Page 426, Exercise 10

Using the passive voice when you are telling who did it.

1. Active voice: Employees use cell phones.

Passive voice: Cell phones are used by employees.

2. Active voice: The driver hit a pedestrian.

Passive voice: The pedestrian was hit by the driver.

3. Active voice: The court threw out the case.

Passive voice: The case was thrown out by the court.

4. Active voice: Distracted drivers cause accidents.

Passive voice: Accidents are caused by distracted drivers.

5. Active voice: Congress makes the laws.

Passive voice: The laws are made by congress.

6. Active voice: Should the government control cell phone

use?Passive voice: Should cell phone

use be controlled by the government?

7. Active voice: The president signs new laws.

Passive voice: New laws are signed by the president.

8. Active voice: The court has decided the case.

Passive voice: The case has been decided by the court.

9. Active voice: The judge will make a decision.

Passive voice: A decision will be made by the judge.

10. Active voice: Fast-food restaurants sell hamburgers and

fries.Passive voice: Hamburgers and fries

are sold by fast-food restaurants.

In these sentences, active and passive voice are both OK. It

depends on which noun or noun phrase you want to emphasize.

The meaning is the same. The choice of active or passive just

changes the meaning a little bit.

Pages 426-427, Exercises 11

In these sentences, it’s better to use the passive voice because who did it is unknown or unimportant or

obvious.

I don’t use “by” at the end.

1. I was sent a questionnaire. (Somebody sent it to me—it’s not

important who sent it.)

2. We have been taken to a separate room.

(I’m not saying who has taken us.)

3. We were told not to discuss the case.

(Probably the judge told us not to discuss the case. It’s obvious—everybody knows it’s the judge who tells the jurors things like

that.)

4. 12 people will be chosen.(The lawyers choose them,

probably. But it’s not important in the sentence.)

5. Has your name been selected?(I’m not talking about who has

selected it.)

6. We were not permitted to read any newspapers.

7. He will not be selected again for jury duty.

OR He will not be selected for jury duty again.

8. Will you be paid?

9. We aren’t allowed to eat in the courtroom.

10. My name has been called.

Pages 427-428, Exercise 12These sentences should really be

active and not passive because who it is important.

Change passive to active:

1. The driver had a cell phone.

2. The driver spilled hot coffee.

3. Do you use a cell phone?

4. I have driven the car.

5. Lawyers make a lot of money.

6. Drivers with cell phones should use an earpiece.

7. I conduct business from my car.

8. We watch the news every night.

9. Teenagers eat a lot of fast food.

10. They will report the accident.