Active and Passive Voice

Which sentence is written in the active voice, where the subject is doing the action?

• My dad baked the cookies.

• The cookies were baked by my dad.

• The cookies are delicious.

• The cookies were left on the counter.

Answer explanation

This sentence is in the active voice because the subject, 'My dad,' is performing the action of the verb 'baked'. The other options are either passive or use a linking verb.

Which sentence is an example of the passive voice, where the subject receives the action?

• The team celebrated their victory.

• The championship was won by our team.

• The coach gave a speech.

• Everyone cheered loudly.

Answer explanation

This sentence is in the passive voice because the subject, 'The championship,' is receiving the action 'was won'. The person doing the action, 'our team', is mentioned in the 'by' phrase.

Complete the sentence to put it in the passive voice: The new video game ______ by my friend.

• was bought

• bought

• buyed

• was buyed

Answer explanation

The passive voice requires a form of the verb 'to be' (like 'was') plus the past participle of the main verb ('bought'). 'Buyed' is not a correct verb form.

Which passive voice sentence clearly identifies the 'agent,' or the one who performed the action?

• The mystery was finally solved.

• The window had been left open.

• The winning project was created by Maria.

• The pizza will be delivered soon.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'by Maria' is called a 'by-phrase,' and it names the agent who performed the action. The other sentences are passive but do not name the agent.

Your friend is telling you about their day. Which of these sentences is in the active voice?

• My homework was finished right after school.

• I watched a hilarious movie with my family.

• Dinner was made by my older sister.

• I was told a funny joke.

Answer explanation

This sentence is active because the subject 'I' is performing the action 'watched'. The other sentences are passive because the subject is receiving the action.

True or False: In the sentence 'The new songs are played on the radio,' the verb 'are' is used because the subject 'songs' is plural.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement in the passive voice. The plural subject 'songs' requires the plural 'be' verb 'are'.

Complete the sentence using the future passive tense: The invitations for the party ______ out tomorrow.

• are sent

• were sent

• will be sent

• have been sent

Answer explanation

To show a future action in the passive voice, we use the modal 'will' plus 'be' and the past participle 'sent'. The word 'tomorrow' signals the need for a future tense.

Use the correct passive form to complete this sentence: After the soccer game, my clean jersey was completely ______ with mud.

• cover

• covering

• covered

• covers

Answer explanation

To form the passive voice, you need a 'be' verb (was) and a past participle. 'Covered' is the correct past participle of the regular verb 'to cover'.

Rewrite this passive sentence in the active voice for a stronger, more direct statement: 'The game-winning shot was made by Leo.'

• The game-winning shot that was made was Leo's.

• Leo made the game-winning shot.

• By Leo, the game-winning shot was made.

• A game-winning shot was made, and it was Leo.

Answer explanation

The active voice version makes the doer of the action, 'Leo', the subject. This makes the sentence more direct and is generally preferred for strong, clear writing.

Choose the verb that correctly agrees with the subject in this passive sentence: The best photos from the trip ______ chosen for the album.

• is

• was

• were

• be

Answer explanation

The subject of the sentence is 'photos' (plural), so the plural 'be' verb 'were' is required for correct subject-verb agreement in the passive voice.