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 “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Strong currents carrie… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
4. 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
5. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · Active & passive voice
6. 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
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The students planted t… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice
10. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 57 · 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 “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Strong currents”) performs the action (“carried”).
2. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
3. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
4. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
5. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
6. 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”).
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
8. 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.
9. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
10. 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”).
11. 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. 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.

12 questions · Seed 57 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Strong currents carrie… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
4. 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
5. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · Active & passive voice
6. 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
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The students planted t… · Active & passive voice
9. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice
10. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 57 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “Strong currents carried the driftwood ashore” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Strong currents”) performs the action (“carried”).
2. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
3. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
4. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
5. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
6. 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”).
7. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
8. 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.
9. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
10. 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”).
11. 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. 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.

12 questions · Seed 57 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification