What's new

Passive voice

hirashin

Sempai
Donor
8 Apr 2004
2,720
63
63
Dear native English speakers,
the following sentences are some exercises from the grammar book we use.
Do they all sound natural?

Q1 Change the voice using the underlined part as the subject. (Am I saying it right?)
1 The parents told the teacher bad news.
2 He bought his daughter a picture book.
3 They must keep the story secret.
4 Ken showed me a good book.
5 What do you call this bird in English?

My answers:
1 The teacher was told bad news by the parents.
2 A picture book was bought for his daughter.
3 The story must be kept secret.
4 I was showed a good book by Ken.
5 What is this bird called in English?

Q2 (omitted)

Q3 Put a suitable word in the blank.
1 My father is worried ( ) my future. → about
2 The box was filled ( ) oranges. → with
3 Tom was laughed ( ) by his classmates. → at
4 This dress was made for me ( ) my mother. → by
5 The bus was crowded ( ) people this morning. → with

Q4 Fill some words in the blank to complete each translation. Use passive voice.
1) この庭はキングさんが世話をしている。
This garden by Ms. King.
This garden is taken care of by Ms. King.

2) 彼は素晴らしい作曲家だと言われている。
It he is an excellent composer.
It is said (that) he is an excellent composer.

3) その少年はインドで育った。
The boy in India.
The boy was raised in India.

4) 壁は白く塗られるだろう。
The wall .
The wall will be painted white.

Hirashin
 
Last edited:
I think they're fine. They could all be "natural" in the correct situation. The problem with passive voice is that it can look very awkward in isolation, as do a few other grammar structures, but probably passive probably.
 
I agree with Michael2. They look good. You dropped some detail in a couple of your answers. For example you could also say
A picture book was bought for his daughter by him.
The story must be kept a secret by them.

but I think your answers are more natural.
 
Thanks for the help, Michael2 and mdchachi. I intentionally dropped "by him" and "by them" to make the sentences sound more natural.
 
Back
Top Bottom