Active Voice

Active voice means
that a sentence has a

subject that acts upon
its verb.
Passive voice means
that a subject is a
recipient of a verb’s
action.
When rewriting active
sentences in passive
voice, note the
following:
 the object of the
active sentence
becomes the subject
of the passive
sentence
 the finite form of
the verb is changed
(to be + past
participle)
 the subject of the
active sentence
becomes the object
of the passive
sentence (or is
dropped)
Tense =Subject+Verb
Object
Simple Present
Active: Rita writes a
letter.
Passive: A letter is
writtenby Rita.
Simple Past Active:
Rita wrotea letter.
Passive: A letter was
writtenby Rita.
Present Perfect
Active: Rita has
writtena letter.
Passive: A letter has
been writtenby Rita.
Future I Active: Rita
will write a letter.
Passive: A letter will
be written by Rita.
Past Perfect Active:
Rita had written a
letter.
Passive: A letter had
been writtenby Rita.
Sample Exercises:
1. They sell books.
2. She helps me.
3. He has not
completed the
work.
4. I have made some
cakes.
5. He bought an
expensive car.
6. Shiela decorated
the walls.
7. They had not won
the game.
8. He had collected
coins.
9. She will not bake a
cake.
10. They will arrange
the money.
Change the following

active sentences into
passive voice.
1. I did not beat her.
2. I will never forget
this experience.
3. Mother made a cake
yesterday.
4. The boy teased the
girl..
5. Did she do her
duty?
6. The tiger was
chasing the deer.
7. She has written a
novel.
8. She has learned her
lessons.
9. Have you finished
the report?
10. The police have
caught the thief.
Change these
sentences from active
to passive:
1. People speak
Portuguese in Brazil.
2. The Government is
planning a new road
near my house.
3. My grandfather built
this house in 1943.
4. Picasso was
painting Guernica at
that time.
5. The cleaner has
cleaned the office.
6. He had written three
books before 1867.
7. John will tell you
later.
8. By this time
tomorrow we will have
signed the deal.
9. Somebody should
do the work.
10. The traffic might
have delayed Jimmy.
11. Everybody loves
Mr Brown.
12. They are building a
new stadium near the
station.
13. The wolf ate the
princess.
14. At six o’clock
someone was telling a
story.
15. Somebody has
drunk all the milk!
16. I had cleaned all
the windows before the
storm.
17. A workman will
repair the computer
tomorrow.
18. By next year the
students will have
studied the passive.
19. James might cook
dinner.
20. Somebody must
have taken my wallet.
Answers:
1. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil.
2. A new road is being planned near my house.
3. This house was built (by my grandfather) in 1943.
4. Guernica was being painted (by Picasso) at that time.
5. The office has been cleaned.
6. Three books had been written before 1867.
7. You will be told (by John) later.
8. By this time tomorrow the deal will have been signed.
9. The work should be done.
10. Jimmy might have been delayed (by the traffic).
11. Mr Brown is loved (by everybody).
12. A new stadium is being built near the station.
13. The princess was eaten (by the wolf).
14. At six o’clock a story was being told.
15. All the milk has been drunk!
16. All the windows had been cleaned (by me) before the storm.
17. The computer will be repaired tomorrow.
18. By next year the passive will have been studied (by the students).
19. Dinner might be cooked (by James).
20. My wallet must have been taken.
.
Answers
1. She was not beaten by me.
2. This experience will never be forgotten by me.
3. A cake was made by mother yesterday.
4. The girl was teased by the boy.
5. Was her duty done by her?
6. The deer was being chased by the tiger.
7. A novel has been written by her.
8. Her lessons have been learned by her.
9. Has the report been finished by you?
10. The thief has been caught by the police.
Here are some active and passive voice examples to help!
 Active: People drink champagne on New Year’s Eve.

Passive: Champagne is drunk on New Year’s Eve.
 Active: Chefs use these machines to mix the ingredients.
Passive: These machines are used to mix the ingredients.
 Active: They renovated the restaurant in 2004.
Passive: The restaurant was renovated in 2004.
 Active: The teachers informed the students that the class had been cancelled.
Passive: The students were informed that the class had been cancelled.
Active and Passive Voice Exercise

.
1. Ms Sullivan teaches us grammar.
2. The teacher praised him.
3. The firemen took the injured to the hospital.
4. An earthquake destroyed the town.
5. The boy’s work pleased the teacher.
6. The fire damaged the building.
7. Who taught you French?
8. The manager will give you a ticket.
9. Spectators thronged the streets.
10. Everyone will blame us.
11. The wind blew down the trees.
12. The police caught the thieves.
13. Alice posted the letter.
14. The hostess received us.
15. They/somebody killed the snake with a stick.
16. The people welcomed the minister.
17. They found him guilty of murder.
18. John Mathews built this house in 1991.
Answers
1. We are taught grammar by Ms Sullivan.
2. He was praised by the teacher.
3. The injured were taken to the hospital by the firemen.
4. The town was destroyed by an earthquake.
5. The teacher was pleased with the boy’s work.
6. The building was damaged by the fire.
7. By whom were you taught French?
8. You will be given a ticket by the manager.
9. The streets were thronged with spectators.
10. We will be blamed by everyone.
11. The trees were blown down by the wind.
12. The thieves were caught by the police.
13. The letter was posted by Alice.
14. We were received by the hostess.
15. The snake was killed with a stick.
16. The minister was welcomed by the people.
17. He was found guilty of murder.
18. This house was built by John Mathews in 1991
Active and passive voice exercise
Complete the following sentences using appropriate active or passive verb forms. Choose
your answers from the given options.
1. The problem …………………. to the children. (explained / was explained)
2. Those pyramids ……………………. around 400 AD. (built / were built)
3. All the trouble ……………………….. by your mother. (has caused / was caused)
4. The visitors ……………………. (were shown / have shown) a collection of old
manuscripts.
5. I …………………. him ten thousand pounds last year. (lend / lent / was lent)
6. She …………………… of spiders. (frightened / is frightened)
7. That picture …………………. by my grandmother. (painted / was painted)
8. I ………………….. by his attitude. (shocked / have shocked / was shocked)
9. Excuse the mess. The house ………………… (is painting / is being painted / has painted)
10. I knew why I …………………. (had chosen / had been chosen)
Answers
1. The problem was explained to the children.
2. Those pyramids were built around 400 AD.
3. All the trouble was caused by your mother.
4. The visitors were shown a collection of old manuscripts.
5. I lent him ten thousand pounds last year.
6. She is frightened of spiders.
7. That picture was painted by my grandmother.
8. I was shocked by his attitude.
9. Excuse the mess. The house is being painted.
10. I knew why I had been chosen.

Active Voice

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Active voice means

that a sentence has a

Change the following

Here are some active and passive voice examples to help!

 Active: People drink champagne on New Year’s Eve.

Active and Passive Voice Exercise

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