Active and Passive Voice Exercises – Grammar Practice and Examples

These exercises help you practice active and passive voice in English. Learning how to change sentences from active to passive (and back again) helps you understand English grammar clearly and express ideas more naturally. Start practicing to easily recognize and use active and passive voice correctly.
Published At: 6/18/2025, 2:22:35 PM

What Is Active and Passive Voice?

English sentences can be written in active voice or passive voice. Active voice emphasizes who does the action. Passive voice emphasizes what happens or who receives the action.

Active vs. Passive Voice Examples

Active Voice Passive Voice
They build houses. Houses are built by them.
Anna wrote the letter. The letter was written by Anna.
The teacher explains grammar. Grammar is explained by the teacher.

How to Form Passive Voice

To form passive voice:

  • Use the correct form of the verb "to be" (is, are, was, were).
  • Add the past participle of the main verb (eaten, built, written).
  • Optionally add "by" to show who performed the action.

Examples of Active and Passive Sentences

  • Active: She cleans the room every day.
  • Passive: The room is cleaned every day (by her).
  • Active: They painted the house.
  • Passive: The house was painted (by them).

When to Use Active or Passive Voice?

  • Active voice is direct and usually easier to understand. Use it when you know who does the action.
  • Passive voice is useful when you want to emphasize the action or when you don't know or don't need to mention who does it.

Quick Tips to Remember

  • Active voice: subject + verb + object. (Example: He reads books.)
  • Passive voice: object + be verb + past participle (+ by + subject). (Example: Books are read by him.)
  • Always choose the voice that clearly expresses your message.
Exercises
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Choose the correct option to complete the Active and Passive Voice Exercises – Grammar Practice and Examples below.
1

The windows ____ every Saturday by John.

a.
clean
b.
were cleaned
c.
are cleaned
2

The song ____ by the band at the concert last week.

a.
was performed
b.
performs
c.
is performed
3

The documents ____ by the time you arrive.

a.
were prepared
b.
are prepared
c.
will be prepared
4

English ____ all over the world.

a.
is spoken
b.
was spoken
c.
speaks
5

The project ____ by the team last month.

a.
is completed
b.
completes
c.
was completed
6

The car ____ by the mechanic right now.

a.
was repaired
b.
is repaired
c.
is being repaired
7

The restaurant ____ by many tourists every year.

a.
visits
b.
was visited
c.
is visited
8

The problem ____ by the engineers by next week.

a.
will be solved
b.
was solved
c.
is solved
9

The meeting ____ at 3 PM yesterday.

a.
holds
b.
was held
c.
is held
10

The flowers ____ by the gardener every morning.

a.
are watered
b.
water
c.
were watered
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