select the correct form in the passive to complete each sentence from the choices given
Tenses in the passive follow tha same rules as in the active:
Generally: X cars ARE produced every day, every year, etc. Finished time: X cars WERE manufactured last year, last month, etc. Unfinished time: X cars HAVE BEEN produced this week, this month, etc. Up to a time in the past: X cars HAD BEEN manufactured by the end of last January.
Continuous: ( AT a particular moment ) My house IS BEING painted. ( the painters are working now ) My house WAS BEING painted at this time last year.
Look out for examples where the participle is used with no auxillary."Which was", "which is", "which have been", etc. seem to be left out of these sentences:
- The most famous play (which was) written by Shakespeare was Macbeth. - The dress (which was) designed by Dore was a sensation. - The platypus is one of the strangest animals (which has ) ever (been) discovered.
Recently, safety in industry ___________ improved considerably.
was being
was
had been
has been
Potatoes _________ introduced into France by Parmentier.
were
were being
was
had been
Today a lot of computer research __________ done in Silicon Valley.
has been
is being
was being
was
I don't think the rocket _________ launched yet
was being
was
has been
had been
The nurses make sure that the medicine __________ taken on time.
has been
was being
was
is
When the patient arrived, his room _________ prepared.
was being
is
being
has been
The contract ________ signed last week will make the company's fortune.
was being
(no answer required)
was
has been
When I last saw this building, it ________ finished.
hadn't been
hasn't been
wasn't been
Joe's car was very dirty. It __________ washed in months.
hasn't been
hadn't been
wasn't been
In 2007, millions of dollars _______ spent on research into AIDS.
were
had
have been
By the year 2000, no really effective treatment _________ found for AIDS.
was
was being
had been
Have you read the new book ________ published by ACME press?
was
(no answer required)
was being
had been
The fire _______ put out when the fire trucks arrived.
had already been
had
has been
(no answer required)
The rocket exploded while it _________ launched.
had been
had
(no answer required)
was being
Now the paintings in the Sistine chapel ________ completely restored.
have been
had been
were
(no answer required)
Some good wine ________ produced in California these days.
was being
is being
has been
had been
When we arrived at our hotel in Majorca, it ________ painted.
had still been
was just
was still being
is still being
We were all sick because the seafood _________ cooked properly.
hasn't been
isn't being
not
hadn't been
When the meeting finished, nothing _______ decided.
had been
has been
was being
is
During the meeting yesterday, nothing important _______ decided.
has been
was
had been
were
No cure for the common cold _________ discovered yet.
was
is
has been
had been
America ________ visited by the Vikings many years before Columbus.
has been
is
(no answer required)
was
America _________ visited by the Vikings when Columbus arrived.
had already been
was already
has already been
already
I took the bus this morning because my car ________ repaired.
is
is being
has been
was
Your complaint _________ answered in the next meeting.
is
will be
was
was being
My papers _________ examined by customs at the moment.
are
have been
are being
were being
Taxes __________ increased again in the next budget.
are
(no answer required)
were being
are going to be
The place ________ explored in Australia was Botany Bay.
first
was first
has been first
had been first
Excuse me. Do you know if my flight to Lima _______ cancelled ?
was
has been
(no answer required)
had been
The most famous book _________ written by Mark Twain is 'Tom Sawyer.'