EnglishAges 13-15

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 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · 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 carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
8. 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
9. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The students planted t… · Active & passive voice
10. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A distant comet was ob… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
2. 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.
3. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).
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 carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
7. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
8. Is “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The salad receives the action (“was prepared”).
9. 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.
10. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
11. 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”).
12. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · 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 carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
8. 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
9. Is “The students planted three banyan saplings” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The students planted t… · Active & passive voice
10. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A distant comet was ob… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
2. 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.
3. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).
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 carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
7. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
8. Is “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The salad receives the action (“was prepared”).
9. 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.
10. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
11. 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”).
12. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification