Passive Voice ESL Printable Worksheets and Exercises - Free Printable

Let’s solve each section step by step. We’ll go one box at a time, changing the sentences into passive voice as shown in the examples.

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A. PASSIVE VOICE IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE

We change active present simple to passive using:
am/is/are + past participle

1. They clean this room every day.
→ This room is cleaned every day.

2. People speak English all over the world.
→ English is spoken all over the world.

3. My mother makes delicious cakes.
→ Delicious cakes are made by my mother.

4. I don’t wash my car very often.
→ My car is not washed very often (by me).

5. Do they sell vegetables in that shop?
→ Are vegetables sold in that shop?

6. She doesn’t like people telling her what to do.
→ She doesn’t like being told what to do. *(Note: “telling” becomes “being told” — gerund passive)*

7. People don’t use this road very often.
→ This road is not used very often.

8. How do people learn languages?
→ How are languages learned?

9. I keep my money in the bank.
→ My money is kept in the bank.

10. Does anybody know the answer?
→ Is the answer known (by anybody)?

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B. PASSIVE VOICE IN THE PAST SIMPLE

Use: was/were + past participle

1. Someone stole my bicycle last night.
→ My bicycle was stolen last night.

2. Did anyone find your keys?
→ Were your keys found?

3. The police caught the thief yesterday.
→ The thief was caught by the police yesterday.

4. Someone broke the window last week.
→ The window was broken last week.

5. Who wrote this book?
→ By whom was this book written? OR → Who was this book written by?

6. They didn’t invite him to the party.
→ He was not invited to the party.

7. Did they build this house in 1990?
→ Was this house built in 1990?

8. Someone took my umbrella.
→ My umbrella was taken.

9. The storm destroyed many houses.
→ Many houses were destroyed by the storm.

10. They sold the old car last month.
→ The old car was sold last month.

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C. PASSIVE VOICE WITH MODALS

Use: modal + be + past participle

1. You must finish this work today.
→ This work must be finished today.

2. They can repair the machine tomorrow.
→ The machine can be repaired tomorrow.

3. We should respect our teachers.
→ Our teachers should be respected.

4. You may leave the room now.
→ The room may be left now. *(But better: You may be allowed to leave — but strictly following pattern: “The room may be left” is grammatically correct though odd. Let’s stick to structure.)*
Actually, more natural: “You may be permitted to leave.” But since we’re practicing form, let’s say:
→ Leaving the room may be done now. ✘ Too awkward.
Better: Stick to direct object transformation. Original has no clear object for “leave”. So perhaps skip or rephrase. Wait — original sentence: “You may leave the room now.” Object = “the room”? No, “leave” here is intransitive? Actually, “leave the room” — “room” is object. So:
→ The room may be left now. ✔ Grammatically correct.

5. They might cancel the meeting.
→ The meeting might be canceled.

6. You ought to tell the truth.
→ The truth ought to be told.

7. We must protect the environment.
→ The environment must be protected.

8. Can you fix this computer?
→ Can this computer be fixed?

9. They will announce the results soon.
→ The results will be announced soon.

10. You need to sign the form.
→ The form needs to be signed.

*(Note: “need to” becomes “needs to be” because subject changes from “you” to “form” — third person singular.)*

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D. PASSIVE VOICE IN THE FUTURE SIMPLE

Use: will be + past participle

1. They will build a new school next year.
→ A new school will be built next year.

2. Will they send the letter tomorrow?
→ Will the letter be sent tomorrow?

3. She won’t accept the offer.
→ The offer won’t be accepted.

4. They are going to paint the house blue.
→ The house is going to be painted blue.

5. Who will meet us at the station?
→ By whom will we be met at the station? OR → Who will we be met by at the station?

6. They will not allow pets in the hotel.
→ Pets will not be allowed in the hotel.

7. Will someone explain the rules?
→ Will the rules be explained?

8. They will deliver the package on Monday.
→ The package will be delivered on Monday.

9. The manager will interview the candidates.
→ The candidates will be interviewed by the manager.

10. They will open the new store next week.
→ The new store will be opened next week.

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E. TENSE REVIEW: PUT ALL IN PASSIVE

Mix of tenses — identify tense first, then convert.

1. Someone has stolen my wallet!
→ My wallet has been stolen!

2. They were cleaning the house when I arrived.
→ The house was being cleaned when I arrived. *(Past continuous passive)*

3. Have they finished the project yet?
→ Has the project been finished yet?

4. The chef is preparing dinner right now.
→ Dinner is being prepared right now. *(Present continuous passive)*

5. Had they already eaten before we came?
→ Had the food already been eaten before we came? *(Past perfect passive)*

6. They have just announced the winner.
→ The winner has just been announced.

7. Was anyone watching the game?
→ Was the game being watched?

8. They had completed the task before noon.
→ The task had been completed before noon.

9. Are they building a new bridge?
→ Is a new bridge being built?

10. Has anyone seen my glasses?
→ Have my glasses been seen?

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Final Answer:

A. Present Simple Passive
1. This room is cleaned every day.
2. English is spoken all over the world.
3. Delicious cakes are made by my mother.
4. My car is not washed very often.
5. Are vegetables sold in that shop?
6. She doesn’t like being told what to do.
7. This road is not used very often.
8. How are languages learned?
9. My money is kept in the bank.
10. Is the answer known?

B. Past Simple Passive
1. My bicycle was stolen last night.
2. Were your keys found?
3. The thief was caught by the police yesterday.
4. The window was broken last week.
5. Who was this book written by?
6. He was not invited to the party.
7. Was this house built in 1990?
8. My umbrella was taken.
9. Many houses were destroyed by the storm.
10. The old car was sold last month.

C. Passive with Modals
1. This work must be finished today.
2. The machine can be repaired tomorrow.
3. Our teachers should be respected.
4. The room may be left now.
5. The meeting might be canceled.
6. The truth ought to be told.
7. The environment must be protected.
8. Can this computer be fixed?
9. The results will be announced soon.
10. The form needs to be signed.

D. Future Simple Passive
1. A new school will be built next year.
2. Will the letter be sent tomorrow?
3. The offer won’t be accepted.
4. The house is going to be painted blue.
5. Who will we be met by at the station?
6. Pets will not be allowed in the hotel.
7. Will the rules be explained?
8. The package will be delivered on Monday.
9. The candidates will be interviewed by the manager.
10. The new store will be opened next week.

E. Tense Review Passive
1. My wallet has been stolen!
2. The house was being cleaned when I arrived.
3. Has the project been finished yet?
4. Dinner is being prepared right now.
5. Had the food already been eaten before we came?
6. The winner has just been announced.
7. Was the game being watched?
8. The task had been completed before noon.
9. Is a new bridge being built?
10. Have my glasses been seen?