Active and Passive Voice Exercise worksheet from EnglishPractice.com.
Worksheet titled "Active and Passive Voice Exercise" with instructions to change sentences into passive voice and a list of 20 sentences to convert, along with their answers.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Active and Passive Voice Exercise | PDF
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Active and Passive Voice Exercise | PDF
Let’s go through each sentence one by one and change it from active voice to passive voice.
In passive voice, the object of the action becomes the subject. We often use “be” + past participle (like “was eaten”, “is written”, etc.). Sometimes we add “by [someone]” if it’s important who did the action — but not always!
---
1. The children laughed at the beggar.
→ The beggar was laughed at by the children.
2. They elected him chairman.
→ He was elected chairman. *(We don’t need to say “by them” — it’s obvious.)*
3. One should keep one’s promises.
→ Promises should be kept. *(General rule — no need for “by one”)*
4. When will you return the book?
→ When will the book be returned (by you)?
5. Somebody has picked my pocket.
→ My pocket has been picked (by somebody).
6. Circumstances obliged me to agree.
→ I was obliged to agree. *(“Circumstances” is vague — so we drop it in passive.)*
7. I saw him stealing the watch.
→ He was seen stealing the watch.
8. We must listen to his words.
→ His words must be listened to.
9. Who broke this window?
→ By whom was this window broken?
10. One cannot gather grapes from thistles.
→ Grapes cannot be gathered from thistles.
11. People regarded him as an impostor.
→ He was regarded as an impostor.
12. Do not insult the weak and the oppressed.
→ Let the weak and the oppressed not be insulted. *(This is a command — so we use “let...not be...”)*
13. They refused him admittance.
→ He was refused admittance.
14. The doctor despaired of his recovery.
→ His recovery was despaired of by the doctor. *(A bit awkward, but correct.)*
15. The manager will issue you a ticket.
→ You will be issued a ticket by the manager.
OR → A ticket will be issued to you by the manager.
16. He handed her a parcel.
→ A parcel was handed to her.
OR → She was handed a parcel.
17. They asked me my name.
→ I was asked my name.
OR → My name was asked by them. *(Less common, but still correct.)*
18. We will execute all orders promptly.
→ All orders will be executed promptly (by us).
19. People all over the world speak English.
→ English is spoken by people all over the world.
20. They saw the storm approaching.
→ The storm was seen approaching (by them).
---
Final Answer:
1. The beggar was laughed at by the children.
2. He was elected chairman.
3. Promises should be kept.
4. When will the book be returned (by you)?
5. My pocket has been picked (by somebody).
6. I was obliged to agree.
7. He was seen stealing the watch.
8. His words must be listened to.
9. By whom was this window broken?
10. Grapes cannot be gathered from thistles.
11. He was regarded as an impostor.
12. Let the weak and the oppressed not be insulted.
13. He was refused admittance.
14. His recovery was despaired of by the doctor.
15. You will be issued a ticket by the manager. OR A ticket will be issued to you by the manager.
16. A parcel was handed to her. OR She was handed a parcel.
17. I was asked my name. OR My name was asked by them.
18. All orders will be executed promptly (by us).
19. English is spoken by people all over the world.
20. The storm was seen approaching (by them).
In passive voice, the object of the action becomes the subject. We often use “be” + past participle (like “was eaten”, “is written”, etc.). Sometimes we add “by [someone]” if it’s important who did the action — but not always!
---
1. The children laughed at the beggar.
→ The beggar was laughed at by the children.
2. They elected him chairman.
→ He was elected chairman. *(We don’t need to say “by them” — it’s obvious.)*
3. One should keep one’s promises.
→ Promises should be kept. *(General rule — no need for “by one”)*
4. When will you return the book?
→ When will the book be returned (by you)?
5. Somebody has picked my pocket.
→ My pocket has been picked (by somebody).
6. Circumstances obliged me to agree.
→ I was obliged to agree. *(“Circumstances” is vague — so we drop it in passive.)*
7. I saw him stealing the watch.
→ He was seen stealing the watch.
8. We must listen to his words.
→ His words must be listened to.
9. Who broke this window?
→ By whom was this window broken?
10. One cannot gather grapes from thistles.
→ Grapes cannot be gathered from thistles.
11. People regarded him as an impostor.
→ He was regarded as an impostor.
12. Do not insult the weak and the oppressed.
→ Let the weak and the oppressed not be insulted. *(This is a command — so we use “let...not be...”)*
13. They refused him admittance.
→ He was refused admittance.
14. The doctor despaired of his recovery.
→ His recovery was despaired of by the doctor. *(A bit awkward, but correct.)*
15. The manager will issue you a ticket.
→ You will be issued a ticket by the manager.
OR → A ticket will be issued to you by the manager.
16. He handed her a parcel.
→ A parcel was handed to her.
OR → She was handed a parcel.
17. They asked me my name.
→ I was asked my name.
OR → My name was asked by them. *(Less common, but still correct.)*
18. We will execute all orders promptly.
→ All orders will be executed promptly (by us).
19. People all over the world speak English.
→ English is spoken by people all over the world.
20. They saw the storm approaching.
→ The storm was seen approaching (by them).
---
Final Answer:
1. The beggar was laughed at by the children.
2. He was elected chairman.
3. Promises should be kept.
4. When will the book be returned (by you)?
5. My pocket has been picked (by somebody).
6. I was obliged to agree.
7. He was seen stealing the watch.
8. His words must be listened to.
9. By whom was this window broken?
10. Grapes cannot be gathered from thistles.
11. He was regarded as an impostor.
12. Let the weak and the oppressed not be insulted.
13. He was refused admittance.
14. His recovery was despaired of by the doctor.
15. You will be issued a ticket by the manager. OR A ticket will be issued to you by the manager.
16. A parcel was handed to her. OR She was handed a parcel.
17. I was asked my name. OR My name was asked by them.
18. All orders will be executed promptly (by us).
19. English is spoken by people all over the world.
20. The storm was seen approaching (by them).
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of active and passive voice worksheet with answers pdf.
