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 “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
4. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
5. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A distant comet was ob… · 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 “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · 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 “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 42 · 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 “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
2. 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”).
3. 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”).
4. 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.
5. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
6. 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”).
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 “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
9. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
10. 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.
11. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
12. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).

12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
4. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
5. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “A distant comet was ob… · 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 “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The choir sang the nat… · 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 “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The meteorologist reco… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The suspension bridge … · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
2. 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”).
3. 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”).
4. 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.
5. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
6. 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”).
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 “The choir sang the national anthem” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“The choir”) performs the action (“sang”).
9. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).
10. 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.
11. Is “The meteorologist recorded the rainfall” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The meteorologist performs the action (“recorded”).
12. Is “The suspension bridge was tested by engineers” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The bridge receives the action (“was tested”).

12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification