Passive Voice (Various Tenses) – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are telling a friend about the unfortunate event of your beloved bicycle being stolen yesterday. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 My bicycle ______ outside the cafe yesterday afternoon.
(a) stole
(b) was stolen
(c) was steal
(d) is stolen
2 I still cannot believe it! The thick safety chain ______ with a heavy tool.
(a) cut
(b) was cut
(c) was cutted
(d) has cut
3 The local police ______ immediately after I noticed my bike was missing.
(a) were called
(b) called
(c) was called
(d) are called
4 Unfortunately, the face of the thief ______ by any of the street cameras.
(a) didn’t catch
(b) wasn’t catch
(c) hasn’t caught
(d) wasn’t caught
5 “______ anything suspicious seen near the cafe around 3 PM?” the officer asked.
(a) Were
(b) Did
(c) Was
(d) Has
6 It’s been 24 hours, and since yesterday, my bike ______ by anyone.
(a) hasn’t been found
(b) hasn’t found
(c) wasn’t found
(d) hasn’t be found
7 While I was talking to the police, I heard that another bicycle ______ down the same street!
(a) was being stolen
(b) was stealing
(c) was be stolen
(d) was stolen
8 The officer warned me that my bike ______ online by the thief very soon.
(a) might sell
(b) might have sold
(c) might been sold
(d) might be sold
9 A detailed incident report ______ to the central police station this morning.
(a) was submitted
(b) has submitted
(c) were submitted
(d) is submitting
10 They believe the lock was broken ______ a heavy hammer.
(a) by
(b) from
(c) using
(d) with
11 I realized that my small bag, which was in the front basket, ______ too.
(a) had taken
(b) was taking
(c) had been taken
(d) had took
12 I’m still so upset! My bike ______ in a much safer place.
(a) should have been parked
(b) should park
(c) should be parked
(d) should have parked
13 Right now, potential buyers ______ by the police to watch out for my bike’s model.
(a) are warning
(b) have warned
(c) are being warned
(d) are be warned
14 It is such a terrible feeling ______ like this in broad daylight.
(a) to rob
(b) robbed
(c) being rob
(d) to be robbed
15 Luckily, I ______ a temporary bike by my kind neighbor so I can go to work today.
(a) have given
(b) have been given
(c) gave
(d) was give
16 It ______ that bicycle theft is increasing significantly in our area.
(a) is reported
(b) is reporting
(c) has reported
(d) reports
17 I’m so frustrated that my precious belongings ______ without any trace!
(a) got steal
(b) got stealing
(c) got stolen
(d) were got stolen
18 The dark alley where I left it wasn’t ______ properly by the building’s security.
(a) looked
(b) looking after
(c) looked at
(d) looked after
19 The police promised that by the end of this week, all the camera footage ______.
(a) will have been reviewed
(b) will review
(c) will have reviewed
(d) will be review
20 I vividly remember ______ to lock both wheels by my dad, but I only locked the front one.
(a) telling
(b) to be told
(c) being told
(d) having told
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) was stolen
Why it is correct: The action happened in the past (“yesterday”). The subject (“My bicycle”) cannot perform the action of stealing -> Past Simple Passive is required.
Error analysis: (a) stole: Common Mistake (Active voice instead of passive). (c) was steal: Structural Error (Incorrect past participle; it must be “stolen”). (d) is stolen: Strong Distractor (Wrong tense; the context is strictly in the past).
2 (b) was cut
Why it is correct: The chain was cut by someone in the past. The irregular verb “cut” remains “cut” in its Past Participle (V3) form.
Error analysis: (a) cut: Distractor (Looks like past simple but functions as active voice here). (c) was cutted: Structural Error (“Cutted” does not exist). (d) has cut: Common Mistake (Present perfect active voice).
3 (a) were called
Why it is correct: “The police” is a collective noun that always takes a plural verb. The action of “being called” requires the passive voice.
Error analysis: (b) called: Common Mistake (Active voice). (c) was called: Strong Distractor (Many learners think “police” is singular because it lacks an “s” -> Grammar error). (d) are called: Structural Error (Wrong tense compared to the past context “noticed”).
4 (d) wasn’t caught
Why it is correct: Negative form of Past Simple Passive (S + was/were + not + V3).
Error analysis: (a) didn’t catch: Common Mistake (Using active voice auxiliary). (b) wasn’t catch: Structural Error (Wrong V3 form). (c) hasn’t caught: Distractor (Wrong tense and active voice).
5 (c) Was
Why it is correct: A Past Simple Passive question with the singular indefinite pronoun “anything”.
Error analysis: (a) Were: Structural Error (Incorrect “to be” verb for “anything”). (b) Did: Common Mistake (Classic error of using the active auxiliary for a passive question). (d) Has: Distractor (Present perfect without “been”).
6 (a) hasn’t been found
Why it is correct: The time marker “since yesterday” indicates the Present Perfect tense. The bike cannot find itself -> Present Perfect Passive (has/have + been + V3).
Error analysis: (b) hasn’t found: Common Mistake (Active voice). (c) wasn’t found: Strong Distractor (Grammatically correct structure but wrong tense due to the word “since”). (d) hasn’t be found: Structural Error (Must be “been”).
7 (a) was being stolen
Why it is correct: Emphasizes an action that was in progress (passive) at a specific time in the past (“While I was talking…”).
Error analysis: (b) was stealing: Common Mistake (Active voice). (c) was be stolen: Structural Error (Wrong structure). (d) was stolen: Strong Distractor (Past simple passive; makes sense but lacks the continuous aspect happening parallel to “talking”).
8 (d) might be sold
Why it is correct: Passive voice with modal verbs (might + be + V3). “Very soon” indicates the future.
Error analysis: (a) might sell: Common Mistake (Forgot the passive form). (b) might have sold: Strong Distractor (Wrong time context; this is a guess about a past event, but the sentence refers to the future). (c) might been sold: Structural Error (Requires the bare infinitive “be” after “might”).
9 (a) was submitted
Why it is correct: The report was handed in “this morning” -> Past Simple Passive.
Error analysis: (b) has submitted: Common Mistake (Active voice). (c) were submitted: Structural Error (“Report” is singular). (d) is submitting: Distractor (Present continuous active).
10 (d) with
Why it is correct: In passive sentences, the agent (person/thing performing the action) uses “by”, while the instrument/tool (“a heavy hammer”) must use “with”.
Error analysis: (a) by: Common Mistake (Learners mechanically add “by” to all passive sentences). (b) from: Structural Error (Wrong preposition). (c) using: Strong Distractor (Sounds logical but is grammatically incorrect for passive structures).
11 (c) had been taken
Why it is correct: An action completed before another point in the past (before “realized”) -> Past Perfect. The bag didn’t take itself -> Passive (had + been + V3).
Error analysis: (a) had taken: Common Mistake (Active voice). (b) was taking: Distractor (Past continuous active). (d) had took: Structural Error (Wrong V3 form of “take”).
12 (a) should have been parked
Why it is correct: Expresses regret about something that SHOULD HAVE been done in the past (Should have + been + V3).
Error analysis: (b) should park: Common Mistake (Active voice). (c) should be parked: Strong Distractor (Indicates advice for present/future, but this sentence expresses regret for the past). (d) should have parked: Structural Error (Active voice error).
13 (c) are being warned
Why it is correct: The marker “Right now” -> Present Continuous. Potential buyers are receiving the warning -> Passive (are + being + V3).
Error analysis: (a) are warning: Common Mistake (Buyers aren’t the ones warning). (b) have warned: Distractor (Wrong tense and voice). (d) are be warned: Structural Error (Wrong structure).
14 (d) to be robbed
Why it is correct: A “To-infinitive” is needed as a complement after the noun phrase “It is a terrible feeling…”. Being the victim -> Passive (To be + V3).
Error analysis: (a) to rob: Common Mistake (Active voice). (b) robbed: Distractor (Grammatically incorrect position after the noun). (c) being rob: Structural Error (Wrong verb form).
15 (b) have been given
Why it is correct: Passive structure with a verb taking two objects. “I” received the bike -> I have been given. The action just happened with a present result -> Present Perfect.
Error analysis: (a) have given: Common Mistake (Active voice). (c) gave: Distractor (Past simple active). (d) was give: Structural Error (Wrong V3 form).
16 (a) is reported
Why it is correct: Impersonal Passive with a reporting verb: It + be + V3(reported) + that…
Error analysis: (b) is reporting: Common Mistake (Active continuous). (c) has reported: Distractor (Active present perfect). (d) reports: Structural Error (The dummy subject “It” cannot report anything).
17 (c) got stolen
Why it is correct: In informal speech, “get + V3” is frequently used instead of “be + V3” for passive structures, especially for negative or unexpected events.
Error analysis: (a) got steal: Structural Error (Not in V3 form). (b) got stealing: Distractor (Learners confuse this with V-ing structures). (d) were got stolen: Common Mistake (Double passive marker; combining “to be” and “get”).
18 (d) looked after
Why it is correct: The phrasal verb is “look after” (take care of). In the passive voice, the preposition “after” cannot be omitted.
Error analysis: (a) looked: Structural Error (Missing preposition). (b) looking after: Common Mistake (Active voice). (c) looked at: Strong Distractor (Wrong meaning; “look at” vs. “look after”).
19 (a) will have been reviewed
Why it is correct: “By the end of this week” indicates an action that will be completed by a certain point in the future -> Future Perfect. The footage will be examined -> Passive.
Error analysis: (b) will review: Distractor (Future simple active). (c) will have reviewed: Common Mistake (Future perfect active). (d) will be review: Structural Error (Wrong structure).
20 (c) being told
Why it is correct: “Remember + V-ing” means remembering doing something in the past. Remembering that “someone told me” -> Passive with gerund (being + V3).
Error analysis: (a) telling: Common Mistake (Active voice). (b) to be told: Strong Distractor (“Remember + To V” means remembering to do something in the future -> Wrong context). (d) having told: Structural Error (Perfect active participle).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The Core Formula: No matter the tense, the Passive Voice always follows the formula: S + [To Be conjugated by tense] + V3/ed. (e.g., was stolen, has been found, are being warned).
- Agents vs. Instruments: Use by for the person/agent performing the action (by the thief), but you must use with for the tool/instrument used to perform the action (with a hammer).
- Passive with Modals: For modal verbs (should, might, will…), the formula is Modal + be + V3 (might be sold). For past events: Modal + have been + V3 (should have been parked).
- Informal Passive (Get): In practical communication and spoken English, native speakers often use Get + V3 instead of “To be” to emphasize a sudden, accidental, or negative situation (e.g., My bike got stolen!).
- Verb + Preposition (Phrasal Verbs): Never drop the preposition of the original verb when changing to the passive voice. (e.g., “look after” -> was looked after, never just was looked).