1. Normally you should say "Play started at 9". g.
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1. Normally you should say "Play started at 9". "Play was started at 9" is possible if you want to emphasise that someone (e.g. the organisers of a match) started it, but usually there is no need.
2. "Bridge painted white" is not a correct sentence. "The bridge was painted white" is correct.