9th Grade Grammar Quiz: Practice with Present and Past Simple Passive Voice

Let’s go step by step through each part of the quiz. We’re working with passive voice — that means the subject of the sentence is *receiving* the action, not doing it.

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PART I: Complete the passive sentences using the verbs in brackets.

We need to use either present simple passive (am/is/are + past participle) or past simple passive (was/were + past participle), depending on the time clue in the sentence.

0. My brother and I were given (give) a lift into town by our mum yesterday.
→ Already done! “Yesterday” = past → were given

1. This book _______________ (write) 200 years ago.
→ “200 years ago” = past → was written
✔ Answer: was written

2. My bike _______________ (steal) while I was inside a shop.
→ “while I was inside” = past → was stolen
✔ Answer: was stolen

3. Sherlock Holmes stories _______________ (read) by a lot of people nowadays.
→ “nowadays” = present → are read
✔ Answer: are read

4. When _______________ (our house / build)?
→ Question about when something happened → past → was our house built?
✔ Answer: was our house built

5. In my favourite TV series, criminals _______________ (take) to court, so you can follow the court case.
→ General truth / habitual action → present → are taken
✔ Answer: are taken

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PART II: Make sentences in the passive, using the words given.

We rearrange the words into correct passive structure.

0. This building / damage / by vandals / last month.
→ Already done: *This building was damaged by vandals last month.*

1. We / take / to school / by our dad / every day.
→ Present habit → are taken
✔ Answer: We are taken to school by our dad every day.

2. When / these stories / publish?
→ Past question → When were these stories published?
✔ Answer: When were these stories published?

3. This camera / use / to catch / shoplifters.
→ Present general use → is used
✔ Answer: This camera is used to catch shoplifters.

4. The suspect / not find / by the police / last night.
→ Negative past → was not found
✔ Answer: The suspect was not found by the police last night.

5. The house / search / when the police arrived.
→ Past event → was searched
✔ Answer: The house was searched when the police arrived.

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PART III: Change sentences from Active into Passive. Remember to use *by* if necessary.

Active: Subject does the action.
Passive: Object becomes subject, verb changes to “be + past participle”, add “by [doer]” if needed.

1. Ana washes the car.
→ Car is washed by Ana. (Present simple)
✔ Answer: The car is washed by Ana.

2. My students do exercises.
→ Exercises are done by my students.
✔ Answer: Exercises are done by my students.

3. James repaired the computer.
→ Computer was repaired by James. (Past simple)
✔ Answer: The computer was repaired by James.

4. Lucy ate two packets of crisps.
→ Two packets of crisps were eaten by Lucy.
✔ Answer: Two packets of crisps were eaten by Lucy.

5. Sammy bought a new umbrella.
→ A new umbrella was bought by Sammy.
✔ Answer: A new umbrella was bought by Sammy.

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Final Answer:

PART I
1. was written
2. was stolen
3. are read
4. was our house built
5. are taken

PART II
1. We are taken to school by our dad every day.
2. When were these stories published?
3. This camera is used to catch shoplifters.
4. The suspect was not found by the police last night.
5. The house was searched when the police arrived.

PART III
1. The car is washed by Ana.
2. Exercises are done by my students.
3. The computer was repaired by James.
4. Two packets of crisps were eaten by Lucy.
5. A new umbrella was bought by Sammy.