Active and Passive Voice Exercise II

Active and Passive Voice for Super Students!

Hello super students! Today, we're going to learn about two ways we can talk about actions: the Active Voice and the Passive Voice.

Think of it like this: In the Active Voice, the person or thing doing the action is the star of the sentence, like a superhero! For example, 'The cat chased the mouse.' Here, the cat is the superhero doing the chasing.

In the Passive Voice, the person or thing receiving the action is the star. It's like telling us what happened to something. For example, 'The mouse was chased by the cat.' Here, we focus on the mouse and what happened to it.

When the person doing the action is unknown or not important, we often use the passive voice. The most important thing to remember is that the meaning of the sentence stays the same, whether it's active or passive. It's easy once you get the hang of it! Let's look at some examples.

Practice Time: Spot the Voice!

Find the verbs in the following sentences and state whether they are in the active voice or the passive voice.

  1. The tiger killed the deer.
  2. The boy is learning his lessons.
  3. This house was built by my grandfather.
  4. Alice has been waiting for a long time.
  5. Mother was making a cake.
  6. The postman was bitten by the dog.
  7. The thief was caught.
  8. The accused were sent to jail.
  9. The loud noise frightened the baby.
  10. The dog chased the cat.
  11. The letter was posted yesterday.
  12. The old man takes snuff.
  13. The cat drank all the milk.
  14. That boy of yours has broken my window again.
  15. These shoes of mine pinch me terribly.

Answers:

  1. Verb: killed (simple past); Voice: Active
  2. Verb: is learning (present continuous); Voice: Active
  3. Verb: was built (simple past); Voice: Passive
  4. Verb: has been waiting (present perfect continuous); Voice: Active
  5. Verb: was making (past continuous); Voice: Active
  6. Verb: was bitten (simple past); Voice: Passive
  7. Verb: was caught (simple past); Voice: Passive
  8. Verb: were sent (simple past); Voice: Passive
  9. Verb: frightened (simple past); Voice: Active
  10. Verb: chased (simple past); Voice: Active
  11. Verb: was posted (simple past); Voice: Passive
  12. Verb: takes (simple present); Voice: Active
  13. Verb: drank (simple past); Voice: Active
  14. Verb: has broken (present perfect); Voice: Active
  15. Verb: pinch (simple present); Voice: Active

More Examples to Practice!

Let's try some more! Identify the verb and its voice.

  1. The baker bakes cakes.
  2. The cakes are baked by the baker.
  3. Children love cartoons.
  4. Cartoons are loved by children.
  5. The teacher explained the lesson.
  6. The lesson was explained by the teacher.
  7. A dog bit the mailman.
  8. The mailman was bitten by a dog.
  9. My mom will cook dinner.
  10. Dinner will be cooked by my mom.
  11. The students are reading books.
  12. Books are being read by the students.
  13. The wind blew the leaves.
  14. The leaves were blown by the wind.
  15. She is writing a story.

Answers to More Examples:

  1. Verb: bakes (simple present); Voice: Active
  2. Verb: are baked (simple present); Voice: Passive
  3. Verb: love (simple present); Voice: Active
  4. Verb: are loved (simple present); Voice: Passive
  5. Verb: explained (simple past); Voice: Active
  6. Verb: was explained (simple past); Voice: Passive
  7. Verb: bit (simple past); Voice: Active
  8. Verb: was bitten (simple past); Voice: Passive
  9. Verb: will cook (simple future); Voice: Active
  10. Verb: will be cooked (simple future); Voice: Passive
  11. Verb: are reading (present continuous); Voice: Active
  12. Verb: are being read (present continuous); Voice: Passive
  13. Verb: blew (simple past); Voice: Active
  14. Verb: were blown (simple past); Voice: Passive
  15. Verb: is writing (present continuous); Voice: Active

Difficult Words & Simple Meanings

  • Verb: An action word or a doing word (e.g., run, eat, play, is, am, are).
  • Sentence: A group of words that makes complete sense.
  • Active Voice: When the subject of the sentence does the action. The doer is important.
  • Passive Voice: When the subject of the sentence receives the action. The action is more important than the doer, or the doer is unknown.
  • Subject: The person or thing doing the action (in active voice) or receiving the action (in passive voice).
  • Object: The person or thing that the action is done to in an active sentence.
  • Identify: To find or point out something.
  • State: To say or write something clearly.
  • Following: Coming next in order.
  • Killed: Caused someone or something to die.
  • Learning: Gaining new knowledge or skills.
  • Built: Made by putting parts or materials together.
  • Waiting: Staying in one place or expecting something to happen.
  • Making: Creating or preparing something.
  • Bitten: Injured by teeth.
  • Caught: Captured or seized, often after a chase.
  • Accused: A person or group of people who are charged with a crime or wrongdoing.
  • Sent: Caused to go or be taken to a particular destination.
  • Frightened: Made afraid or anxious; scared.
  • Chased: Ran after someone or something to catch them.
  • Posted: Sent a letter or package using the mail service.
  • Takes snuff: An old habit of breathing in powdered tobacco through the nose.
  • Drank: Swallowed a liquid.
  • Broken: Damaged or in pieces; no longer working.
  • Pinch: To squeeze something tightly, often causing discomfort.
  • Terribly: Very badly or to a great extent.
  • Resist: To try to stop something from happening or to stop yourself from doing something; oppose.
  • See through: To understand the truth about someone or something, and not be tricked by them; not be deceived by.
  • Illicit: Not allowed by law or rules; illegal.
  • Affluent: Having a lot of money and possessions; rich.
  • Live up to: To be as good as expected or to do what you promised; put into practice.
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