Passive Voice - Stative

Guided Practice

In the exercise below, you are to distinguish between true passive voice constructions and stative passive constructions. After reading each sentence, record your choice by clicking on either the word TRUE or on the word STATIVE. You will then be shown the answer.

Remember that a true passive construction indicates that an action is performed on the subject of the sentence, whereas a stative passive construction merely describes the state or condition of the subject.

  1. A complete system of computer logic was devised by Charles Babbage. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  2. Charles Babbage was excited about his accomplishment. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  3. Unfortunately, Babbage's achievements were ignored by many people because Babbage had a difficult personality. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  4. Charles Babbage was disappointed when people failed to acknowledge his accomplishment. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  5. In 1793, a new kind of cotton-cleaning machine was built by Eli Whitney. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  6. Whitney was thrilled because he felt certain that he would make a fortune with his new machine. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  7. Unfortunately, one night his cotton-cleaning machine was stolen out of the carriage house where he kept it. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  8. After the theft of his machine, Whitney was depressed for a long time. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  9. He was determined to find a way to become rich. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  10. During the war of 1812, the first precision rifles were mass-produced by Eli Whitney. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  11. President Thomas Jefferson was delighted to have precision rifles in the hands of his army. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  12. Whitney's rifles were the most perfect fire arms that had ever been manufactured. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  13. In 1849, gold was discovered in California. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  14. People were excited about the discovery of gold, and they traveled to California in droves in hopes of becoming rich. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  15. Before long, the new Californians realized that they were isolated from the East There was no longer any way for them to receive timely news from there. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  16. The mail took several weeks to be delivered. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  17. People were dissatisfied with the slowness of the mail. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  18. In April of 1860, a new kind of mail service was established by three wealthy tycoons. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  19. With this new service, the mail could be delivered to the west in ten days. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  20. The new Californians were relieved because they could now receive news from the east. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  21. The first electronic computer was built in England during World War II. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  22. It was powered by five kinds of vacuum tubes. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  23. It was used by the British to break German codes. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  24. Immediately after the war, it was destroyed so that other countries would never find out how the British broke codes. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  25. Since World War II, the electronic computer has been developed to a great extent in the United States. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  26. A significant number of electronic computers have been built in Great Britain, as well. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  27. Today computers are manufactured in many cities of both Europe and North America. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

    STATIVE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

  28. Most modern computers are advanced, complicated, and sophisticated. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  29. Today, millions of computers all over the world are connected to the internet. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

  30. Many of the countries of Europe are industrialized. TRUE  STATIVE

    TRUE PASSIVE: INCORRECT.

    STATIVE PASSIVE: CORRECT!

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