Passive Voice Test Exercises - Multiple Choice Questions With Answers

This exercise is an advanced level multiple choice test with multiple choice questions on passive voice including the topics below.

Passive Voice

Present Passive
Past Passive
Passive Voice with Modals
Stative Passives (With Prepositions)

Passive Voice Test Exercises - Multiple Choice Questions With Answers - Advanced Level 26

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Question 1

When you arrive at the place you _____ by our men. They will take you to the exact place.

A	will meet
B	will be met
C	are met
D	meet
E	are going to meet

Question 1 Explanation:

Our men will meet you, so the subject you receives the action and we need the future passive: will be met. The agent by our men is the clue. Not will meet, because that would mean you do the meeting.

Question 2

My little brother _____ a ticket before we went to the cinema.

A	is given
B	had been given
C	has been given
D	will be given
E	would be given

Question 2 Explanation:

The ticket was given before another past action (before we went), so we use the past perfect passive: had been given. My brother received the ticket, so the verb is passive.

Question 3

There isn't any ice cream in the refrigerator now. It _____ all _____.

A	was / been eaten
B	has / eaten
C	has / been eaten
D	had / eaten
E	had / been eaten

Question 3 Explanation:

Now shows a present result of a past action, so we use the present perfect. The ice cream was eaten by someone, so the verb is passive: It has all been eaten. All goes between the auxiliary and been.

Question 4

Since his death, John Milton's poems _____ translated into several languages.

A	was
B	has been
C	have been
D	were
E	had been

Question 4 Explanation:

Since his death calls for the present perfect, and the poems receive the action, so the verb is passive. The subject poems is plural, so we need have been translated. Not has been, which is singular.

Question 5

You are the one _____ at because either you don't hear me or you pretend not to.

A	is to be shouted
B	shouting
C	shout
D	be shouted
E	to be shouted

Question 5 Explanation:

After the one, an infinitive can describe the person: the one to do / to be done. I shout at you, so it is passive: the one to be shouted at. The preposition at stays after the verb. Not is to be shouted, because a second finite verb cannot follow the one without who.

Question 6

The Prime Minister _____ about every particular detail every five minutes during the operation by the team.

A	informed
B	have informed
C	having been informed
D	is to be informed
E	is informing

Question 6 Explanation:

Be to + passive infinitive expresses an official arrangement or instruction: is to be informed. The team informs the Prime Minister (by the team), so the passive is needed. Informed alone would be active and would need an object.

Question 7

As you knew everything about the plan, you _____ before the meeting.

A	are informed
B	must have informed
C	should be informed
D	are being informed
E	must have been informed

Question 7 Explanation:

The first clause is evidence (As you knew everything), so the speaker makes a logical deduction about the past: must have + past participle. Someone informed you, so the verb is passive: must have been informed. Not must have informed, which is active and would mean you informed somebody.

Question 8

He is known to _____ for the mafia for a long time.

A	worked
B	be worked
C	having been worked
D	have worked
E	work

Question 8 Explanation:

After is known / is said / is believed, we use the perfect infinitive (to have + past participle) for an action that happened earlier or continued up to now: He is known to have worked ... for a long time. He did the work, so the verb is active. Not to work, because for a long time refers to a period up to now, not a present habit.

Question 9

Nothing _____ if the wisest man proclaims his wisdom in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

A	has accomplished
B	can accomplish
C	must be accomplished
D	has been accomplished
E	will have accomplished

Question 9 Explanation:

Nothing is the thing (not) achieved, so the verb must be passive: has been accomplished. The point is that wisdom shown where no one hears it achieves no result. Not can accomplish, because nothing cannot do the accomplishing.

Question 10

Freedom of speech _____ best _____ by having in mind the picture of an assembly where opposing views _____.

A	has / conceived / have represented
B	can be / conceived / represent
C	is / conceived / are represented
D	may / conceive / represent
E	may be / conceived / are representing

Question 10 Explanation:

For a general truth we use the present simple passive: freedom of speech is best conceived (people conceive it best this way). In the relative clause, views are represented by people, so it is also passive: are represented. Not represent, which is active and needs an object.

Question 11

When I have discussed this kind of device with housewives, some 90 per cent of them have the immediate reaction, “How soon can I buy one?” The other ten per cent have the reaction, “I would _____ to have it moving about my house”— but when one explains to them that it could be switched off or unplugged or stopped without the slightest difficulty, or made to go and put itself away in a cupboard at any time, they quickly realise that it is a highly desirable object.

A	terrify
B	be terrifying
C	have terrified
D	be terrified
E	have been terrifying

Question 11 Explanation:

Be terrified (past participle) describes how a person feels: I would be terrified. The -ing form describes the thing that causes the fear, so I would be terrifying would mean the housewife frightens others.

Question 12

He doesn't speak in order to speak. His advice _____ attention to when he speaks.

A	might pay
B	could have paid
C	should have paid
D	must be paid
E	may be paid

Question 12 Explanation:

The passive of pay attention to his advice is his advice must be paid attention to; the preposition stays at the end. Must shows strong necessity: he only speaks when he has something important to say. Not may be paid, which is too weak for this context.

Question 13

The germs, microbes, the minute organisms which could _____ only through the most powerful microscopes, breed a life of their own and are able _____ the living tissues infected by them.

A	see / to be destroyed
B	be seen / to destroy
C	have been seen / to have destroyed
D	be seen / to be destroying
E	see / to destroy

Question 13 Explanation:

The organisms are seen by people, so after the modal we need the passive infinitive: could be seen. The organisms themselves destroy the tissues, so the second verb is active: are able to destroy. Not see / to destroy, because organisms do not see.

Question 14

A famous scientist, Lister _____ marvellously in the field of observation by the books he had read.

A	prepared
B	has prepared
C	to be prepared
D	prepares
E	was prepared

Question 14 Explanation:

The books prepared Lister, so the verb is passive; the agent is introduced by by the books he had read. The past context (had read) gives the past simple passive: was prepared.

Question 15

The essayist _____ man, sustained by the childish belief that everything he _____ about, everything that _____ to him, is of general interest.

A	is a self-liberate / thinks / happens
B	is a self-liberate / is thought / happens
C	is a self-liberated / thinks / happens
D	is a self-liberated / is thought / is happened
E	is a self-liberating / thinks / is happened

Question 15 Explanation:

Self-liberated is a past participle used as an adjective (a man who has freed himself). He thinks about is active because he does the thinking. Happen is intransitive, so it can never be passive: everything that happens to him. Is happened is always wrong.

Question 16

A great deal of research _____ to find a cure for cancer, but so far no perfect cure _____.

A	has to be done / is found
B	need have been done / is to be found
C	has been done / has been found
D	was done / was found
E	is being done / is being found

Question 16 Explanation:

So far signals the present perfect. Both research and a cure are acted on by people, so both verbs are passive: has been done and has been found. Not was done / was found, because the past simple does not connect with so far.

Question 17

There are no English books on the shelves now. They _____ all _____ to the new library.

A	were / taken
B	had / been taken
C	have / been taken
D	had / taken
E	have / taken

Question 17 Explanation:

Now shows a present result, so we use the present perfect. The books were taken by someone, so it is passive: They have all been taken. All goes after the first auxiliary.

Question 18

He is known to _____ five medals in the championship four years ago.

A	be won
B	have been won
C	be winning
D	win
E	have won

Question 18 Explanation:

After is known, an action in the past (four years ago) needs the perfect infinitive: to have + past participle. He did the winning, so the verb is active: He is known to have won. Not have been won, because he did not get won by someone.

Question 19

Have you reminded the receptionist that you want _____ at 7 o'clock?

A	to be waking
B	to have awaken
C	to have been awakened
D	to be woken
E	to have awakened

Question 19 Explanation:

The receptionist will wake you, so after want we need the passive infinitive: to be + past participle. The past participle of wake is woken: I want to be woken at 7. (The verb awaken has the participle awakened.) To be waking is active, so it would mean you do the waking. To have awakened and to have been awakened are perfect forms, which refer to an earlier action, not to 7 o'clock in the future. To have awaken is wrong because awaken is not a past participle.

Question 20

You said you went to the office last Thursday but I found out that you _____ at the cinema.

A	will be seen
B	saw
C	would be seen
D	have seen
E	were seen

Question 20 Explanation:

Someone saw you at the cinema last Thursday, so we need the past simple passive: you were seen. Not saw, which would need an object (you saw someone).

Question 21

"Is this the police station? I am phoning from my car. I _____ by a car for the last twenty minutes."

A	was followed
B	am followed
C	am being followed
D	have been followed
E	have been following

Question 21 Explanation:

For the last twenty minutes describes a period up to now, so we need the present perfect. A car is following the speaker, so the verb is passive: I have been followed. Not am being followed: the present continuous does not combine with for + a period of time.

Question 22

The Prime Minister claimed that inflation _____ to 10% in two years' time.

A	was being reduced
B	would be reduced
C	would be reducing
D	has been reduced
E	would have reduced

Question 22 Explanation:

After a past reporting verb (claimed), future will moves back to would. Inflation is reduced by the government, so the passive is needed: would be reduced. Not would have reduced, which is active and has no object, and it is not inflation that does the reducing.

Question 23

The number of universities _____ to _____.

A	is expected / increase
B	expected / be increased
C	has expected / to increase
D	is expecting / increase
E	is expected / to be increased

Question 23 Explanation:

The pattern is be expected to + infinitive. To is already in the sentence, and increase is intransitive (numbers increase by themselves), so it stays active: is expected to increase. Not is expecting, because a number cannot expect anything; people expect it to increase.

Question 24

I think this old printer needs _____; it has broken down three times this month and it is very slow.

A	replace
B	to replace
C	to be replacing
D	to be replaced
E	to have replaced

Question 24 Explanation:

When the subject receives the action, need is followed by the passive infinitive: needs to be replaced (someone must replace it). Not to replace, which would mean the printer itself replaces something.

Question 25

I want the reports _____ in by tomorrow morning.

A	to hand
B	to be handed
C	to have handed
D	to be handing
E	being handed

Question 25 Explanation:

The pattern is want + object + passive infinitive: I want the reports to be handed in. The reports are handed in by people, so the verb is passive. Not to hand, which would mean the reports do the handing.

Question 26

"Have you seen my watch?"

"It _____ by Tom since he had a math exam this morning and his watch was broken."

A	need to be borrowed
B	may be borrowed
C	will be borrowed
D	must have borrowed
E	must have been borrowed

Question 26 Explanation:

The speaker makes a confident deduction about the past (since he had a math exam ... his watch was broken): must have + past participle. The watch was borrowed by Tom, so it is passive: must have been borrowed. Not must have borrowed, which would mean the watch borrowed something.

Question 27

By this time tomorrow, certain results of the elections _____ by the government officials.

A	are to have declared
B	will have been declared
C	is having been declared
D	have been declared
E	are going to have declared

Question 27 Explanation:

By this time tomorrow shows an action completed before a future moment, so we use the future perfect. The results are declared by officials, so it is passive: will have been declared.

Question 28

The genius student _____ unhappy since he found the explanations to his problems unsatisfactory.

A	seemed to be
B	was seemed
C	seemed being
D	has been seemed
E	is seemed to be

Question 28 Explanation:

Seem is never used in the passive, so was seemed and is seemed are wrong. The other verb (found) is in the past, so we need seemed to be. Seem is followed by to + infinitive, not the -ing form.

Question 29

The proper working of the machine which _____ by the polluted water has slowed down recently.

A	affected
B	has affected
C	was affected
D	was to affect
E	to be affected

Question 29 Explanation:

The polluted water affected the machine, so the relative clause is passive: which was affected by the polluted water. Not affected or has affected, which are active and would mean the machine affected something.

Question 30

The impact of the earthquake _____ by many people who lived nearby.

A	is being felt
B	was felt
C	felt
D	has been feeling
E	has to be felt

Question 30 Explanation:

People felt the impact, so it is passive: was felt by many people. The past tense lived shows a finished past event, so we use the past simple passive. Not is being felt, which does not match the past time.

Question 31

David: Why didn't Terry attend the meeting yesterday?

Daisy: I don't know. He _____ to.

A	was not to be told
B	may not have been told
C	has been told not
D	couldn't told to be
E	should be told

Question 31 Explanation:

Daisy is guessing about the past (I don't know), so she uses may not have + past participle. Someone should have told Terry, so it is passive: He may not have been told to (= told to attend). Not should be told, which refers to the present or future.

Question 32

To me, in order to deal with problems easily, a problem-solving centre _____ immediately.

A	was established
B	has to establish
C	has been established
D	should be established
E	must have established

Question 32 Explanation:

To me introduces an opinion or advice, so we use should. A centre is established by people, so it is passive: should be established. Not has been established, because immediately shows a recommendation, not a finished action.

Question 33

Find the sentence with the same meaning. It is said that the government has introduced a new working act.

A	The government is said to have introduced a new working act.
B	It is said that the government has been introduced a new working act.
C	The government said that it has introduced a new working act.
D	It is said that a new working act has been introduced to the government.
E	It is said that a new working act will be introduced by the government.

Question 33 Explanation:

It is said that + present perfect can be changed to Subject + is said + to have + past participle: The government is said to have introduced .... The perfect infinitive keeps the meaning of the present perfect. Not option 4, because the act is not introduced to the government.

Question 34

Find the sentence with the same meaning.

It is said that the manager will let some workers go abroad to learn a foreign language.

A	It is said that some workers will be let go abroad to learn a foreign language.
B	The manager is said to be going to let some workers go abroad to learn a foreign language.
C	The manager is said to be let go abroad to learn a foreign language.
D	It is said that some workers will let go abroad to learn a foreign language.
E	Some workers said that they will let the manager go abroad to learn a foreign language.

Question 34 Explanation:

It is said that + future can become Subject + is said + to be going to + infinitive: The manager is said to be going to let .... Let is not normally used in the passive (we say be allowed to), so will be let go is wrong.

Question 35

Find the sentence with the same meaning. You are supposed to be working at this time of the day, aren't you?

A	People say you work at this time of the day.
B	You should be working now, but you aren't.
C	Why don't you work some time during the day?
D	You are said to work during the whole day.
E	You aren't allowed to work at this time during the day.

Question 35 Explanation:

Be supposed to be doing means should be doing now. It often suggests that the person is not doing it: You should be working now, but you aren't. Not People say you work ..., because here supposed to means duty, not what people say.

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