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 “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice
3. 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
4. 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
5. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
7. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · 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 driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 56 · 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 “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.
3. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
4. 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.
5. 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”).
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
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 driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“The driftwood”) is acted upon (“was carried”).
11. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
12. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).

12 questions · Seed 56 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Bees pollinate the orc… · Active & passive voice
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Amina solved the linea… · Active & passive voice
3. 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
4. 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
5. Is “The national anthem was sung by the choir” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The national anthem wa… · Active & passive voice
6. Is “The lighthouse keeper lit the lamp at dusk” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The lighthouse keeper … · Active & passive voice
7. Is “Three banyan saplings were planted by the students” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “Three banyan saplings … · Active & passive voice
8. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The rainfall was recor… · 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 driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The driftwood was carr… · Active & passive voice
11. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The orchard blossoms a… · Active & passive voice
12. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Is “The librarian catalogu… · Active & passive voice

12 questions · Seed 56 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Active & passive voice

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “Bees pollinate the orchard blossoms” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The subject (“Bees”) performs the action (“pollinate”).
2. Is “Amina solved the linear equation” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
Amina (the subject) performs the action of solving.
3. Is “The new books were catalogued by the librarian” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The books receive the action (“were catalogued”).
4. 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.
5. 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”).
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Is “The rainfall was recorded by the meteorologist” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The rainfall receives the action (“was recorded”).
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 driftwood was carried ashore by strong currents” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The subject (“The driftwood”) is acted upon (“was carried”).
11. Is “The orchard blossoms are pollinated by bees” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Passive
The blossoms receive the action (“are pollinated”).
12. Is “The librarian catalogued the new books” written in the Active or Passive voice?
Active
The librarian performs the action (“catalogued”).

12 questions · Seed 56 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification