Passive Voice Exercises

These passive voice exercises are presented in questions test format with answers. At the explanations tab, we listed several passive voice examples, rules, sentences, questions and also formula and structure. At the worksheet tab, you can download these exercises as PDF worksheet files for free.

Use of Passive Voice

The Passive Voice is used when we want to focus on the action or the object of the action, rather than who or what is doing it. It is especially useful when the subject is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context.

In passive sentences, the object of an active sentence becomes the subject. The verb is formed using the verb to be + past participle (V3).

Form and Examples

  • Present Simple: am / is / are + past participle
    The letters are delivered every day.
  • Past Simple: was / were + past participle
    The house was built in 1980.
  • Present Perfect: has / have been + past participle
    The report has been completed.
  • Future: will be + past participle
    The documents will be sent tomorrow.
  • Modal Verbs: modal + be + past participle
    The rules must be followed.

Active vs Passive Voice

Active Voice Passive Voice
Someone cleans the room every day. The room is cleaned every day.
They wrote the book in 1990. The book was written in 1990.
People will watch the movie soon. The movie will be watched soon.
We have repaired the machine. The machine has been repaired.

When to Use the Passive Voice

  • When the doer of the action is unknown: The wallet was stolen.
  • When the doer is not important: The streets are cleaned every night.
  • When the focus is on the result or object: The work has been finished.

Quick Tips

  • Only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be used in the passive.
  • You can mention the doer using “by”: The cake was baked by Mary.
  • Don’t overuse the passive voice — use it when the focus is not on the doer.
  • Make sure you use the correct form of “be” and the correct past participle.
Exercises
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Choose the correct option to complete the Passive Voice Exercises below.
1

This house _____ by a famous architect.

a.
was designing
b.
has designing
c.
was designed
2

When I arrived, I found that the email _____.

a.
has already been sent
b.
was already sent
c.
had already been sent
3

The book _____ into several languages so far.

a.
has been translated
b.
is translated
c.
has translated
4

The contract _____ by both parties before the project starts.

a.
must signing
b.
must sign
c.
must be signed
5

The factory _____ due to safety concerns last year.

a.
closed
b.
is closing
c.
was closed
6

By this time next week, the new software _____.

a.
will be installing
b.
will have been installed
c.
will have installed
7

The cake _____ when I entered the kitchen.

a.
was being baked
b.
is baked
c.
was baking
8

The movie _____ on TV right now.

a.
has been showing
b.
is showing
c.
is being shown
9

The new policy _____ next Monday.

a.
will be announced
b.
will announce
c.
will be announcing
10

A solution _____ before the meeting started.

a.
found
b.
was finding
c.
had been found
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