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.

a girl eating ice cream

Maggie eats all the delicious ice cream.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

2.

a strong security guard

The strong security guard protects the musicians.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

3.

a flower

The pink flower is picked.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

4.

a singer

 

Six songs are played by a wonderful guitarist.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

5.

a boy with a bear toy

Liam hugs his bear very tightly.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

6.

a man voting

All of the votes are made anonymously.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

7.

a student and a teacher

Lots of apples are given to the teacher every week.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

8. 

a boy taking cookies

John takes the last cookie from the jar.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

9. 

a man with his dog

Fred loves his dog very much.

This sentence is:_____________.

 

10.

a robber running away with money

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. 

a man working on a computer

Eric / write / emails

PASSIVE

Your sentence:

 

2. 

a woman cleaning

Melissa / clean / the living room

ACTIVE

Your sentence:

 

3.

a man and a woman talking

Karen / tell / the story

ACTIVE

Your sentence:

 

4.

a man with a tall pile of books

Paul / read / the books

PASSIVE

Your sentence:

 

5.

a man setting the table

Nathan / set / the table

ACTIVE

Your sentence:

 

6.

a dog chasing a postal worker

The dog / chase / the postal worker

PASSIVE

Your sentence:

 

7.

a wedding

Helen / marry / Phil

ACTIVE

Your sentence:

 

8.

a strong boy

Ivan / do / exercise

ACTIVE

Your sentence:

 

9.

a driver listening to music in his car

Rob / hear / the music

PASSIVE

Your sentence:

 

10.

a man working on a puzzle

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 hut

a) A beautiful wooden house is built on the beach. It is lovely!

b) Some person builds a house on the beach.

 

2. 

a marriage proposal

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 bed

a) The bed looks very organized. It is made neatly.

b) Someone makes the bed. That person does a good job.

 

4.

a man with cookies

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 girl with a broken chair

a) The chair is broken. Who did that?

b) Someone breaks the chair. We do not know who that person is.

 

6. 

a lamp and a book

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. 

an angry boss

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.

kids painting eggs

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 man fixing a car

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 fancy shoe

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.