Exercises/ Passive voice

Exercises

Passive voice exercises

Practise the passive voice the way it is used in business: actions taken by authorities, official emails and admin, and news headlines. Choose or type the right form – the right part of ‘be’ in the right tense, plus the past participle. Contractions (it’s, they’ve) and full forms are both accepted.

Need a refresher? Review the rules in 7.1 The passive voice and 7.2 The passive voice in news headlines in our Verb Tenses in Business guide.

Forming the passive
Is done or is being done?
Actions taken by authorities
Actions taken by your company
News headlines
Mixed review

1. Forming the passive

‘Be’ in the right tense + the past participle.

Rules: 7.1 The passive voice

1Our tax documents (review) every year.

2Our tax documents (review) last week.

3Our tax documents (review) next week.

4Good news: our tax documents (review) – we can submit them now.

5The contract by both parties.

has signedhas been signedhas been sign

2. Is done or is being done?

A general habit, something happening now, or a fixed future plan? Don’t forget ‘being’.

Rules: 7.1 The passive voice

1Applications thoroughly – it usually takes two weeks.

are always reviewedare always being reviewed

2Your application at the moment.

is reviewedis being reviewed

3We are preparing some documents because we (audit) next week.

4We have to wait to start construction because our application (still / review) by the council.

5The crisis in parliament this week.

is discussedis being discussed

3. Actions taken by authorities

Decisions by governments, regulators and councils that affect your business.

Rules: 7.1 The passive voice

1New regulations last week.

have been announcedwere announced

2Planning permission , so we are going to begin next month.

was approvedhas been approved

3The company (fine) €2 million last year for breaching data rules.

4Big news: a new trade deal (finally / agree) between the EU and India.

5Our request for funding , so we will have to find another investor.

has turned downhas been turned downis turned down

4. Actions taken by your company

Official emails and admin – and the most common mistakes.

Rules: 7.1 The passive voice

1Your order (receive) and it will be processed in the next few days.

2Your order has been received, and it (process) in the next few days.

3You will be notified as soon as a decision (make) by the committee.

4Choose the correct sentence:

Your package will delivered by 31st January.Your package will be delivered by 31st January.Your package will be deliver by 31st January.

5Choose the correct sentence:

A deal has been agreeing by both companies.A deal has been agreed by both companies.A deal has agreed by both companies.

6Choose the correct sentence:

A new hotel is currently built next to the harbour.A new hotel is currently being built next to the harbour.

5. News headlines

Headlines leave out ‘to be’. What is the full sentence?

Rules: 7.2 The passive voice in news headlines

1BUDGET CUTS APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT means: Budget cuts by parliament.

are approvedhave been approvedwill be approved

2FACTORY TO BE CLOSED means: The factory .

has been closedis going to be closedis being closed

3CARMAKER BEING INVESTIGATED OVER EMISSIONS means: The carmaker over emissions.

has been investigatedis being investigatedwas investigated

4MERGER DEAL SIGNED LAST NIGHT means: The merger deal last night.

has been signedwas signedis signed

5SUMMER FESTIVAL CANCELLED. In a normal sentence: The summer festival (cancel) this year.

6. Mixed review

All the forms together.

Rules: 7.1 The passive voice

1The issue (discuss) but we don’t know the outcome yet.

2The launch event last week because of the strike.

has been cancelledwas cancelled

3The new measures (review) again next week.

4All information to your email.

has senthas been sentwas sending

Check a section to see your score here.

More practice

The lesson7.1 The passive voiceDiagrams for every tense The lesson7.2 News headlines‘Budget cuts approved’The guideVerb Tenses in BusinessDiagrams and explanations

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