about a year ago?

     Until about a year ago, the shopping ………………………………………… .

5   Who has done most of the shopping since then?

     Since then, most of the shopping ………………………………………… .

6   Does Lisa take the shopping home from the supermarket?

     No, it ………………………………………… .

7   How often does someone clean the bathroom?

     It ………………………………………… .

8   When might someone next clean the bathroom?

     It ………………………………………… .

9   How does Angelina sweep the floors?

     The floors ………………………………………… .

10   What does Lisa think Angelina should use?

        Lisa thinks a vacuum cleaner ………………………………………… .