Passive Voice "By" Agent Exercises

Decide whether to include or omit the agent (by + person/thing). Include the agent only when it adds important information.

1. Someone stole my wallet. (My wallet...)

   My wallet

2. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet. (Romeo and Juliet...)

   Romeo and Juliet

3. They manufacture these cars in Germany. (These cars...)

   These cars

4. The storm destroyed several buildings. (Several buildings...)

   Several buildings

5. People speak English all over the world. (English...)

   English

6. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. (The telephone...)

   The telephone

7. The police arrested the suspect. (The suspect...)

   The suspect

8. A 10-year-old boy solved the complex equation. (The complex equation...)

   The complex equation

9. The waiter served dinner at 8pm. (Dinner...)

   Dinner

10. Picasso painted this masterpiece. (This masterpiece...)

    This masterpiece

11. One should respect the rules. (The rules...)

    The rules

12. The earthquake damaged hundreds of buildings. (Hundreds of buildings...)

    Hundreds of buildings

13. A local company sponsors the event. (The event...)

    The event

14. They clean the office every evening. (The office...)

    The office

15. A falling tree killed the driver. (The driver...)

    The driver

16. The government will change the law. (The law...)

    The law

17. My grandmother made this sweater. (This sweater...)

    This sweater

18. They publish the newspaper daily. (The newspaper...)

    The newspaper

19. Our own team members leaked the confidential information. (The confidential information...)

    The confidential information

20. Someone left a message for you. (A message...)

    A message