Active/Passive Voice

Answer Key

1. Mr. Stanton will buy the house previously occupied by Andrew Learner.

The correct answer is: "The house previously occupied by Andrew Learner will be bought by Mr. Stanton."

Mr. Stanton	will buy	the house previously occupied by Andrew Learner.
Subject	Verb	Direct Object

The house previously occupied by Andrew Learner	will be bought	by Mr. Stanton.
Direct Object	Verb	Subject

bought: Past Participle: bought
Verb Tense: Simple Future
Verb TO BE (Simple Past): will be
Agreement: ---

2. Mr. Rumsfeld was building a small barn and a fence outside his property limits.

The correct answer was: "A small barn and a fence were being built outside the property limits by Mr. Rumsfeld."

Mr. Rumsfield	was building	a small barn and a fence	outside the property limits.
Subject	Verb	Direct Object	Where

A small barn and a fence	were being built	outside the property limts	by Mr. Rumsfield.
Direct Object	Verb	Where	Subject

build: Past Participle: built
Verb Tense: Past Progressive
Verb TO BE (Simple Past): was / were being
Agreement: A barn and a fence / were

3. The defendant Mrs. Wilkins will place all the new structures in the assigned location.

The correct answer was: "All the new structures will be placed in the assigned location by the defendant Mrs. Wilkins."

The defendant Mrs. Wilkins	will place	all the new structures	in the assigned location.
Subject	Verb	Direct Object	Where

All the new structures	will be placed	in the assigned location	by the defendant Mrs. Wilkins.
Direct Object	Verb	Where	Subject

place: Past Participle: placed
Verb Tense: Simple Future
Verb TO BE (Simple Future): will be
Agreement: ---

4. His attempt was considered a failure.

Explanation: No possibility to turn this sentence into the passive because it is in the passive voice already!

5. The owners have maintained the historic house and its surrounding park since 1976.

The correct answer was: "The historic house and its surrounding park have been maintained by the owners since 1976."

The owners	have maintained	the historic house and its surrounding park	since 1976.
Subject	Verb	Direct Object	Since when?

The historic house and its surrounding park	have been maintained	by the owners	since 1976.
Direct Object	Verb	Subject	Since when?

maintain: Past Participle: maintained
Verb Tense: Present Perfect
Verb TO BE (Pres. Perf.): has / have been
Agreement: House and park / have

6. The prosecutor had a strong case.

Explanation: This sentence cannot be turned into the passive. No passivization with the main verb TO HAVE.

7. Dr. Brown fled to the hospital as soon as possible.

Explanation: This sentence cannot be turned into the passive because there is no direct object in either of the clauses in this sentence.

8. During the trial the victim's relatives looked distressed, while the defendant seemed remorseless.

Explanation: This sentence cannot be turned into a passive version because there is no direct object in either of the clauses in this sentence.

9. Mr. Crown would have answered the call if he had been at home.

The correct answer was: "The call would have been answered by Mr. Crown if he had been at home."

Mr. Crown	would have answered	the call	if he had been at home.
Subject	Verb	Direct Object

The call	would have been answered	by Mr. Crown	if he had been at home.
Direct Object	Verb	Subject

answer: Past Participle: answered
Verb Tense: Present Perfect with would (Perfect Conditional)
Verb TO BE (Pres. Cond.): would have been
Agreement: ---

10. The police may arrest you for this.

The correct answer was: "You may be arrested (by the police) for this."

The police	may arrest	you	for this.
Subject	Verb	Direct Object

You	may be arrested	(by the police)	for this.
Direct Object	Verb	Subject

11. Joe Watson might have explained the cause of that behavior to the police, but they decided to take him to the precinct anyway.

The correct answer was: "The cause of that behavior might have been explained to the police by Joe Watson, but he was taken to the precinct (by them) anyway."

Joe Watson	might have explained	the cause of that behavior	to the police,
Subject	Verb	Direct Object	To whom?

The cause of that behavior	might have been explained	to the police	by Joe Watson,
Direct Object	Verb	To whom?	Subject

explain: Past Participle: explained
Verb Tense: Present Perfect (with modal might
Verb TO BE (Pres. Perf. with modal might): might have been
Agreement: ---

but	they	took	him	to the precinct	anyway.
	Subject	Verb	D.O.	Where?

but	he	was taken	to the precinct	(by them)	anyway.
	D.O.	Verb	Where?	Subject

take: Past Participle: taken
Verb Tense: Simple Past
Verb TO BE (Past. Perf. Prog.): was / were
Agreement: he / was