Passive/Mixed Exercises

Diese Übungen wiederholen das Passiv mit allen Zeiten:

Interactive exercises

All tenses

Change the sentences from active into passive.

1. A man puts coals or wood into the fire.

    Pieces of coal or wood are put() into the fire.

2. The fire heats water in a boiler.

    Water is heated() in a boiler.

3. The heat transforms water into steam.

    Water is transformed() into steam.

4. The steam pushes up a piston (Kolben)

    A piston is pushed up() up.

5. This drives wheels.

    Wheels are driven() ( by the engine).

6. This steam engine can pull as much as 20 wagons.

    As much as 20 wagons can be pulled() ( Hilfsverb + Form von "to be" + 3. Form).

7. Until 1890 horses pulled street cars and omnibuses. (simple past)

    Until 1890 many street cars and omnibusses were pulled() by horses.

8. Only after 1900 motors used electricity as a power source.

    Only after 1900 electricity was used() as a power source.

Attack from behind

Fill in the right forms of the verbs. Sometimes the negative form might be needed!

Last summer people were warned (warn) about alligators in town. Yesterday morning an alligator was found (find) in the Tucker's garage. Mr. Tucker's screams were heard (hear) by his daughter. He was frightened (frighten) by the alligator, so he couldn't move, but his daughter pulled (pull) him away.

Later the alligator was caught (catch) and taken (take) back to the park.

Our reporter was told (tell) that the garage door will be closed (close) from now on.

The reporter says: "If the alligator hadn't been caught (not, catch), then more people or animals would have been killed (kill) by it."

A neighbour said to our newspaper: " Something must be done (must/ do) about this. People have been asked (ask) before not to feed these animals. They are dangerous!"

<popup name="Lösung"> Last summer people were warned (warn) about alligators in town. Yesterday morning an alligator was found (find) in the Tucker's garage. Mr. Tucker's screams were heard (hear) by his daughter. He was frightened (frighten) by the alligator, so he couldn't move, but his daughter pulled (pull) him away.

Later the alligator was caught (catch) and taken (take) back to the park.

Our reporter was told (tell) that the garage door will be closed (close) from now on.

The reporter says: "If the alligator hadn't been caught (not, catch), then more people or animals would have been killed (kill) by it." (→If-Sentence 3)

A neighbour said to our newspaper: " Something must be done (must/ do) about this. People have been asked (ask) before (present perfect) not to feed these animals. They are dangerous!" </popup>

Active or Passive?

Complete the sentences using correct tenses and aspects (active or passive). You may have to add words.

During the dry summer in 2006 a forest fire was started (start) by lightning while a big thunderstorm was rolling (roll, past progrssive) over the park. Another was caused by a cigarette which had been dropped (drop, past perfect) some minutes before.

Soon the fires started to race (start, race) throughout the whole park.

But although thousands of fire fighters fought (fight)' to save villages and houses, in the forests the fire was allowed (allow) to burn until the arrival of autumn rains.

Altogether, nearly 36% of the park was destroyed (destroy), but a year later new green could be seen (can, see) again. A ranger told his friend: “ Look, between the burnt trees stumps new grass has already come (already, come) up and just over there black berries are now growing (now, grow)!”

The other ranger said: “Next autumn there will be (be) more food for the bears than before the fire.”

<popup name="Lösung"> During the dry summer in 2006 a forest fire was started (start) by lightning while a big thunderstorm was rolling (roll, past progrssive) over the park. Another was caused by a cigarette which had been dropped (drop, past perfect) some minutes before.

Soon the fires started to race (start, race) throughout the whole park.

But although thousands of fire fighters fought (fight)' to save villages and houses, in the forests the fire was allowed (allow) to burn until the arrival of autumn rains.

Altogether, nearly 36% of the park was destroyed (destroy), but a year later new green could be seen (can, see) again. A ranger told his friend: “ Look, between the burnt trees stumps new grass has already come (already, come) up and just over there black berries are now growing (now, grow)!”

The other ranger said: “Next autumn there will be (be) more food for the bears than before the fire.” </popup>