Passive and spring

People think spring is the most beautiful season. Water fills the rivers, you may hear bees in the fields, and flowers give you their sweetest smell. Life is everywhere, and you will feel it wherever you go. Beautiful, isn't it? Now try saying it this way:
Spring is thought to be the most beautiful season. Rivers are filled with water, bees can be heard in the fields and you are given by flowers their sweetest smell. Life is everywhere and it will be felt wherever you go.
This is the passive voice. It's just another way to express the same thing, but focusing your attention on a different aspect. Try watching this video and see how the passive voice is used on TV series. 
Here you are a few exercises on the passive voice. Try them and think of spring, flowers, bees, and think of the upcoming summer. It isn't that far away!

• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2 (direct/indirect objects)
• Exercise 3 (one more with direct/indirect objects)
• Exercise 4 (this is like a test and you have to fill in gaps with active or passive tenses)

Now a couple of witty quotes from intelligent people:

Nothing ever is done in this world until men are prepared to kill one another if it is not done.

George Bernard Shaw, Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)

 

Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.

Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)  

Here is a link to Dylan's Union Sundown. Hope it works! And do you remember These Days by Foo Fighters? There are a few examples of passive sentences. Try changing them into the active voice.