Active Voice and Passive Voice Listening worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The task is to write two sentences for each picture:
1. One in active voice (subject performs the action).
2. One in passive voice (subject receives the action).

We’ll go through each one with explanations.

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1. the scientist / mix / two liquids

Active Voice:
✔ *The scientist mixes two liquids.*
(Subject: the scientist; Action: mixes; Object: two liquids)

Passive Voice:
✔ *Two liquids are mixed by the scientist.*
(Subject: two liquids; Action: are mixed; Agent: by the scientist)

> ✔ In passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject.

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2. the weight / lift / the weightlifter

Active Voice:
✔ *The weightlifter lifts the weight.*
(Subject: the weightlifter; Action: lifts; Object: the weight)

Passive Voice:
✔ *The weight is lifted by the weightlifter.*
(Subject: the weight; Action: is lifted; Agent: by the weightlifter)

> ✔ Again, the object (weight) becomes the subject in passive.

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3. the paper / tear / Adam

Active Voice:
✔ *Adam tears the paper.*
(Subject: Adam; Action: tears; Object: the paper)

Passive Voice:
✔ *The paper is torn by Adam.*
(Subject: the paper; Action: is torn; Agent: by Adam)

> ✔ "Tear" → past participle is "torn"

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4. Bill / wake up / the alarm clock

Active Voice:
✔ *The alarm clock wakes Bill up.*
(Subject: the alarm clock; Action: wakes up; Object: Bill)

Passive Voice:
✔ *Bill is woken up by the alarm clock.*
(Subject: Bill; Action: is woken up; Agent: by the alarm clock)

> ✔ Note: "wake up" → passive form uses "woken up" (past participle of "wake")

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5. Andy / faint

Active Voice:
✔ *Andy faints.*
(Simple present – no object, just a state/action)

Passive Voice:
✘ This is tricky!
You cannot make "faint" passive because it's an intransitive verb (no object).
But we can say:

➡️ *Andy is fainted.* ✘ (Incorrect – not standard English)

So, this sentence cannot be passivized.

But if we interpret the meaning as someone causing Andy to faint:

✔ *Andy is made to faint.* (by something/someone)
Or more naturally:
✔ *Andy faints.* (only active possible)

But since the prompt asks for both voices, perhaps they expect:

👉 *Andy is fainted.* → ✘ Not correct.

Alternatively, rephrase using a causative:

✔ *Andy is fainted (by the shock).* → Still not natural.

So best answer:

Active: *Andy faints.*
Passive: *Andy is fainted.* → ✘ Not grammatically correct.

Better approach:
Use a causative structure or accept that some verbs don't have passive forms.

✔ Active: *Andy faints.*
✔ Passive (not applicable): *No passive form possible.*

But if the teacher expects a passive, maybe they mean:

👉 *Andy is knocked out.* → But that’s not what “faint” means exactly.

Wait — perhaps the image shows him fainting due to something? But based on the words given: "Andy / faint", it's likely just a simple event.

So final answer:

- Active: *Andy faints.*
- Passive: *(Not possible)* → but if forced: *Andy is fainted.* (incorrect)

But let’s assume the intent is to show that some verbs cannot be used in passive voice.

However, in many educational contexts, they might accept:

👉 *Andy is fainted.* → ✘ Incorrect

So better to write:

- Active: *Andy faints.*
- Passive: *No passive form* or *N/A*

But let’s move on and return later.

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6. the boxer in red / knock / out

Active Voice:
✔ *The boxer in red knocks the other boxer out.*
(Subject: the boxer in red; Action: knocks out; Object: the other boxer)

Passive Voice:
✔ *The other boxer is knocked out by the boxer in red.*
(Subject: the other boxer; Action: is knocked out; Agent: by the boxer in red)

> ✔ "Knock out" → passive: "is knocked out"

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7. David / throw / up in the bathroom

Active Voice:
✔ *David throws up in the bathroom.*
(Subject: David; Action: throws up; Location: bathroom)

Passive Voice:
✘ Can we make this passive?

"Throw up" is an intransitive phrasal verb (no direct object). So you can’t say "up is thrown by David".

But sometimes people use passive in humorous or poetic ways, like:

👉 *Vomit is thrown up by David.* → Awkward, but technically possible.

But more natural:

✔ *David throws up in the bathroom.*
✔ *Up is thrown by David.* → ✘ Not natural.

So again, no true passive.

Alternative: Use a different structure.

👉 *David is sick in the bathroom.* → But that changes meaning.

Best:

- Active: *David throws up in the bathroom.*
- Passive: *No passive form possible* or *N/A*

But if we stretch it:

👉 *Something is thrown up by David in the bathroom.* → Very awkward.

So probably, the expected answer is:

✔ *David throws up in the bathroom.*
✔ *Up is thrown by David in the bathroom.* → ✘ Not standard

So skip or note: This verb phrase does not allow passive voice.

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8. the ball / throw / the player

Active Voice:
✔ *The player throws the ball.*
(Subject: the player; Action: throws; Object: the ball)

Passive Voice:
✔ *The ball is thrown by the player.*
(Subject: the ball; Action: is thrown; Agent: by the player)

> ✔ Standard passive transformation.

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## ✔ Final Answers:

| Picture | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|--------|--------------|----------------|
| 1. Scientist | The scientist mixes two liquids. | Two liquids are mixed by the scientist. |
| 2. Weightlifter | The weightlifter lifts the weight. | The weight is lifted by the weightlifter. |
| 3. Paper torn | Adam tears the paper. | The paper is torn by Adam. |
| 4. Alarm clock | The alarm clock wakes Bill up. | Bill is woken up by the alarm clock. |
| 5. Andy faints | Andy faints. | No passive form (or: *Andy is fainted* — incorrect) |
| 6. Boxer knocked out | The boxer in red knocks the other boxer out. | The other boxer is knocked out by the boxer in red. |
| 7. David vomits | David throws up in the bathroom. | No passive form (or: *Up is thrown by David* — awkward) |
| 8. Ball thrown | The player throws the ball. | The ball is thrown by the player. |

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## 🔍 Explanation Summary:

- Active Voice: Subject does the action.
- Passive Voice: Object of the action becomes the subject; the doer is optional ("by...").
- Intransitive verbs (like *faint*, *throw up*) do not have passive forms because they lack a direct object.
- For phrasal verbs like *wake up*, *knock out*, *throw up*, the passive uses the full phrase: *is woken up*, *is knocked out*, etc.
- "Throw up" is usually intransitive → no passive.
- "Faint" is also intransitive → no passive.

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🟩 Recommended Final Answer Sheet:

```
1. the scientist / mix / two liquids
Active: The scientist mixes two liquids.
Passive: Two liquids are mixed by the scientist.

2. the weight / lift / the weightlifter
Active: The weightlifter lifts the weight.
Passive: The weight is lifted by the weightlifter.

3. the paper / tear / Adam
Active: Adam tears the paper.
Passive: The paper is torn by Adam.

4. Bill / wake up / the alarm clock
Active: The alarm clock wakes Bill up.
Passive: Bill is woken up by the alarm clock.

5. Andy / faint
Active: Andy faints.
Passive: No passive form possible. (or: Andy is fainted — incorrect)

6. the boxer in red / knock / out
Active: The boxer in red knocks the other boxer out.
Passive: The other boxer is knocked out by the boxer in red.

7. David / throw / up in the bathroom
Active: David throws up in the bathroom.
Passive: No passive form possible. (or: Up is thrown by David — awkward)

8. the ball / throw / the player
Active: The player throws the ball.
Passive: The ball is thrown by the player.
```

> ⚠️ For items 5 and 7, explain to students that not all verbs can be used in passive voice — only transitive verbs (with objects) can be passivized.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or classroom explanation!