Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is essential for clear and effective communication. You will participate here the Active Voice and Passive Voice Quiz. In active voice, the subject acts; in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Both forms have their place in writing, depending on the focus and tone you want to convey. This quiz will help you test your knowledge and refine your ability to correctly identify and use active and passive voice. Get ready to enhance your English grammar skills
Active voice and Passive voice quiz for Students
Examples and exercise of Active and Passive Voice Quiz
1. The money was stolen
a) active
b) passive
Explanation: The sentence “The money was stolen” is in the passive voice because the subject, the money, is receiving the action of being stolen. In passive constructions, the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action, rather than the doer. The doer of the action (thief) is not mentioned in this sentence. Passive sentences often use a form of the verb “to be” (in this case, “was”) followed by a past participle (“stolen”).
2. I washed my bike three weeks ago.
a) active
b) passive
Explanation: The sentence “I washed my bike three weeks ago” is in the active voice because the subject, I, is acting like washing. In active voice, the subject directly does the action described by the verb (in this case, washed). The focus is on the doer (I) rather than the object (my bike).
3. I will introduce you to my boss this Sunday.
a) active
b) passive
Explanation: The sentence “I will introduce you to my boss this Sunday” is in the active voice because the subject, I, is acting as introducing. In active voice, the subject takes direct responsibility for the action (in this case, will introduce). The focus is on the doer (I) and the action being done to the object (you).
4. They are paid on Saturdays.
a) active
b) passive
Explanation: The sentence “They are paid on Saturdays” is in the passive voice because the subject, they, is receiving the action of being paid. Passive voice is identified by the use of a form of the verb to be (in this case, are) followed by a past participle (paid). The sentence focuses on the action (being paid) rather than on the doer of the action (the person or organization paying them)
5. The center forward ________ two goals.
a) was scored
b) were scored
c) scored
Explanation:
The correct sentence is “The center forward scored two goals.” This is in the active voice because the subject, the center forward, is acting scoring. The verb scored is in its simple past tense form and correctly agrees with the singular subject the center forward. The options that were scored and were scored would make the sentence passive, but they are incorrect here because the focus is on the doer of the action, not the action itself.
6. Which sentence is in the active voice?
a) The cake was eaten by the children.
b) The children ate the cake.
c) The cake is being eaten.
Explanation: In active voice, the subject (children) performs the action (ate).
7. Choose the correct passive transformation of: “She writes poems.”
a) Poems were written by her.
b) Poems have been written by her.
c) Poems are written by her.
Explanation: The verb tense in the original sentence (present simple) is maintained in the passive voice.
8. Identify the active voice sentence
a) The report is being prepared by the manager.
b) The report was prepared by the manager.
c) The manager prepared the report.
Explanation: In active voice, the subject (manager) is the doer of the action (prepared).
9. Transform the active sentence to the passive: “They are cleaning the house.”
a) The house is cleaned by them.
b) The house has been cleaned by them.
c) The house is being cleaned by them.
Explanation: The continuous tense (“are cleaning”) is correctly transformed to “is being cleaned” in passive voice.
10. Which sentence is NOT in passive voice?
a) The homework was completed on time.
b) A decision will be made soon.
c) The team is discussing the project.
Explanation: This sentence is in active voice as the subject (team) is performing the action (discussing).
11. Convert this passive sentence into active voice: “The song was sung beautifully by her.”
a) She sings the song beautifully.
b) She sang the song beautifully.
c) She sung the song beautifully.
Explanation: The past simple tense is retained, with “sung” becoming “sang” in active voice.
12. Which verb form is used in passive voice constructions?
a) Base form of the verb
b) Gerund
c) Past participle
Explanation: Passive voice always uses the past participle of the main verb, paired with a form of “to be.”
13. Choose the correct active transformation of: “The package will be delivered tomorrow.”
a) The delivery boy delivers the package tomorrow.
b) The delivery boy delivered the package tomorrow.
c) The delivery boy will deliver the package tomorrow.
Explanation: The future tense “will be delivered” is transformed into “will deliver” in the active voice.
FAQ’s on Active voice and passive voice
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject acts (e.g., “The cat chased the mouse”). In passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., “The mouse was chased by the cat”).
When should I use passive voice?
Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. It is commonly used in formal writing, such as scientific reports, where the focus is on results (e.g., “The experiment was conducted successfully”).
How can I identify a passive voice sentence?
Passive sentences typically include a form of the verb “to be” followed by a past participle (e.g., “is written,” “was cleaned”) and often include the word “by” to introduce the doer of the action.
Can every active voice sentence be converted to passive voice?
No, not all active voice sentences can be converted to passive. Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can form passive constructions. For example, “She sleeps” cannot be made passive because there is no object.
Which voice is better: active or passive?
It depends on the context. Active voice is direct and concise, making it preferable for most forms of communication. Passive voice is useful for emphasizing the action or when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.
Are passive voice sentences always longer than active ones?
Not always, but they are often longer because they include additional words, such as a form of “to be” and the past participle. For example, “The chef cooked the meal” (active) is shorter than “The meal was cooked by the chef” (passive).