Ejercicios Resueltos de Gramática en Inglés: Voz Pasiva, Phrasal Verbs y Reported Speech

A. Active and Passive Voice in Context

Complete the text with the correct active or passive forms of the verbs in parentheses:

Global warming is attributed to human activity. Many chemicals are released into the air by factories every year. Cars and public transportation constantly produce CO₂. Just during the last year, thousands of tons of non-organic waste were generated by people all over the world! Scientists say, however, that the problem will be solved in the near future by humans as well. They will use more eco-friendly transportation. Thousands of trees will be planted in city lanes and parks. This way, all the evidence suggests that environmental problems will be solved one day. Actually, next Friday our school will be visited by a scientific committee to talk about this hypothesis.

B. Relative Clauses with Passive Voice

Use verbs from the box to fill in relative clauses with passive voice forms:

(see – write – prepare – give – break – organize)

1. I am always interested in stories that are written to inform people how to take care of the environment.
2. The "Help the Earth" party, which was organized by the school committee last week, was a great success!
3. The speech that will be given at the meeting tomorrow will address environmental issues.
4. The meat that is prepared now is free of hormones and chemicals.
5. The effects of global warming, which are seen everywhere, started worrying scientists many years ago.
6. Windows that are broken as a result of extreme winds have to be replaced.

C. Active and Passive Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the sentences either in active or passive voice using the words in parentheses:

1. My mom asked me to do the dishes with organic soap. (by)
   → I was asked by my mom to do the dishes with organic soap.
2. Marie Curie received two Nobel Prizes!
   → Marie Curie was awarded two Nobel Prizes!
3. The room will be cleaned right away with eco-friendly cleaners.
   → The kids will clean the room right away with eco-friendly cleaners.
4. Has this lady already read the ecology rules for the park? (by)
   → Have the ecology rules for the park already been read by this lady?
5. The director will be given quite a few pieces of advice on how to save water. (people)
   → People will give the director quite a few pieces of advice on how to save water.
6. The spray that Michael is using damages the environment! (by)
   → The environment is damaged by the spray that Michael is using!

D. Causative Passive: "Have" and "Get" Forms

Complete the sentences with a "get" or a "have" causative structure:

1. I am having my nails done this week.
2. We will get invited to his party next month.
3. I had my cat checked by a vet last month.
4. The Johnsons had their roof repaired after the hurricane.
5. Jason just got stung by a bee!

Sentences with Causatives: Graduation Ceremony

Four sentences using causative "get" or "have":

1. Students get their hair done before the graduation ceremony.
2. Many students have their outfits prepared weeks in advance.
3. Some students get their pictures taken with their families.
4. They have their diplomas printed before the ceremony.

E. Phrasal Verbs Practice

Answer the questions using appropriate phrasal verbs:

• What was the latest time that you got down to doing your homework?
  → The latest time I got down to doing my homework was at 9:00 p.m.
• What are some of the things that you managed to get away with?
  → I once got away with not submitting an assignment because the teacher forgot about it.
• What are you looking forward to?
  → I am looking forward to my summer vacation.
• What do you have to put up with?
  → I have to put up with a lot of noise at home.
• What are your friends getting up to?
  → My friends are getting up to planning a surprise party.

Fill in the Story with Phrasal Verbs

(make up for – put up with – looked forward to – ran out of – got down to – got out of – keep away from – catch up with – came down with – got along with)

My last birthday party was a disaster! Some of my friends got the address wrong and couldn't catch up with the rest of us until really late. Everyone wanted to hug my grumpy cat, so it had to put up with their affection. My girlfriend couldn't come, but promised to make up for it. My sister got down to helping me with the guests, and we quickly ran out of soda. Not all of my friends got along with each other well. Besides, they were afraid of my dog and tried to keep away from it. My best friend came down with chickenpox and couldn't come... When we finally got down to cutting the cake, I was happy that the party was almost over... In conclusion, I had looked forward to celebrating my birthday, but everything went wrong!

F. Determiners and Quantifiers

A. Look at the healthy eating pie chart. Use quantity determiners to specify how much of each food type is advisable to eat:

• Lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Some dairy products.
• A little bit of sweets and fats.
• Plenty of whole grains and cereals.
• A few portions of meat or fish.
• Several glasses of water.

B. Choose the most suitable quantity determiner to complete each sentence:

1. Only some of this food is rich in calcium and vitamins.
2. I still have loads of work to do, so I won't be able to go out.
3. There is little sugar left. Can you buy some more?
4. They interviewed a few of the witnesses who were still around.
5. I have so much free time now that the exams have finished!
6. My father won lots of money in the lottery, but most of it was spent on vacation.

C. Sentence Transformation with Quantifiers:

1. We didn't have much homework on Friday. (a little)
   → We only had a little homework on Friday.
2. There were only a few people at the museum. (many)
   → There were not many people at the museum.
3. So far, I haven't done much exercise. (a little bit)
   → So far, I have only done a little bit of exercise.
4. They used so much printing paper that they had to buy a new package. (a lot)
   → They used a lot of printing paper.

G. Adverb Clauses

Underline the subordinate clause in each sentence and identify its type:

1. Before the electricity came back, we had to use candles!
   → Type: Temporal (Time)
2. Since my granny doesn't drive, she always uses public transportation.
   → Type: Reason
3. If you jogged in the morning, you would feel much more awake.
   → Type: Conditional
4. I had such strong pain in my back that I decided not to exercise for a while.
   → Type: Result
5. Will you help me with the dishes like you used to?
   → Type: Comparison / Manner
6. Although I'd love to watch this movie, I don't think I'll have time to do it this week.
   → Type: Concessive (Contrast)
7. Muhammad Ali became famous because he was an exceptional professional boxer and activist.
   → Type: Reason
8. My father won't be able to get to the venue where we decided to meet for the game on time.
   → Type: Place

H. Reported Speech

• Stephen told me that he was staying with his aunt and uncle that week.
• He mentioned that his father had had a terrible cold.
• He explained that he hadn't received the scholarship that year.
• He also announced that he was going to take a movie-making workshop there.
• Finally, he said that they would probably go for a swim the following day.

I. Present Continuous for Future Arrangements

Complete the conversation using the correct affirmative, negative, or interrogative forms:

Charly: What is your team doing for the art exhibition?
You: We are putting on a new play that Jessica has written.

Charly: Jessica? I thought she would be busy. Is she playing in the school orchestra at the exhibition opening?

You: She is doing both things, actually. It's a pity, by the way, that her parents aren't coming to see the play and the orchestra presentation.

Charly: Are they leaving on the day of the exhibition?

You: No, they are leaving town for a week as soon as her father gets his documents in order.

Charly: I see... And who is Jessica staying with while they are away?

You: She is visiting her granny, as far as I remember.

Future Intentions vs. Future Arrangements

Things you intend to do this summer (Intentions):

1. I intend to learn how to cook Mediterranean food.
2. I intend to read at least five classic novels.
3. I intend to start exercising regularly every morning.

Things you have arranged to do (Arrangements):

1. I have arranged to go to the beach with my cousins in July.
2. I have arranged to visit my grandparents next weekend.
3. I have arranged to attend a music festival with my friends next month.

J. Vocabulary Reference

Review and master these core terms:

Admit • Anyway • Apart from • Be willing to • Brand-new • Celebrity • Champion • Create • Display • Essential • Filmmaker • Fond of • Gear • Internationally • Lack of • Mainly • Method • Necessary • Normally • Otherwise • Performance • Pick • Rather • Recipe • Recording • Require • Save • Score • Speed • Takeout • Traffic jam • Uncomfortable • Unforgettable • Venues • Via