Active and Passive Voice Worksheet
Before you practice using this worksheet, be sure to review the article on the active and passive voice in English on our website.
Exercise A: Active or Passive?
After each picture and description, write whether the sentence is active or passive.
1.
Maggie eats all the delicious ice cream.
This sentence is:_____________.
2.
The strong security guard protects the musicians.
This sentence is:_____________.
3.
The pink flower is picked.
This sentence is:_____________.
4.
Six songs are played by a wonderful guitarist.
This sentence is:_____________.
5.
Liam hugs his bear very tightly.
This sentence is:_____________.
6.
All of the votes are made anonymously.
This sentence is:_____________.
7.
Lots of apples are given to the teacher every week.
This sentence is:_____________.
8.
John takes the last cookie from the jar.
This sentence is:_____________.
9.
Fred loves his dog very much.
This sentence is:_____________.
10.
Some money is stolen from the bank!
This sentence is:_____________.
Exercise B: Complete the Sentence
Look at the pictures. Below them you will see a subject, a verb, and an object. Then you will see the word "active" or the word "passive." Write a complete sentence to describe the picture according to the instructions. You can use the simple present tense in your answers.
1.
Eric / write / emails
PASSIVE
Your sentence:
2.
Melissa / clean / the living room
ACTIVE
Your sentence:
3.
Karen / tell / the story
ACTIVE
Your sentence:
4.
Paul / read / the books
PASSIVE
Your sentence:
5.
Nathan / set / the table
ACTIVE
Your sentence:
6.
The dog / chase / the postal worker
PASSIVE
Your sentence:
7.
Helen / marry / Phil
ACTIVE
Your sentence:
8.
Ivan / do / exercise
ACTIVE
Your sentence:
9.
Rob / hear / the music
PASSIVE
Your sentence:
10.
Vern / put together / the puzzle
PASSIVE
Your sentence:
Exercise C: Which Makes More Sense?
Under each picture, you will see two sentences. One is active, and the other is passive. Which one makes more sense to describe the picture? Remember to decide where the focus of the sentence is.
1.
a) A beautiful wooden house is built on the beach. It is lovely!
b) Some person builds a house on the beach.
2.
a) A ring is given to Betty. Rings can be expensive.
b) Greg gives a ring to Betty. They both feel so happy!
3.
a) The bed looks very organized. It is made neatly.
b) Someone makes the bed. That person does a good job.
4.
a) Some cookies are made. Maybe they have chocolate chips.
b) Ted makes some cookies for us. He is happy because he loves to share good food.
5.
a) The chair is broken. Who did that?
b) Someone breaks the chair. We do not know who that person is.
6.
a) The book is left open under the lamp. It is open to page 124.
b) Some person leaves the book open under the lamp. Then the person walks away.
7.
a) The phone is knocked off the table. Maybe it will fall on the floor.
b) Mr. Ericson knocks the phone off the table. He looks really upset!
8.
a) Eggs are painted every year with bright colors.
b) Harry and Omar paint eggs. They have lots of fun choosing the bright colors.
9.
a) Our car is fixed. It will run much better now.
b) Someone fixes the car. I wonder what the person's name is?
10.
a) A beautiful shoe is left at the dance. The shoe is a mystery for the prince.
b) Someone leaves a shoe at the dance. Then the person goes home.
