English Learning

Passive Voice – Past Simple & Greenwich

October 25, 2025

🧠 GRAMATIKA. NEVEIKIAMOJI RŪŠIS – PAPRASTASIS BŪTASIS LAIKAS

(Passive Voice – Past Simple)

✅ Affirmative Form

English Lithuanian
I was asked aš buvau paklaustas
You were asked tu buvai paklaustas
He was asked jis buvo paklaustas
She was asked ji buvo paklausta
It was built jis, ji (daiktas) buvo pastatytas
We were asked mes buvome paklausti
You were asked jūs buvote paklausti
They were asked jie, jos buvo paklausti

❌ Negative Form

English Lithuanian
I was not asked aš nebuvau paklaustas
You were not asked tu nebuvai paklaustas
He was not asked jis nebuvo paklaustas
She was not asked ji nebuvo paklausta
It was not built jis, ji (d.) nebuvo pastatytas
We were not asked mes nebuvome paklausti
You were not asked jūs nebuvote paklausti
They were not asked jie, jos nebuvo paklausti

❓ Interrogative Form

English Lithuanian
Was I asked? Ar aš buvau paklaustas?
Were you asked? Ar tu buvai paklaustas?
Was he asked? Ar jis buvo paklaustas?
Was she asked? Ar ji buvo paklausta?
Was it built? Ar jis, ji (d.) buvo pastatytas?
Were we asked? Ar mes buvome paklausti?
Were you asked? Ar jūs buvote paklausti?
Were they asked? Ar jie, jos buvo paklausti?

💬 Short Answers

English Lithuanian
Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t. taip / ne
Yes, he was. / No, he wasn’t. taip / ne
Yes, we were. / No, we weren’t. taip / ne

💡 Proverb

A good name is sooner lost than won.
Geras vardas lengviau prarandamas nei pelnomas.

🏙️ GREENWICH /ˈɡrɪnɪdʒ/ – GRINVIČAS

Greenwich is five miles down the River Thames from London Bridge.
It is an old town and port situated in the south-eastern part of London.
Its population is over two hundred thousand people.

The place is famous for the Zero Meridian, which passes through the building.
The Royal Observatory was designed by the English architect Sir Christopher Wren in 1675.
The Observatory is known as the Museum of Astronomy.
People can find telescopes and old clocks there.
The first astronomer to work there was John Flamsteed.

🗣️ Vocabulary

English IPA Lithuanian
population /ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃn/ gyventojai
meridian /məˈrɪdiən/ dienovidinis
to design /dɪˈzaɪn/ projektuoti
astronomy /əˈstrɒnəmi/ astronomija
telescope /ˈtelɪskəʊp/ teleskopas
astronomer /əˈstrɒnəmə/ astronomas

Fact Check:
All historical details about Greenwich, the Observatory, and the Prime Meridian are correct.

Exercises

Exercise 1Transform to Passive Voice

Rewrite the sentences in the Passive Voice (Past Simple).

  1. They built the Royal Observatory in 1675.
  2. People used old telescopes there.
  3. Astronomers observed the stars.
  4. The king appointed John Flamsteed.
  5. Workers repaired the building.

Exercise 2Choose the Correct Form

Choose the correct passive form.

  1. The Royal Observatory ___ in 1675.
    (A) was built (B) were built (C) builded

  2. Telescopes ___ in the museum.
    (A) was shown (B) were shown (C) shown

  3. The first astronomer ___ John Flamsteed.
    (A) was called (B) were called (C) is called

  4. Greenwich ___ for its Zero Meridian.
    (A) known (B) was known (C) were known

  5. Old clocks ___ by visitors.
    (A) was seen (B) were seen (C) saw

Exercise 3Negative Sentences

Make the sentences negative.

  1. The house was cleaned. →
  2. The telescope was repaired. →
  3. The stars were observed. →
  4. The clock was shown. →
  5. The letters were written. →

Exercise 4Questions in Passive Voice

Turn the sentences into questions.

  1. The tower was built in 1700. →
  2. The park was opened in 1820. →
  3. The documents were found. →
  4. The bridge was painted. →
  5. The meeting was held yesterday. →

Exercise 5Short Answers

Answer with Yes, it was or No, it wasn’t.

  1. Was the Observatory built in 1675?
  2. Was it designed by Sir Christopher Wren?
  3. Were the clocks broken?
  4. Was the first astronomer Newton?
  5. Were telescopes used there?

Exercise 6Translate to English

Translate into English using the Passive Voice.

  1. Observatorija buvo pastatyta 1675 metais.
  2. Knyga buvo parašyta prieš šimtą metų.
  3. Laivas buvo matytas uoste.
  4. Laiškai buvo išsiųsti vakar.
  5. Miestas buvo įkurtas labai seniai.

Exercise 7Fill in the Correct Verb

Complete with the correct form of was or were.

  1. The house ___ cleaned yesterday.
  2. The streets ___ decorated.
  3. The letter ___ written.
  4. The windows ___ broken.
  5. The books ___ read.

Exercise 8Greenwich Facts – True or False

Mark True (T) or False (F):

  1. Greenwich is north of London.
  2. The Zero Meridian passes through the Royal Observatory.
  3. The Observatory was designed by an Italian architect.
  4. John Flamsteed was the first astronomer there.
  5. People can see telescopes in Greenwich.

Exercise 9Sentence Completion

Use the correct form of the verb in brackets.

  1. The museum __ (open) in 1675.
  2. Many people __ (invite) to the ceremony.
  3. The city __ (visit) by millions of tourists.
  4. The telescope __ (repair) last year.
  5. The stars __ (observe) every night.

Exercise 10Creative Writing

Write 5 sentences in Passive Voice (Past Simple) about your city or school.

Example:
The school was built in 1990.

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