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 librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice
2. 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
3. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · 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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · Active & passive voice
7. 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
8. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · 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 “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · 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 “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104738 · 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 librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
2. Is “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The salad receives the action (“was prepared”).
3. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
6. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
7. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
8. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
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 “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.
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 “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).

12 questions · Seed 104738 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

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 “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A fresh salad was prep… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The chef prepared a fr… · 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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · Active & passive voice
7. 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
8. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · 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 “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · 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 “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 104738 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

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 “A fresh salad was prepared by the chef” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The salad receives the action (“was prepared”).
3. Is “The chef prepared a fresh salad” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The chef performs the action (“prepared”).
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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
6. Is “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
7. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
8. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
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 “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.
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 “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).

12 questions · Seed 104738 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification