Active to passive worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the task of converting each sentence from active voice to passive voice. The key rule for passive voice is:

> Object of active sentence → Subject of passive sentence
> Verb → be + past participle
> Subject of active sentence → by + subject (optional, often omitted)

We’ll go through each sentence one by one.

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1. People speak Portuguese in Brazil.

- Active: People (subject) → speak (verb) → Portuguese (object)
- Passive: Portuguese (subject) → is spoken (be + past participle) → by people
- Passive: *Portuguese is spoken in Brazil.*

> ✔ Note: "People" is not necessary in the passive version since it's general and implied.

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2. My grandfather built this house in 1943.

- Active: My grandfather (subject) → built (verb) → this house (object)
- Passive: This house (subject) → was built (past tense of "be" + past participle) → by my grandfather
- Passive: *This house was built by my grandfather in 1943.*

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3. The cleaner has cleaned the office.

- Active: The cleaner (subject) → has cleaned (present perfect) → the office (object)
- Passive: The office (subject) → has been cleaned (has + been + past participle) → by the cleaner
- Passive: *The office has been cleaned by the cleaner.*

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4. John will phone her later.

- Active: John (subject) → will phone (future) → her (object)
- Passive: Her (subject) → will be phoned (will + be + past participle) → by John
- Passive: *She will be phoned by John later.*

> ✔ Note: We change "her" to "she" because the object becomes the subject.

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5. Somebody should do the work.

- Active: Somebody (subject) → should do (modal verb + base verb) → the work (object)
- Passive: The work (subject) → should be done (modal + be + past participle) → by somebody
- Passive: *The work should be done (by somebody).*

> ✔ "By somebody" can be omitted if we don't care who does it.

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6. Everybody loves Mr Brown.

- Active: Everybody (subject) → loves → Mr Brown (object)
- Passive: Mr Brown (subject) → is loved → by everybody
- Passive: *Mr Brown is loved by everybody.*

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7. The wolf ate the princess.

- Active: The wolf (subject) → ate → the princess (object)
- Passive: The princess (subject) → was eaten → by the wolf
- Passive: *The princess was eaten by the wolf.*

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8. Somebody has drunk all the milk!

- Active: Somebody (subject) → has drunk → all the milk (object)
- Passive: All the milk (subject) → has been drunk → by somebody
- Passive: *All the milk has been drunk (by somebody)!*

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9. A workman will repair the computer tomorrow.

- Active: A workman (subject) → will repair → the computer (object)
- Passive: The computer (subject) → will be repaired → by a workman
- Passive: *The computer will be repaired by a workman tomorrow.*

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10. People must wear masks these days.

- Active: People (subject) → must wear → masks (object)
- Passive: Masks (subject) → must be worn → by people
- Passive: *Masks must be worn (by people) these days.*

> ✔ Again, "by people" is optional.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil.
2. This house was built by my grandfather in 1943.
3. The office has been cleaned by the cleaner.
4. She will be phoned by John later.
5. The work should be done (by somebody).
6. Mr Brown is loved by everybody.
7. The princess was eaten by the wolf.
8. All the milk has been drunk (by somebody)!
9. The computer will be repaired by a workman tomorrow.
10. Masks must be worn (by people) these days.

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🔍 Summary Tips:

- In passive voice, focus on the receiver of the action.
- Use be + past participle.
- The agent (doer) is optional and introduced with by.
- Modals (should, must, will, etc.) stay before be.
- Tense changes follow the same pattern: present → present passive, past → past passive, etc.

Let me know if you'd like an explanation for any specific sentence!