Grammar-Quizzes.com

Passive Diagnostic

Passive: a tool to help you identify specific points that need review

• Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
• Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced 

Focus on Object

Focus on the Object: changing the object to the subject of the sentence  (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• Active v. Passive
• Passive Forms
• Common Mistakes
• Sing–Plural Agreement
• Practice – multiple choice

I was born in 1989.

Focus on Project

Focus on the Project: focusing on the collective work rather than the team (Int.–Adv.ESL & Native Speakers)

• Active v. Passive
• Word Order
• Agreement & Tense
• Exception
• Practice 1 – fill in the blank
• Practice 2 – multiple choice

The human genome is being mapped by scientists.

By Phrases

By Phrases: deciding when to include the "agent" (Int. ESL)

• Including a by-phrase  – reasons for keeping a by-phrase: identifying vs. nonidentifying information
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice

The child was found by her husband late last night.

The child was found [by someone] late last night.

Focus Ind Object

Indirect Objects as Subjects: placing emphasis on the receiver of the action (Int.–Adv.ESL)

• Direct v. Indirect Object  
• Word Order
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1 – multiple choice

A speech was delivered to Congress by Barack Obama.

Congress was delivered a speech by Barack Obama.

Never Passive

Never Passive: intransitive and stative verbs with no passive voice (Int.–Adv.ESL & Native Speakers)

• Intransitive v. Transitive
• Intransitive Verb List
• Other Intransitive Verbs
• Stative Verb List
• Practice – multiple choice

The earthquake happened on April 3, 2009 in Italy.
The earthquake was happened on April 3, 2009 in Italy.

The baby weighed 7 lbs.
The baby was weighed 7 lbs.

Get-Passives

Get-Passives: using get in place of be in passive sentences (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Be- v. Get- Passive
• Observation v. Unexpected
• Intentional v. Fortune/Fate
• Carried Out
• Have Something Done
• Notes
• Practice – multiple choice

The window got broken.  (unfortunate, agent unnamed)
The window was broken by a ball.

I got hired.  (good luck, deserved)
I got fired.   (bad luck)

We got married.  (We organized and did it)
We were married. (factual statement)

We got/ had the job done! 

Clause Reduction 1

Clause Reduction 1: shortening a relative clause with a be verb form

• That–Be Deletion
• Clause Diagrams
• Prepositional Phrases
• Progressive Tense
• Passive Voice
• Practice– multiple choice

Also known as:  That + be deletion, or changing a finite relative clause to a non-finite relative clause

The seat [that was] next to me was empty.
The woman [who is] seated behind me is eating popcorn. 
A talk show [which is] trying to improve its rating may plan a fight. 

Clause Reduction 2

Clause Reduction 2: shortening a relative clause to a present participial clause (-ing)

• Reducing an Active Voice Clause
• Clause Diagrams
• Reduced from Present
• Reduced from Past
• Common Mistakes
• Practice– multiple choice

Also known as:  That + be deletion, or changing a finite relative clause to a non-finite relative clause

The U.S. Congress, [which consists] of two houses, is on a break.
The U.S. Congress, consisting of two houses, is on a break.

Participial Clauses 1

Participial Clause 1: reducing a clause with a passive verb to a participial clause (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Past Participial Clause  (nonfinite clause)
• Clause Reduction
• Grammar Notes
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice

That + be deletion; finite to a non-finite relative clause

The Golden Gate Bridge, [which was] designed by Joseph Strauss, ...
The Golden Gate Bridge, designed by Joseph Strauss, ...

Participial Clauses 2

Participial Clause 2: reducing a clause with a passive or active verb to a participial clause (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Present Participial Clauses 
• Clause Reduction
• Exception
• Common Mistakes
• Grammar Notes
• Practice – multiple choice

[That + be deletion; finite and nonfinite clause; adjunct modifiers]   

The federal agency, which was locating the prison on Alcatraz,
preferred the isolated location of the island.
The federal agency, which was located in San Francisco,
preferred the isolated location of the island.

Been / Being

Been / Being: contrast the sounds/words been and being

• Been v. Being Word Forms
• Been v. Being Audio
• Audio Practice – multiple choice

 These sounds can be played by the default media player in your browser.  (aif files)

We've been quiet.   (present perfect - active)
We're being quiet.   (present progressive - active)

We've been seen by Dr. Allen.   (present perfect - passive)
We 're being seen by Dr. Allen (present progressive - passive)

Passive in Context

Passive in Context: identifying passive sentences in the context of an article

Identify:

• Passive Article –  passive sentences, clauses, tenses
• Practice 1 – multiple choice identify tense & form
• Practice 2 – multiple choice  identify meaning

"Mapping the human genome has been compared with putting a man on the moon, ...

The medical benefits of genome science, scientists agree, must be used to benefit all people, not only a privileged few.