Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Passive
A) Recognizing Active and Passive Sentences
Read the following sentences. Underline the verb or verbs in each sentence and then indicate whether the
verb is active or passive and also which verb tense is being used.
Ex. This hotel was built in 1950.
People speak Spanish in Mexico.

passive - past tense

active present tense

1. All the food at the party was eaten.

____________________________

2. I fed the cat last night.

____________________________

3. The mail is delivered every day.

____________________________

4. The mailman delivers our mail in the morning.

____________________________

5. The meeting will be held in the conference room.

____________________________

6. The mechanic has already fixed my car.

____________________________

7. Johns car is being fixed right now.

____________________________

8. Twenty people were invited to the party.

____________________________

9. They will make a decision at the meeting.

____________________________

10. The wind blew down the trees.

____________________________

B) Change the active sentences in the exercise above to passive. (Include the example.)
1. _______________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________________

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Passive Voice with Different Tenses and with Modal Verbs

A. Change the following sentences to passive voice.
1. simple present People speak English in Australia.
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. present continuous They are writing the report now.
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. simple past The dog bit the mailman.
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. past continuous He was still fixing the car when I arrived at the garage.
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. future Someone will give us a tour of the museum.
________________________________________________________________________________________
6. future with going to - They are going to tear down the old building.
________________________________________________________________________________________
7. present perfect They have already given him the bad news.
________________________________________________________________________________________
8. past perfect They had built the houses before the war started.
________________________________________________________________________________________
9. modal canThey can finish the project on time.
________________________________________________________________________________________
10. modal have to You have to send the parcel today.
________________________________________________________________________________________
11. modal should You should sweep the floor everyday.
________________________________________________________________________________________
12. modal must You must wear your seatbelt at all times.
________________________________________________________________________________________
13. modal might They might complete the new bridge by next year.
________________________________________________________________________________________
14. modal may They may contact you this week.
________________________________________________________________________________________

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

B. Using the passive voice, complete the following sentences with the correct tense of the verb provided
or a suitable modal verb.

1. My car is at the service station. It __________________________ (repair) right now.

2. Dinner __________________________ (serve) at 7:00 last night.
3. Your check _______________________ already ___________________________ (deposit) in the bank.
4. The newspaper ________________________________ (deliver) before 6:00 A.M. everyday.
5. The book ____________________________________ (publish) in 1950.
6. The patient ______________________________________ (examine) by a surgeon tomorrow.
7. The question _____________________________________ (discuss) at our next meeting.
8. Twenty new workers _____________________________________ (hire) last month.
9. There are not enough hospitals in our area. A new hospital _______________________________ (build)
soon. (use a modal)
10. When you go through customs at the airport, your bags _______________________ (search). (use a modal)
11. Hundreds of people __________________________ (injure) in the train accident last week.
12. Your library books _____________________________ (return) in three weeks.

(use a modal)

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Passive with Present Tense and Present Progressive

Change the following sentences from active to passive.
Ex. People speak many different languages in Canada.
Many different languages are spoken in Canada.

Ex. She is serving dinner now.

Dinner is being served now.

1. Someone cleans the office everyday.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. This restaurant bill includes service.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Mark drives his wife to work everyday.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. We need honest politicians in our government.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Someone feeds the dog everyday.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
6. We wash the floors often.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
7. People grow oranges in California.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
8. They are painting my house now.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Someone is using the telephone now.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
10. I am sending the e-mail right now.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Active Vs. Passive Past Tense

Form an active and passive sentence using the groups of words provided below.
Ex. Leonardo da Vinci / paint/ the Mona Lisa
Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.

1. Lee Harvey Oswald / kill/ President Kennedy/ 1963

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Alexander Graham Bell/ invent/ the telephone.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. John Lennon / write / the song Imagine
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. Tsunami/ kill/ many people/ in Indonesia.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. Karl Marx/ write/ Das Kapital
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. The Allies /defeat Germany/ in 1945.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Passive with Present Perfect Tense

Mr. Donald is at the service station picking up his car. The mechanic is giving him a report about all the
work that has been done on his car. Using the words provided, describe the work that has been
completed. (Use the passive voice in the present perfect tense.)
Ex. oil/change
The oil has been changed.
1. tire pressure/ check
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. tires / rotate
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. brake pads/ inspect
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. spark plugs/ clean
______________________________________________________________________________________
5. radiator fluid / change
______________________________________________________________________________________
6. windshield wiper fluid /add
______________________________________________________________________________________
7. broken headlight / replace
______________________________________________________________________________________
8. entire car /clean (inside and out)
______________________________________________________________________________________

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Passive with Future Tense and Present Perfect Tense

Fill in the blanks with the correct tense of the passive voice using the verbs provided.
1. You have to bring your own food to the school picnic next weekend. Only drinks _____________________
(provide).
2. The report __________________________ (finish) by the end of the week.
3. I was planning to clean the office today but I see that it ___________________ already _________________
(do). Did you clean it?
4. You dont have to pack any towels for your trip. The towels ______________________ (supply) by the hotel.
5. John applied for a new job yesterday, but he doesnt know if he will get it. He _________________________
(notify) next week.
6. There was a bad car accident a few minutes ago, but I think an ambulance __________________________
already_____________________________ (call).
7. The meeting _________________________________ (cancel) three times already this week.
8. The garbage _____________________________ (not/collect) tomorrow because its a holiday.
9. Poor Johnny! He _______________ never____________________ (tell) the truth about his feelings.
10. Dont sit on that bench! It ____________________ just_________________________ (paint).
11. I bought a new sofa yesterday, but it ______________________________( not/deliver) until next week.
12. He is a very popular politician. Im sure he ______________________________ (re-elect) next year.
13. This is not a very safe area. Ten houses ________________________________ (rob) in the past month.
14. He is a very dangerous criminal, but fortunately, he ____________________ finally __________________
(arrest).
15. Mrs. Lyle is still in the hospital, but I think she _____________________________ (release) next week.

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Passive Voice Negative

Using the words provided, write sentences in the negative form of the passive.
ex. They are going to send the package by regular mail. (not/express)
It wont be sent express mail._or It isnt going to be sent express mail.
1. The police are going to release the boy.

(not/ put/ in jail)

___________________________________________________________________
2. I cooked the chicken in the oven.

(not/ barbecue)

____________________________________________________________________
3. The company president delivered the news in person. (not/ send by e-mail)
____________________________________________________________________
4. She makes the cake with oil.

(not/ make/ with butter)

____________________________________________________________________
5. The police gave him a warning.

(not/ give/ speeding ticket)

______________________________________________________________________
6. You should wash the sweater in cold water.

(not/ put in dryer)

_______________________________________________________________________
7. He started the fire by accident.

(not/ start/ on purpose)

________________________________________________________________________
8. They will sign the contract next month.

(not/ sign/ tomorrow)

________________________________________________________________________
9. I should take these pills with a meal.

(not/ take/ on an empty stomach)

________________________________________________________________________

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Passive Voice Questions

Ask questions using the information provided and the passive voice.

Ex. There was a bad car accident yesterday. (how many/ people/ injure)
How many people were injured?
1. Many new employees are starting work tomorrow. (how many/ new people/ hire)
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Mr. Brooks is going to fire his secretary. (why/ she/ fire)
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. You shouldnt wash that jacket. (how/ it/ clean)
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. My favorite TV program was cancelled last night. (what/ program/ show / instead)
______________________________________________________________________________________
5. The police found the stolen car. (where/ it/ find)
______________________________________________________________________________________
6. They will deliver the package tomorrow. (what time/ it/ deliver)
______________________________________________________________________________________
7. They are going to hold this meeting in Room 21. (where/ next meeting/ hold)
______________________________________________________________________________________
8. The company has sold 100 cars this month. (how many/ cars/ sell/ last month)
______________________________________________________________________________________
9. The war lasted five years. (how many people/ kill)
______________________________________________________________________________________
10. Someone took my wallet. (how much money/ take)
______________________________________________________________________________________

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Active Vs. Passive

Complete the sentences with the words provided. Some sentences are active and some are passive. Use the
correct tense.
1. I _______________________________(send) a birthday card to my girlfriend last week.
2. Three people _______________________________ (injure) in the accident yesterday.
3. He __________________________________ (contact) by the company next week.
4. The dentist said, That tooth ______________________________ (must/pull) right away.
5. My house______________________ (rob) last week, but fortunately the police _______________________
(catch) the thief yesterday and most of my stolen things ________________________ (find).
6. There was a bad fire yesterday. Three houses ________________________ (destroy), but fortunately,
everyone ________________________(have) house insurance.
7. The book _________________________ already ____________________ (complete) before the author died.
8. Your plants __________________________________ (should/water) twice a week.
9. English _______________________________ (speak) all over the world nowadays.
10. A strange man __________________________ (seen) in the neighborhood before the robbery took place.
11. This sweater __________________________________ (should/wash) by hand.
12. He didnt go to the party because he __________________________________ (not/invite).
13. The picnic ____________________________________ (cancel) yesterday because of the rain.
14. We _____________________________ (take) a bus to the game yesterday because our car
___________________________ (fix).
15. She ___________________________ (apply) to the best university in the country last month. Yesterday she
heard that her application _______________________________ (accept).
16. This jar of jam _______________________________ (can/keep) at room temperature if it is not opened.
Once you open it, it ________________________________(must/refrigerate).

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Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Review of Passive Voice Find Someone Who

A. Walk around the classroom and interview your classmates. Find someone..
1. who has been injured in a car accident.

_______________________________

2. who has been bitten by a dog.

_______________________________

3. who was born in April.

_______________________________

4. who knows what language is spoken in Brazil.

_______________________________

5. who was given a gift last month.

_______________________________

6. whose wallet has been stolen.

_______________________________

7. whose mail is delivered in the morning.

_______________________________

8. who has been taken to a hospital in an ambulance.

_______________________________

9. who was invited to a party last week.

_______________________________

10. who can name three famous world leaders who

were assassinated in the past 100 years.

_______________________________

11. who knows where the next winter Olympics will be held. _______________________________
12. who has been given a parking ticket or a speeding
ticket in the past year.

_______________________________

13. who has never been stung by a bee.

_______________________________

14. who knows when the electric light bulb was first used.

_______________________________

15. who was driven to school today.

_______________________________

B. More Conversation
Follow up each of your questions from the previous exercise with another question of your own using
either the active or the passive voice.
Ex. 1. Have you ever been injured in a car accident? Were you seriously injured?
2. Have you ever been bitten by a dog. What kind of dog bit you?
3. Were you born in April? When is your birthday? or What day were you born on?
etc.

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11

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Passive Voice

Answers
Page 1.
A. 1. passive - past tense 2. active - past tense 3. passive - present tense 4. active - present tense 5. passive - future tense
7, passive - present progressive 8. active - past tense 9. active - future tense 10. active - past tense
B. Example: Spanish is spoken in Mexico.
2. The cat was fed last night.
3. The mail is delivered in the morning.
to the party. 9. A decision will be made at the meeting. 10. The trees were blown down by the wind.

6. passive - past tense

8. Twenty people have been invited

Page 2.
1. English is spoken in Australia. 2. The report is being written now.
3. The mailman was bitten by the dog.
4. The car was still being fixed when I
arrived at the garage. 5. We will be given a tour of the new museum.
6. The old building is going to be torn down.
7. He has already been given the
bad news. 8. The houses had been built before the war started.
9. The project can be finished on time.
10. The parcel has to be sent today.
11.
The floor should be swept every day. 12. A seatbelt must be worn at all times.
13. The bridge might be completed by next year.
14. You may be
contacted this week.
Page 3.
1. is being repaired. 2. was served. 3. has / been deposited
4. is delivered
5. was published
6. will be examined (or) is going to be examined.
7. will be discussed (or) is going to be discussed. 8. were hired
9. needs to be built 10. need to be searched
11. were injured
12. need to be
returned.
Page 4.
1. The office is cleaned everyday. 2. Service is included with this bill.
3. Marks wife is driven to work everyday.
4. Honest politicians are needed in
government. 5. The dog is fed everyday. 6. The floors are washed often.
7. Oranges are grown in california.
8. My house is being painted now.
9.
My telephone is being used now. 10. The email is being sent right now.
Page 5.
1. Lee Harvey Oswald killed president Kennedy in 1963. / President Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963.
2. Alexander Graham Bell invented
the telephone. / The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
3. John Lennon wrote the song Imagine. / The song Imagine was written by John
Lennon. 4. The tsunami killed many people in Indonesia. / Many people were killed by the tsunami in Indonesia.
5. Karl Marx wrote Das Kapital. / Das
Kapital was written by Carl Marx. 6. The Allies defeated Germany in 1945. / Germany was defeated by the Allies in 1945.
Page 6.
1. The tires have been checked. (or, The tire pressure has been checked.) 2. The tires have been rotated.
3. The brake pads have been inspected.
4. The
spark plugs have been cleaned. 5. The radiator fluid has been changed.
6. The windshield wiper fluid has been added. 7. The broken headlight has been
replaced. 8. The entire care has been cleaned inside and out.
Page 7.
1. are provided 2. will be finished 3. has / been done 4. are supplied
5. will be notified
be collected 9. has / told 10. was / painted 11. wont be delivered
12. will be reelected
will be released

6. has / been called

7. has been canceled
8. will not
13. have been robbed
14. has / been arrested
15.

Page 8.
1. The boy will not be put in jail. 2. The chicken wasnt barbecued.
3. The news was not sent by email.
4. The cake is not made with butter.
5. He
was not given a speeding ticket. 6. The sweater should not be put in the dryer.
7. The fire wasnt started on purpose.
8. The contract wont be signed
tomorrow. 9. The pills should not be taken on an empty stomach.
Page 9.
1. How many new employees will be hired? 2. Why is she going to be fired?
3. How should it be cleaned.
4. What program will be shown instead?
5. Where was it found? 6. What time will it be delivered? 7. Where will the next meeting be held? 8. How many cars were sold last month? 9. How
many people were killed? 10. How much money was taken?
Page 10.
1. sent 2. were injured 3. will be contacted 4. must be pulled
5. was robbed / caught / were found
6. were destroyed / has
completed 8. should be watered 9. is spoken 10. was seen
11. should be washed
12. was not invited
13. was canceled
fixed
15. applied / was accepted 16. can be kept / must be refrigerated.

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7. had / been
14. took / was being