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Double passives 1 gapfill Bookmark and Share

Grammar - information and contents

This exercise practises verbs which can have two different passive constructions. These verbs can take two objects, direct and indirect, in the active, and can consequently form two passive constructions. Look at the examples below:

A - John gave the book to Mary. -> The book was given to Mary by John.
B - John gave Mary the book. -> Mary was given the book by John.

Generally, if a verb can have both passives, type B passives are preferred in informal, everyday speech, while type A passives are more formal. Read the following passive sentences, choose the correct verb and put it into the sentence in the passive. Not all the verbs can take the type B passive. Write A or B after the verb, e.g. .

buy, deny, explain, make, offer, pay, present, sell, suggest, tell

1. I was (1) an offer for the car that I couldn't refuse.

2. The office rules were (2) to me by the manager when I started my new job.

3. The protesters were (3) by the police to move back from the embassy building.



4. Janet's very angry because she was (4) a car which broke down within a week.

5. It was (5) to me by my lecturer that I should try harder to pass the exam.

6. When Alfred retired, he was (6) with a gold watch and a cheque for £10,000 by his company.



7. Although Monica was (7) £1000 in error by the bank, they allowed her to keep the money.

8. I was (8) the opportunity to take my exam by my illness, so I have to wait until next year.

9. I was (9) a new suit for my birthday by my wife so that we could visit her mother.

10. I've been (10) £400,000 for my house by the people who came to see it yesterday. I've decided to accept.



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