PASSIVE VOICE (SIMPLE PAST) EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
✓ Useful for TOEIC
The simple past passive is one of the most frequently used passive structures in English — it shifts the focus from who did something to what happened or what was affected. Forming it correctly requires both the right form of be and the past participle.
Grammar review
The passive voice (simple past) — structure and transformation
In this exercise you are transforming active voice sentences into the passive voice using the simple past.
Structure: was/were + past participle
• Singular subjects → was + past participle
• Plural subjects → were + past participle
Transformation process:
1. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
2. Use was or were depending on the new subject
3. Change the verb to its past participle
4. Add by + original subject at the end (optional)
Examples:
Active: “The chef prepared the meal.”
Passive: “The meal was prepared by the chef.”
Active: “The police rescued the hostages.”
Passive: “The hostages were rescued by the police.”
Why use the passive?
When the focus is on what happened (the action or result) rather than who did it. The by phrase can be omitted when the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
In this exercise you are transforming active voice sentences into the passive voice using the simple past.
Structure: was/were + past participle
• Singular subjects → was + past participle
• Plural subjects → were + past participle
Transformation process:
1. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
2. Use was or were depending on the new subject
3. Change the verb to its past participle
4. Add by + original subject at the end (optional)
Examples:
Active: “The chef prepared the meal.”
Passive: “The meal was prepared by the chef.”
Active: “The police rescued the hostages.”
Passive: “The hostages were rescued by the police.”
Why use the passive?
When the focus is on what happened (the action or result) rather than who did it. The by phrase can be omitted when the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
Rewrite each sentence in the simple past passive (was/were + past participle).
1. The president gave John an award. → John an award by the president.✓
2. Everyone saw them. → They by everyone.✓
3. The police brought him. → He by the police.✓
4. The firefighters saved the women. → The women by the firefighters.✓
5. All the students understood the explanation. → The explanation by all the students.✓
6. Mrs. Richardson filed two complaints. → Two complaints by Mrs. Richardson.✓
7. That man stole my wallet. → My wallet by that man.✓
8. Everyone knew them. → They by everyone.✓
9. A snake bit him. → He by a snake.✓
10. Thomas and his brother built that house. → That house by Thomas and his brother.✓
11. The detective questioned him. → He by the detective.✓
12. My mother ironed our clothes. → Our clothes by my mother.✓
13. Robert warned Steven about Frank. → Steven by Robert about Frank.✓
14. They picked Anthony. → Anthony by them.✓
15. My brother sold the paintings. → The paintings by my brother.✓
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PASSIVE VOICE EXERCISES:
Passive voice (simple present) 1 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (simple present) 2 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (simple past) 1 (B1/B2)
Causative form (passive) 1 (B1/B2)
Causative form (passive) 2 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (mixed) 1 (B)
Passive voice (mixed) 2 (I)
More grammar exercises
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Passive voice (simple present) 1 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (simple present) 2 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (simple past) 1 (B1/B2)
Causative form (passive) 1 (B1/B2)
Causative form (passive) 2 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (mixed) 1 (B)
Passive voice (mixed) 2 (I)
More grammar exercises
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