Passive Voice Questions and Negative Statements

Grammar Lesson and Exercise
CHAPTER 12. The passive voice
     
3. Questions and negative statements
         a. Questions
         b. Negative statements
         c. Negative questions





3. Questions and negative statements
As is the case for other English conjugations, verbs in the Passive Voice form questions and negative statements using the first auxiliary.

a. Questions
To form a question, the first auxiliary is placed before the subject. For example:

Affirmative Statement	Question
You were shown the sights.	Were you shown the sights?
She is being shown the sights.	Is she being shown the sights?
He will have been shown the sights.	Will he have been shown the sights?
We should be shown the sights.	Should we be shown the sights?

 Exercise 1.

1. Change the following affirmative statements into questions. For example:
      You are required to attend the meeting.
      Are you required to attend the meeting?

      She is being ignored.
      Is she being ignored?

1. They should be notified.
2. He might have been allowed to come.
3. You had been told about it.
4. They will be needed.
5. It has been adjourned.
6. They were being prepared.

b. Negative statements

To form a negative statement, the word not is placed after the first auxiliary. For example:

      Negative Statements
      You were not shown the sights.
      She is not being shown the sights.
      He will not have been shown the sights.
      We should not be shown the sights.

Exercise 2

2. Change the following affirmative statements into negative statements. For example:
      They would have been instructed to join us.
      They would not have been instructed to join us.

      It was sent on time.
      It was not sent on time.

1. We could have been seen from the island.
2. It is being dealt with satisfactorily.
3. They were being kept under observation.
4. You will be held responsible.
5. They were expected at six o'clock.
6. He will be asked to participate.

c. Negative questions

To form a negative question, the first auxiliary is placed before the subject, and the word not is placed after the subject. However, when contractions are used, the contracted form of not follows immediately after the auxiliary. Contractions are often used in spoken English. For example:

      Without Contractions
      Were you not shown the sights?
      Is she not being shown the sights?
      Will he not have been shown the sights?
      Should we not be shown the sights?

      With Contractions
      Weren't you shown the sights?
      Isn't she being shown the sights?
      Won't he have been shown the sights?
      Shouldn't we be shown the sights?

Exercise 3

3. Change the following affirmative statements into negative questions. Do not use contractions in this exercise. For example:
      He is respected by everyone.
      Is he not respected by everyone?

      She should be consulted.
      Should she not be consulted?

1. They were recognized immediately.
2. We were being assisted by volunteers.
3. It had been delivered.
4. They should have been guarded more carefully.
5. We will be given financial assistance.
6. It had been organized by the club members.

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