PASSIVE VOICE USAGE AND PRACTICE

​Active and Passive Voice

When the subject performs the verb (does the action),the sentence is in active voice.

Examples:​

Michael wrote this book.

I like icecream.

Cows eat grass​

​

​Active Voice: Subject + verb + Object

Passive Voice: Object + be form + Past participle of the verb (v3) + by + Subject

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.​

It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action. (It is okay if you don't mention the subject).

Examples

The deer was killed by a group of lions.

Letters are delivered by postmen.

​

Multiple Choice

Brazilians drink coffee everyday.

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

The thief stole the purse.

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

The work has been completed by them.

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

He writes poems

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

Coffee is grown in Central America.

• Active

• Passive

​Passive Voice: TENSES

​We make the passive by putting the verb "to be" into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle. (Verb 3)

Poems are written by him.

This guitar is played by Sarah.

The phones are answered by the secretary.

Juliet is loved by Romeo.​

​Passive

He writes poems.​

Sarah plays this guitar.

The secretary answers the phones.

Romeo loves Juliet.​

​Active

Simple Present tense -

Object + is/am/are + past participle + by + Subject

Fill in the Blanks

Active: They make cookies here.

Passive: Cookies

her by them.

Fill in the Blanks

Active: Scientists use this scientific method for experiments.

Passive: This scientific method

for experiments by scientists.

Multiple Choice

My mother bakes these cakes.

• These cakes are baked by my mother.

• These cakes are being baked by my mother.

• These cake was baked by my mother.

Multiple Choice

They speak English.

• English is spoken by them.

• English are spoken by them.

• They are spoken by English.

Multiple Choice

People play football all over the world.

• Football is played all over the world (by people).

• Football are played all over the world.

Multiple Choice

The gardener waters the flowers every evening.

• The gardener is watered the flowers every evening.

• The flowers are watered by the gardener every evening.

• The flowers water the gardener every evening.

The mistakes were corrected by the teacher.

The wall was painted by the children.

This letter was written by John.

The window was broken by the boy.​

PASSIVE

The teacher corrected the mistakes.

The children painted the wall.

John wrote this letter.

The boy broke the window.

​

ACTIVE

​SIMPLE PAST tense -

Object + WAS/WERE + past participle + by + Subject

Fill in the Blanks

Active : The police arrested the thieves.

Passive: The thieves

by the police.

Fill in the Blanks

Active: The man stole the blue car.

Passive: The blue car

by the man.

Multiple Choice

JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter.

• Harry potter wrote by JK Rowling.

• Harry potter was wrote by Jk Rowling.

• Harry Potter was written by JK Rowling.

Multiple Choice

Jane decorated the living room last year.

• Jane was decoted the living room last year.

• Jane was decorated the living room last year.

• The living room was decorated by Jane last year.

A song has been sung by him.

Pubg has been played by Sarah.

The letter has been sent by John.

A cake has been made by them.​

PASSIVE

He has sung a song.

Sarah has played Pubg.

John has sent the letter.

They have made a cake.

​

ACTIVE

​Present Perfect tense -

Object + have/has + been + past participle + by + Subject

Multiple Choice

Active: My cousin has drawn these pictures.

Passive: These pictures .......................... by my cousin

• have been drawn

• has been drawn

• are been drawn

Multiple Choice

I have sold my bicycle.

• My bicycle has been sold by me

• My bicycle have been sold be me.

• My bicycle is being sold by me

Fill in the Blanks

Active: The postman has delivered the money orders.

Passive: The money orders

by the postman.

Fill in the Blanks

Active: We have done the homework.

Passive: The homework

by us

​ACTIVE OR PASSIVE

Multiple Choice

My very active dog chased a tennis ball across the grass.

• active voice

• passive voice

Multiple Choice

The new magazine contained many creative ideas.

• active voice

• passive voice

Multiple Choice

Many scoring attempts were made by the opposing team.

• active voice

• passive voice

Multiple Choice

Grandma knitted the white wool sweater.

• active voice

• passive voice

Multiple Choice

The project was completed by a team of experts.

• active voice

• passive voice

Multiple Choice

The field trip ___________ by my homeroom teacher.

• arranged

• was arranged

Multiple Choice

In the UK, everyone__________ (drive) on the left.

• drives

• is driven

Multiple Choice

My car _________ (steal)! Call the police!!!!

• stole

• was stolen

Multiple Choice

The Queen _________ (open) the bridge yesterday.

• opened

• was opened

Multiple Choice

The 'La Stampa' newspaper __________ (read) by two million people in Italy.

• reads

• is read