EnglishAges 10-12

Active & passive voice

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

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Age band:Ages 10-12 Ages 13-15

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
4. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice
5. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice
6. 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
7. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The wooden jetty was repaired by the carpenter” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The wooden jetty was r… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · Active & passive voice
10. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A distant comet was ob… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104733 · 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 “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“The driftwood”) is acted upon (“was carried”).
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.
3. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
4. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
5. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
6. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
7. 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.
8. Is “The wooden jetty was repaired by the carpenter” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The wooden jetty receives the action (“was repaired”).
9. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
10. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“A distant comet”) receives the action (“was observed”).
11. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
12. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).

12 questions · Seed 104733 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
4. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice
5. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice
6. 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
7. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The wooden jetty was repaired by the carpenter” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The wooden jetty was r… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · Active & passive voice
10. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A distant comet was ob… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104733 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“The driftwood”) is acted upon (“was carried”).
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.
3. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
4. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
5. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
6. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
7. 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.
8. Is “The wooden jetty was repaired by the carpenter” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The wooden jetty receives the action (“was repaired”).
9. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
10. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“A distant comet”) receives the action (“was observed”).
11. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
12. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).

12 questions · Seed 104733 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification