Passive to Active Voice — Exercise 1 | ESL Worksheets - Free Printable

Let's solve the exercise by converting each passive voice sentence into active voice. In passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., "The room was cleaned"), while in active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., "The kids cleaned the room").

We'll go through each sentence step-by-step:

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1. The room has been cleaned by the kids.

- Passive: "The room" is the receiver of the action.
- Agent: "the kids" performed the action.
- Active: The kids have cleaned the room.

✔ *Explanation:* Change "has been cleaned" to "have cleaned" (plural subject), and make "kids" the subject.

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2. A wallet was found in the street by us.

- Passive: "A wallet" is found.
- Agent: "us" found it.
- Active: We found a wallet in the street.

✔ *Explanation:* "Us" becomes "we" (subject), and "was found" becomes "found".

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3. The ball is being chased by the dog.

- Passive: "The ball" is being chased.
- Agent: "the dog" does the chasing.
- Active: The dog is chasing the ball.

✔ *Explanation:* Change "is being chased" to "is chasing", and make "dog" the subject.

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4. My money has been stolen by Henry.

- Passive: "My money" is stolen.
- Agent: "Henry" stole it.
- Active: Henry has stolen my money.

✔ *Explanation:* "Has been stolen" → "has stolen", and "Henry" becomes the subject.

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5. The work will be finished by me.

- Passive: "The work" will be finished.
- Agent: "me" → "I".
- Active: I will finish the work.

✔ *Explanation:* "Will be finished" → "will finish", and "me" becomes "I".

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6. Novels are written by my dad.

- Passive: "Novels" are written.
- Agent: "my dad" writes them.
- Active: My dad writes novels.

✔ *Explanation:* "Are written" → "writes", and "my dad" becomes the subject.

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7. The baby is being fed by Kelly.

- Passive: "The baby" is being fed.
- Agent: "Kelly" feeds.
- Active: Kelly is feeding the baby.

✔ *Explanation:* "Is being fed" → "is feeding", and "Kelly" becomes the subject.

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8. A restaurant has been opened by my friend.

- Passive: "A restaurant" has been opened.
- Agent: "my friend" opened it.
- Active: My friend has opened a restaurant.

✔ *Explanation:* "Has been opened" → "has opened", and "my friend" becomes the subject.

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9. They water the lawn every day.

⚠️ This sentence is already in active voice.
- Subject: "They"
- Verb: "water"
- Object: "the lawn"

So, no change needed.

✔ Answer: They water the lawn every day.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. The kids have cleaned the room.
2. We found a wallet in the street.
3. The dog is chasing the ball.
4. Henry has stolen my money.
5. I will finish the work.
6. My dad writes novels.
7. Kelly is feeding the baby.
8. My friend has opened a restaurant.
9. They water the lawn every day.

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📝 Summary Tips:

- Identify the agent (who/what did the action) — usually after "by".
- Make the agent the subject of the sentence.
- Change the verb from passive form (be + past participle) to active form (subject + main verb).
- Be careful with pronouns: "by us" → "we", "by me" → "I", etc.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanations for more examples!