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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 10-12Ages 13-15

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

  1. 1. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice

  2. 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. 3. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice

  4. 4. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice

  5. 5. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice

  6. 6. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice

  7. 7. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “A distant comet was ob… · Active & passive voice

  8. 8. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice

  9. 9. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice

  10. 10. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice

  11. 11. 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. 12. 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
12 questions · Seed 53 · 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. 1. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).

  2. 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. 3. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The carpenter performs the action of repairing.

  4. 4. 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.

  5. 5. 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”).

  6. 6. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The engineers perform the action (“tested”).

  7. 7. 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”).

  8. 8. 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”).

  9. 9. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).

  10. 10. 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”).

  11. 11. 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. 12. 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”).

12 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

  1. 1. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice

  2. 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. 3. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The carpenter repaired… · Active & passive voice

  4. 4. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice

  5. 5. Is “The driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice

  6. 6. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “Engineers tested the s… · Active & passive voice

  7. 7. Is “A distant comet was observed by astronomers” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “A distant comet was ob… · Active & passive voice

  8. 8. Is “The linear equation was solved by Amina” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The linear equation wa… · Active & passive voice

  9. 9. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice

  10. 10. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice

  11. 11. 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. 12. 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
12 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

  1. 1. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).

  2. 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. 3. Is “The carpenter repaired the wooden jetty” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The carpenter performs the action of repairing.

  4. 4. 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.

  5. 5. 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”).

  6. 6. Is “Engineers tested the suspension bridge” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The engineers perform the action (“tested”).

  7. 7. 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”).

  8. 8. 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”).

  9. 9. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?

    Active

    The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).

  10. 10. 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”).

  11. 11. 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. 12. 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”).

12 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification