EnglishAges 10-12

Active & passive voice

Distinguish between active voice and passive voice in structured sentences. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 10-12 Ages 13-15

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The new books were cat… · Active & passive voice
4. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
5. Is “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A fresh salad was prep… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
10. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
2. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
3. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
4. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The equation receives the action (“was solved by Amina”).
5. Is “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The salad receives the action (“was prepared”).
6. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
7. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
8. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
9. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“Three banyan saplings”) receives the action (“were planted”), so it is in the passive voice.
10. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“The national anthem”) receives the action (“was sung”).
11. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
12. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The lighthouse keeper”) performs the verb (“lit”), making it active.

12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The new books were cat… · Active & passive voice
4. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
5. Is “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A fresh salad was prep… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
10. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
2. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
3. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
4. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The equation receives the action (“was solved by Amina”).
5. Is “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The salad receives the action (“was prepared”).
6. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
7. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
8. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
9. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“Three banyan saplings”) receives the action (“were planted”), so it is in the passive voice.
10. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“The national anthem”) receives the action (“was sung”).
11. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
12. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The lighthouse keeper”) performs the verb (“lit”), making it active.

12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification