– Passives
– Tenses
Question 1
(Please note: The following questions are part of a cloze test. They are interrelated, meaning that the information provided in each question is connected to the others.)
Concorde, the world’s fastest passenger plane, _____ by France and Britain together.
Concorde did not develop itself; people developed it, so we need the passive. The project is finished history, so use the past simple passive: was developed. Not have been developed, because the subject is singular.
Question 2
In the 1950s, both countries dreamed of having a supersonic plane, and the project _____ in 1962.
In 1962 is a finished time in the past, so use the past simple. People started the project, so the passive was started fits. Not has started, because the present perfect is not used with a finished past date.
Question 3
£1.5 billion _____ on developing the Concorde, and it _____ for over 5,000 hours, which makes it the most tested plane in history.
Money was spent by people, so we need the passive. An amount of money like £1.5 billion is treated as one thing, so it takes a singular verb: was spent. Not have been spent, because the verb is plural.
Question 4
£1.5 billion _____ on developing the Concorde, and it _____ for over 5,000 hours, which makes it the most tested plane in history.
The plane did not test anything; engineers tested it. So use the past simple passive: was tested. Not tested, because that would mean the plane did the testing.
Question 5
The first passenger plane _____ by British Airways and Air France in 1976.
The airlines introduced the plane, so the plane is the subject of a passive verb with by. In 1976 is finished past time, so use was introduced. Not has been introduced, because of the past date.
Question 6
The Concorde holds many world records, including the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from New York to London, which _____ in 2 hours 53 minutes!
Which refers to the crossing, and the crossing was achieved by the plane, so we need the passive. It happened once in the past, so use was achieved. Not have been achieved, because crossing is singular.
Question 7
Flying at twice the speed of sound means that flying time _____ by half, which is why the Concorde flight between London and New York _____ a lot by business people and film stars - you can leave Britain at 10.30 and arrive in New York an hour earlier!
This sentence is a general fact in the present (means), so use the present simple passive: is reduced. Flying time is reduced by the high speed; it does not reduce something itself. Not will be reduced, because this is always true, not a future event.
Question 8
Flying at twice the speed of sound means that flying time _____ by half, which is why the Concorde flight between London and New York _____ a lot by business people and film stars - you can leave Britain at 10.30 and arrive in New York an hour earlier!
The flight is used by people, so we need the passive. It is a general fact in the present (you can leave), so use the present simple passive: is used. Not used, because the flight does not use anything.
Question 9
Twenty planes _____ up to the present day. But there are no plans to build any more.
Up to the present day links the past with now, so use the present perfect. The planes were built by people, so it is passive: have been built. Not were built, because the present perfect goes with up to the present day.
Question 10
Each plane _____ at a cost of £55 million, which makes them very expensive!
The planes were made in the past, and the text says there are no plans to build any more. So use the past simple passive: was produced. Not is being produced, because that would mean the planes are being made now.
Question 11
Where _____ these shoes made?
Shoes is plural, so the past passive uses were: Where were these shoes made? Not was, because it is used with singular nouns.
Question 12
I was given this watch _____ my aunt.
In a passive sentence, we use by to show who did the action: I was given this watch by my aunt. Not from, because from is not used after a passive verb like was given.
Question 13
Someone _____ my bag!
Someone did the action, so the verb is active: has stolen. The present perfect shows that it has just happened. Not has been stolen, because that is passive and needs My bag as the subject.
Question 14
A newsagent _____ stamps.
The newsagent does the selling, so the verb is active. A newsagent is singular, so add -s: sells. Not is sold, because the newsagent is not the thing that is sold.
Question 15
A British policeman _____ guns.
The policeman does the action, so the verb is active. A policeman is singular, so we use doesn't carry. Not don't carry, because don't is for I, you, we, they.
Question 16
All the apple juice _____ by nine o’clock.
The juice was drunk by people, so we need the passive: was + past participle drunk. Not was drank, because drank is the past simple, not the past participle.
Question 17
Have all the sandwiches _____?
The present perfect passive is have been + past participle: Have all the sandwiches been eaten? Not eaten alone, because that would mean the sandwiches ate something.
Question 18
_____ hello to your parents from me when you see them.
We say say hello to someone. Not tell, because tell needs a person right after it (tell them).
Question 19
I was late for work because I _____ the bus.
Miss the bus means you are too late to get on it. Not lost, because you lose things like keys, not a bus.
Question 20
This is my grandfather’s watch. He _____ it every day until he died.
We wear a watch, clothes or glasses: He wore it every day. Not kept, because keep means to have something, not to have it on your body.
Question 21
I _____ just _____ a good idea. Let’s eat out tonight.
We say have an idea, and just goes with the present perfect: I have just had a good idea. Not am / told, because we do not tell an idea.
Question 22
My uncle _____ £500 on the stock exchange.
Earn means to get money from work or investments: He earns £500. Not keeps, because it does not mean getting money.
Question 23
We _____ a complaint to the manager because our meal was so bad.
We say make a complaint. Not gave or told, because they do not go with complaint.
Question 24
Rolls-Royce cars _____ in England.
People make the cars, so use the present simple passive for a general fact. Cars is plural, so we use are made. Not is made, because is goes with singular nouns.
Question 25
They _____ rice in China.
They (the people) do the action, so the verb is active: They grow rice. Not are grown, because they is not the thing that is grown.
Print this test
Free worksheets for class or home