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 “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The students planted t… · Active & passive voice
4. 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
5. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
6. 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
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
9. 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
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 suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 46 · 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 librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
2. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
3. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The students”) performs the action of planting, so the sentence is in the active voice.
4. 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”).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
8. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
9. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
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 suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).
12. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The students planted t… · Active & passive voice
4. 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
5. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
6. 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
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
9. 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
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 suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
2. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
3. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The students”) performs the action of planting, so the sentence is in the active voice.
4. 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”).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
8. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
9. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
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 suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).
12. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification