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 lamp was lit at dusk by the lighthouse keeper” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lamp was lit at du… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · 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 national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
5. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Strong currents carrie… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
10. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104739 · 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 lamp was lit at dusk by the lighthouse keeper” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
“Was lit” is a passive verb construction where the subject receives the action.
2. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
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 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”).
5. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
6. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).
7. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
8. Is “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Strong currents”) performs the action (“carried”).
9. 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.
10. 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”).
11. 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”).
12. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).

12 questions · Seed 104739 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “The lamp was lit at dusk by the lighthouse keeper” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lamp was lit at du… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · 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 national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
5. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Strong currents carrie… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
10. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104739 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “The lamp was lit at dusk by the lighthouse keeper” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
“Was lit” is a passive verb construction where the subject receives the action.
2. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
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 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”).
5. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
6. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).
7. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
8. Is “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Strong currents”) performs the action (“carried”).
9. 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.
10. 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”).
11. 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”).
12. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).

12 questions · Seed 104739 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification