EnglishAges 13-15

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 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · 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 “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · 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 “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · 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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
12. 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 questions · Seed 44 · 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 rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
2. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
3. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
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 “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.
6. 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”).
7. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
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 “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
12. 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 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice
3. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Astronomers observed a… · 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 “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice
7. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · 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 “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · 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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice
12. 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 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
2. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The carpenter performs the action of repairing.
3. Is “Astronomers observed a distant comet” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Astronomers”) performs the action (“observed”).
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 “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.
6. 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”).
7. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
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 “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
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 “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The engineers perform the action (“tested”).
12. 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 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification