Exercises: 1 2 3

Exercise 1

Rewrite these sentences in passive voice. Do NOT include the agent: by them, by John, etc.

 
EXAMPLE: I sent my friends a picture. ⇒ My friends were sent a picture.

1They offered him a good seat ⇒ He .

2They offered him a good seat ⇒ A good seat .

3They told me the truth. ⇒ I .

4They told me the truth. ⇒ The truth .

5We will give a copy to our clients. ⇒ A copy .

6We will give a copy to our clients. ⇒ Our clients .

7He promised us a better salary. ⇒ We .

8He promised us a better salary. ⇒ A better salary .

9The police showed two photos to the suspect. ⇒ Two photos .

10The police showed two photos to the suspect. ⇒ The suspect .


 

 

Passive verbs with two objects – grammar chart

 
Passive verbs with two objects

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In a passive sentence, the subject is the object of the corresponding active sentence.

  • Somebody said something.
  • Something was said (by somebody).

There are some verbs which can take two objects. Some of these verbs are bring, get, give, make, offer, promise, send, show, etc.

  • I sent my friends a picture. (= I sent a picture to my friends.)

With these verbs, it is possible to make two different passive sentences, because you can use either of the two objects as the subject of the passive sentence:

  • My friends were sent a picture.
  • A picture was sent to my friends.

It is more common to begin the passive sentence with the person: My friends were sent a picture.
 

Exercises: 1 2 3