Present Passive

Passive Voice in the Present Simple 

Reading

Every weekday, many students go to Green Hill Middle School. The school building is opened at 7:30 in the morning. Classes are started at 8:00 and finished at 3:00.  

In the morning, breakfast is served in the cafeteria. Some students eat cereal, and some drink milk or juice. At 8:00, the first lesson is started. English, math, and science are taught every day.  

In English class, books and worksheets are used. New words are written on the board, and homework is given at the end of the lesson. In science, experiments are done in the lab, and safety rules are explained by the teacher.  

At noon, lunch is eaten with friends. After school, many clubs are offered. Sports, music, and art clubs are enjoyed by many students. At 3:30, the school is closed, and the students are taken home by bus or by their parents.

Passive Voice 

1. What is the passive voice?

We use the passive voice when:

- The action is more important than who does it

- Or we don’t know who does the action  

- Or it’s obvious who does it

Theme: school life and education

- Active: The janitor cleans the classroom every day.

Passive: The classroom is cleaned every day. (by the janitor)

- Active: The teacher checks the homework.

- Passive: The homework is checked (by the teacher).

Practice 

Rewrite in the passive:

a) The teacher collects the tests. → _______________________________

b) The librarian closes the library at 5 p.m. → _______________________________

2. Form: Simple Present Passive

Positive:

> object + am / is / are + past participle (V3)

| Subject (object in active) | be | Past participle | Example |

| I | am | taught |     

I am taught English.

| You / We / They | are | given | 

We are given tests.

| He / She / It | is | asked | 

She is asked many questions.

Examples (school theme):

- English is taught every day.

- Students are given a timetable in September.

- The classroom is cleaned after school.

- Homework is checked regularly.

- Mobile phones are not allowed in class.

Practice 

Complete with am / is / are and the correct past participle.

a) English ___ (teach) every day.

b) We ___ (give) new books in September.

c) The classroom ___ (clean) after school.

d) I ___ (ask) many questions in math class.

Rewrite the sentences in the passive:

a) The teacher checks the homework.

→ _______________________________

b) Students use laptops in the library.

→ _______________________________

c) The art teacher displays our drawings.

→ _______________________________

Choose the correct option:

a) Homework (is check / is checked) regularly.

b) Mobile phones (is not allowed / are not allowed) in class.

c) Timetables (is given / are given) to students.

3. Negative Form

> object + am not / isn’t / aren’t + past participle

Examples:

- Phones aren’t used in exams.

- Music isn’t played during lessons.

- Sports clothes aren’t worn in the library.

Practice 

Make these sentences negative passive:

a) Phones are used in exams.

→ _______________________________

b) Music is played during lessons.

→ _______________________________

c) Sports clothes are worn in the library.

→ _______________________________

Correct the mistakes:

a) Phones isn’t used in exams. → _______________________________

b) Homework am not checked every day. → _______________________________

c) Books isn’t given to students. → _______________________________

Write three true negative passive sentences about your school:

a) ___________________________________________

b) ___________________________________________

c) ___________________________________________

4. Questions

> Am / Is / Are + object + past participle … ?

Examples:

- Is English taught in this school?

- Are uniforms worn in your school?

- Is homework given every day?

- Are tests done in the computer room?

Short answers:

- Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.

- Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.

Practice 

Make questions in the present passive:

a) English / teach / in your school?

→ __________________________________ ?

b) Lunch / serve / at 12:30?

→ __________________________________ ?

c) Tests / do / in the computer room?

→ __________________________________ ?

Answer with short answers:

a) Are uniforms worn in your school? → __________________________

b) Is homework given every day? → __________________________

c) Are phones used in exams? → __________________________

Put the words in order to make questions:

a) taught / where / is / history / ?

→ __________________________________ ?

b) checked / are / when / tests / ?

→ __________________________________ ?

5. Active vs Passive

1. Active: The teacher gives us homework every day.

   Passive: Homework is given every day.

2. Active: The students use computers in the IT room.

   Passive: Computers are used in the IT room.

3. Active: The school organizes many clubs.

   Passive: Many clubs are organized at school.

4. Active: The principal announces the exam dates.

   Passive: The exam dates are announced by the principal.

Note: We can say by the teacher, by students, etc., but we often leave it out when it’s obvious.

Practice 

Decide if each sentence is active (A) or passive (P):

a) The exam dates are announced in assembly.

b) The principal announces the exam dates.

c) Many clubs are organized at school.

d) The students use computers in the IT room.

Rewrite in the passive. Add by … only if necessary.

a) The teacher gives us homework every day.

→ _______________________________

b) The students use computers in the IT room.

→ _______________________________

c) The school organizes many trips.

→ _______________________________

Rewrite in the active:

a) Homework is checked regularly.

→ _______________________________

b) Many clubs are organized at school.

→ _______________________________

c) The exam dates are announced by the principal.

→ _______________________________

6. When do we use the present passive at school?

- School rules:

  - Uniforms are worn every day.

  - Lunch is served at 12:30.

- General facts:

  - Math is taught in all grades.

  - Exams are held twice a year.

- Timetables / schedules:

  - PE is done on Fridays.

  - History is taught in room 203.

Practice 

Complete the sentences about a school timetable with the passive:

a) PE ______ (do) on Mondays.

b) Science ______ (teach) in the lab.

c) Lunch ______ (serve) between 12:00 and 1:00.

7. Common past participles (V3) for school

- teach → taught

- give → given

- ask → asked

- use → used

- clean → cleaned

- check → checked

- mark → marked

- wear → worn

- do → done

- make → made

- hold → held

- show → shown

Examples:

- Tests are marked quickly. 

- Posters are shown on the classroom walls.  

- Sports are done in the gym.

Practice 

Write the past participle (V3):

a) teach → __________

b) give → __________

c) wear → __________

d) do → __________

e) show → __________

Complete with the correct past participle:

a) Tests are __________ (mark) quickly.

b) The classroom is __________ (clean) every day.

c) Posters are __________ (show) on the walls.

d) Sports are __________ (do) in the gym.

e) Homework is __________ (check) by the teacher.

8. Practice 1 – Change to passive

Change these sentences from active to passive.

1. The teacher checks the exams.

2. Students wear uniforms.

3. The school gives lunch to the children. 

4. The librarian opens the library at 8:00.

5. The art teacher organizes the school exhibition.

9. Practice 2 – Complete with the passive

Use am / is / are + past participle.

1. English ______ (teach) in my school.  

2. Desks ______ (clean) every day.  

3. Phones ______ (not / allow) in exams.  

4. Science classes ______ (hold) in the lab.  

5. The school rules ______ (show) to new students.