PASSIVE VOICE

BASIC GRAMMAR

MEIYANTI NURCHAERANI S.S.,M.HUM

UNIVERSITAS ESA UNGGUL

JAKARTA
2018-2019
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR

The Passive Voice 1

THE PASSIVE VOICE INTRODUCTION

The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the
same tense as the active verb and adding the past participle of the active verb. The
subject of the active verb becomes the ‘agent’ of the passive verb. The agent is
very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by and placed at
the end of the clause.
Active: My grandfather planted this tree.
Passive: This tree was planted by my grandfather.

PASSIVE VERB TENSES TO ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

Present Simple
He delivers the letters. The letters are delivered.
Past Simple
He delivered the letters. The letters were delivered.
Future Simple
He will deliver the letters. The letters will be delivered.
Present Continuous
He is delivering the letters. The letters are being delivered.
Past Continuous
He was delivering the letters. The letters were being delivered.
Going to He is going to deliver the letters. The letters are going to be delivered.
Present Perfect
He has delivered the letters. The letters have been delivered.
Past Perfect
He had delivered the letters. The letters had been delivered.
Infinitive
He has to deliver the letters. The letters have to be delivered.
Modals
He must deliver the letters. The letters must be delivered.
 We use the verb to be (am/is/are/was/were) for Present Simple, Past
Simple, Present Continuous, Past Continuous and Going To questions.
 we use the verb have (have/has/had) for Present Perfect and Past Perfect
questions.
 we use will for Future Simple questions.

USE
The Passive is used:

1. when the agent (=the person who does the action) is unknown, unimportant
or obvious from the context.

Jane was shot. (We don’t know who shot her.)

This church was built in 1815. (Unimportant agent)

He has been arrested. (Obviously by the police)

2. to make more polite or formal statements.

The car hasn’t been cleaned. (more polite) (You haven’t cleaned the car. –
less polite)

3. when the action is more important than the agent, as in processes,

instructions, events, reports, headlines, new items, and advertisements.
30 people were killed in the earthquake.
4. to put emphasis on the agent.

The new library will be opened by the Queen.

 AGENT
To say who did the action that we are talking about, ie. to refer to the agent,
we use the preposition by and the name (by Peter) , noun (by the teacher) or
pronoun (by him) at the end of the sentence.
We usually only refer to the agent when it gives us some important
information which otherwise would be missing from the sentence.
Our house was designed by a famous architect.

We don’t mention the agent:

1. if we don’t know who has done what we are talking about.
Our car was stolen last night. (We don’t know who stole it)
2. if we are not interested in who has done what we are talking about or it is not
important to mention it.
He has been taken to hospital. (What we are interested in is the fact that he has
been taken to hospital and not who has taken him.)

3. if it is easy to understand who did something without it being mentioned.

The murderer was arrested last night. (It is not necessary to mention that he has
been arrested by the police because it is self-evident.)

4. if the subject of the active voice sentence is something like somebody, people,
they, you, etc.
Someone broke the window. → The window was broken.

ACTIVE TO PASSIVE
To change a sentence from the active voice to the passive voice:
 the object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice
sentence.
Agatha Christie wrote this book. This book was written by Agatha Christie.
 we change the main verb of the active voice sentence into the passive voice. The
tense remains unchanged.
 the subject of the active voice sentence becomes the agent of the passive
sentence. It is placed after the past participle and it is preceded by the preposition
by.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR
The Passive Voice 3

Agatha Christie wrote this book. This book was written by Agatha Christie.
Leslie took this photograph yesterday.
SUBJECT ACTIVE VERB OBJECT TIME COMPLEMENT
This photograph was taken by Leslie yesterday.

SUBJECT PASSIVE VERB AGENT TIME COMPLEMENT

BY OR WITH?

In the passive voice, we use:

 by with the agent to refer to by whom the action is being done.
The door was opened by Mr Black. (Mr Blak = agent)
 with to refer to the instrument, object or material that was used for something to
be done.
The door was opened with a key. (a key = the object that was used)
The omelette was made with eggs, cheese and peppers.
(eggs, cheese and peppers = the material that was used)

DOUBLE OBJECT VERBS

When we have verbs that take two objects like,
for example, give somebody something, we can convert the active sentence into a
passive one in two ways:
a. by making the indirect (animate) object the subject of the passive voice sentence,
which is also the way that we usually prefer.
b. By making the direct (inanimate) object the subject of the passive voice.
Rick gave me (indirect object) this book (direct object).
I was given this book by Rick.
This book was given to me by Rick.

Some of the verbs that take two objects are:

give, tell, send, show, bring, write, offer, pay, etc.

When the indirect object is alone after the verb in the passive voice
sentence, it needs the preposition to. If the indirect object of the active voice
sentence is a personal pronoun it has to be changed into a subject pronoun to be
the subject of the passive voice sentence.

SUBJECT OBJECT I ←→ me SUBJECT OBJECT

You ←→ you We ←→ us He ←→ him You ←→ you She ←→ her They ←→ them
It ←→ it
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University
Press, 1986 - V.
Evans, Round-Up (English Grammar Practice), Longman, 1995 –
M. Carling and S. Jervis, Grammar Time 4, Longman, 2003 –
S. Jervis, Grammar Time 5, Longman, 2003 –
M. Carling, Grammar Time 6, Longman, 2003 4

https://inglescarmelitaslb.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/the-passive-voice1.pdf
EXERCISES 1.
Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use
the Present Simple.
a. English ____________________ (speak) in many countries.
b. The post ______________________ (deliver) at about 7 o’clock every morning.
c. ______________________________ (the building/use) any more?
d. How often ______________________________ (the Olympic Games(hold)?
e. How _______________________ (your name/spell)?
f. My salary _____________________ (pay) every month.
g. These cars _________________________ (not make) in Japan. h. The name of
the people who committed the crime _____________________ (not know).
i. His travel expenses ________________________ (not pay) by his company.

2. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets.
Use the Past Simple.
a. My car ______________________ (repair) last week.
b. This song ________________________ (not write) by John Lennon.
c. ________________________________ (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
d. The film ________________________ (make) ten years ago.
e. When ______________________________ (tennis/invent)?
f. The car ________________________ (not damaged) in the accident.
g. The original building _________________________ (pull) down in 1965.
h. Where ______________________________ (this pot/make)?
i. When _______________________________ (this bridge/build)?
3. Choose the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

FIAT
Fiat 0 was started (started/was started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899.
In 1903, Fiat, 1 _________________ (produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of
these cars 2 _____________________ (exported/were exported) by the company
to the United States and Britain. In 1920, Fiat 3 _________________ (started/was
started) making cars at a new factory at Lingotto, near Turin. There was a track on
the roof where the cars 4 ____________________ (tested/were tested) by
technicians. In 1936, Fiat launched the Fiat 500. This car 5
____________________ (called/was called) the Topolino – the Italian name for
Mickey Mouse. The company grew, and in 1963 Fiat 6 _____________________
(exported/was exported) more than 300,000 vehicles. Today, Fiat is based in Turin,
and its cars 7 _________________ (sold/are sold) all over the world.

4. Change the following sentences into passive sentences using the words in
brackets.
a. We sell tickets for all shows at the Box Office. (Tickets for all shows/sell/at the
Box Office)
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
b. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. (The electric light bulb/invent/by
Thomas Edison)
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c. Someone painted the office last week. (The office/paint/last week)
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d. Several people saw the accident. (The accident/see/by several people)
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e. Where do they make these video recorders? (Where/these video
recorders/make)
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ENGLISH GRAMMAR
The Passive Voice 5
5. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

a. Someone built this house 200 years ago.

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b. A thief stole my purse.
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c. The police will arrest the robbers.
__________________________________________________________________
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d. They produce cars in this factory.
__________________________________________________________________
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e. They serve breakfast at eight o’clock every day.
__________________________________________________________________
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f. People throw away tones of rubbish every day.
__________________________________________________________________
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g. They make coffee in Brazil.
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h. Someone stole Jim’s bike lat night.
__________________________________________________________________
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6. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.
a. They will build a new bridge next year.
__________________________________________________________________
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b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.
__________________________________________________________________
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c. Pierre Matie will design her costume.
__________________________________________________________________
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d. Someone found my wallet.
__________________________________________________________________
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e. One of the students broke the window.
__________________________________________________________________
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f. They will deliver my computer on Monday.
__________________________________________________________________
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g. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.
_________________________________________________________________
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h. British astronomers discovered a new planet.
__________________________________________________________________
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7. Form the question.

a. Paper is made from wood. Is paper made from wood ?
b. The telephone was invented by Mr Bell.
___________________________________________?
c. This picture was painted by Peter.
___________________________________________?
d. The thieves will be arrested by the police.
___________________________________________?

e. Champagne is made in France.

___________________________________________?
f. The letters will be sent next week.
___________________________________________?
g. The animals are fed three times a day.
___________________________________________?
h. This article was written by Stanley.
___________________________________________?
6.CDs are made of plastic.
___________________________________________?
j. The party was organised by Paul.
___________________________________________?

8. Read and complete. Use Past Simple.

a. The toothbrush / invent / in the 15th century.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
b. The first public basketball game / play / in 1892.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
c. The first eyeglasses / wear / in the 1200s.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
d. The first bicycle / ride in 1791.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
e. The first hot dog / eat / in the 1860s.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
f. The first CDs / sell / in the 1980s.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
g. The first electric guitar / play / in 1923.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
h. The first computer mouse / use / 1964.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________

9. Complete with the passive.

Use Present Simple.
a. This programme _______________________ (watch) by millions of people.
b. Paper __________________________ (make) from wood.
c. Hundreds of people _______________________ (kill) in accidents every year.
d. London __________________________ (visit) by thousands of tourists every
year.
e. The biology class _________________________ (teach) by Mr Green.
f. English _____________________ (speak) all over the world.
g. Lunch _____________________ (serve) at twelve o’clock.
h. Books _____________________ (write) by authors.

10. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple Passive.

Two men _________________________ (see) breaking into a house in my street
last night. The police _____________________ (call) and they arrived very quickly.
One man _____________________ (catch) immediately. The other escaped, but
he ______________________ (find) very soon. Both men
_____________________ (take) to the police station where they
_________________________ (question) separately by a police officer. The two
men ________________________ (charge) with burglary.

11. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. Somebody has stolen a bus from
outside the school. Some children saw the thief. The police are searching for the
bus now. They will use the children’s descriptions to catch the thief.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________

ENGLISH GRAMMAR
The Passive Voice 7
12. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.
Some people saw a UFO in the sky above London last night. They reported it to the
police. The army sent a helicopter to look at it more closer. The UFO shot the
helicopter down and killed both men in it. People have given photographs of the
UFO to the police. Experts are looking at them now.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
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__________________

13. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.

Someone broke into a local jewellery shop yesterday. The owner had just locked up
the shop when a robber with a gun threatened him. The robber told him to unlock
the shop and give him all the diamonds in the safe. Then the robber tied him up.
The police have organized a search for the robber. They hope they will find him in a
few days. Doctors are treating the owner of the shop for shock.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
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14. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. My uncle painted this picture.
Someone has offered him a lot of money for it. He will deliver the painting
tomorrow. When they give him the money, he will tell them the truth. He painted it
one night while he was sleepwalking!
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
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15. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive.

Our school is organizing a contest. The teachers will choose the best project about
the environment. The students must include pictures and drawings in their projects.
The students will also have to do all the writing themselves. The school will give the
winner a set of encyclopaedias.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________
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16. Turn from Active to Passive in two ways.
a. He gave me a present.
______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
b. The waiter will bring us the bill
_______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
c. Her mother bought Mary some sweets.
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
d. Bob has sold Ted a second-hand car.
___________________________________________________ 8
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
e. Larry is going to send a letter to Tom.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
17. Turn from Active to Passive.

a. Someone is helping her with the housework.

__________________________________________________________________
_______________
b. The mail-order company sent Mrs Green a parcel.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
c. My friend sent me an invitation.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
d. The secretary has given Mrs Jones some letters.
__________________________________________________________________
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e. The traffic warden had already given him a ticket for illegal parking.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
f. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
g. Her students have sent her flowers.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
h. He must give the message to the right person.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
i. We teach our students English and French.
__________________________________________________________________
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j. Someone bought flowers for the bride.
__________________________________________________________________
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k. They showed the tourists the sights of Athens.
__________________________________________________________________
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l. They pay her an excellent salary.
__________________________________________________________________
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m. They paid the artist £1,000 for his painting.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________

18. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

1. They sell oysters in the shop next door.
__________________________________________________________________
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2. They haven’t delivered the food yet.
__________________________________________________________________
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3. Shakespeare wrote King Lear.
__________________________________________________________________
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4. They have to answer the questions on this sheet.
__________________________________________________________________
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5. Has anybody put the cases upstairs?
__________________________________________________________________
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6. Someone should take this rubbish away.
__________________________________________________________________
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7. They’ll ask you a lot of questions.
__________________________________________________________________
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8. Someone’s going to send her some flowers.
_________________________________________________________________
_______________
ENGLISH GRAMMAR

The Passive Voice 9

9. They didn’t pay me much for that job.

__________________________________________________________________
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10. Have they offered him a better job?
__________________________________________________________________
_____________
11. They told us a secret.
__________________________________________________________________
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12. Would they lend me their car?
__________________________________________________________________
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13. People should send their complaints to the head office.
__________________________________________________________________
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14. They had to postpone the meeting because of illness.
__________________________________________________________________
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15. They are going to hold next year’s congress in San Francisco.
__________________________________________________________________
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16. The bill includes service.
__________________________________________________________________
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17. People don’t use this road very often.
__________________________________________________________________
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18. They cancelled all the flights because of fog.
_________________________________________________________________
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19. Somebody accused me of stealing the money.
__________________________________________________________________
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20. They are building a new ring-road round the city.
__________________________________________________________________
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21. I didn’t realize that someone was recording our conversation.
__________________________________________________________________
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22. They have changed the date of the meeting.
__________________________________________________________________
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23. Brian told me that somebody had attacked and robbed him in the street.
__________________________________________________________________
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24. You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.
__________________________________________________________________
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25. Somebody had cleaned my shoes and brushed my suit.
__________________________________________________________________
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26. We use this room only on special occasions.
__________________________________________________________________
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27. In some districts farmers use pigs to find truffles.
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28. John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
__________________________________________________________________
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29. They have offered Sarah a very good job.
__________________________________________________________________
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30. The estate agent showed the house to the young people.
__________________________________________________________________
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31. We will pay the gardener a lot of money.
__________________________________________________________________
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32. Someone is going to repair the roof next week.

__________________________________________________________________
_______________

10
33. They can’t find Joanna.
__________________________________________________________________
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34. They should decorate the room with flowers.
__________________________________________________________________
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35. Archaeologists have discovered an ancient temple.
__________________________________________________________________
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36. We will put all these things into boxes.
__________________________________________________________________
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37. The firefighters rescued the teenagers from the burning building.
__________________________________________________________________
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38. The youngest student in the class has written the best composition.
__________________________________________________________________
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39. The children send me messages every day.
__________________________________________________________________
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40. The villagers gave the travellers food and water.
__________________________________________________________________
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41. A very talented young girl wrote the story.
__________________________________________________________________
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42. They are going to finish the new road in a few days.
__________________________________________________________________
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43. They cancelled the match because of the rain.

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44. You must not cross this line
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45. They had picked the oranges before the storm.
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46. Professor Smith should write the book.
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47. Mr Elliot will pay the workers.
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48. Two men were following Tom.
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49. Millions of people use the Internet every day.
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50. They gave Bob a CD player for his birthday.
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51. The prime minister will give a medal to the winners.
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52. She is telling the children a story.
__________________________________________________________________
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53. They’ve offered Sally a job.
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54. Poisonous chemicals have polluted the river.
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55. Doctor Simms is examining her.

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56. You must stop him now.
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57. Someone gave them free tickets for the concert.
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