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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > English Language Arts

Active and Passive Voice Practice Quiz

Boost your grammar with active and passive sentences quiz

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 8
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art promoting an engaging English grammar quiz on active vs passive voice.

Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
John throws the ball.
The ball was thrown.
Thrown by John, the ball hit the ground.
The ball is thrown by John.
Active voice clearly shows the subject performing the action. 'John throws the ball' meets this criterion by placing the doer at the beginning of the sentence.
Which sentence demonstrates a passive voice structure?
Sarah bakes the cake.
The cake was baked by Sarah.
The cake bakes quickly.
Sarah likes baking cakes.
The sentence 'The cake was baked by Sarah' places the object at the beginning and includes the agent with 'by', which is typical of passive voice. This construction emphasizes the action received rather than who performed it.
What is the correct transformation of the active sentence 'The teacher explains the lesson' into passive voice?
The lesson explains the teacher.
The teacher explains by the lesson.
The lesson is explained by the teacher.
The teacher is explained by the lesson.
In the passive form, the object 'the lesson' becomes the subject and the agent 'the teacher' is expressed with 'by'. This transformation correctly shifts the focus of the sentence.
Which sentence is correctly written in passive voice?
Mistakes were made.
Mistakes are making.
I made mistakes.
Mistaken by me.
The sentence 'Mistakes were made' is a proper example of passive voice because the subject 'mistakes' is receiving the action. It effectively omits the agent, which is common in passive constructions.
What is the primary difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action; in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Active voice uses helping verbs, while passive voice does not.
Passive voice is used to ask questions, while active voice is used to provide statements.
Active voice always comes with adjectives; passive voice does not.
The key difference is the focus of the sentence: active voice places the subject as the doer of the action, whereas passive voice emphasizes the action itself by placing the recipient at the forefront.
Convert the sentence 'The committee approved the new policy' to passive voice.
The new policy was approved by the committee.
New policy by the committee approved.
The policy approves the committee.
The committee was approved by the new policy.
In the passive version, the object 'the new policy' becomes the subject of the sentence and is paired with the correct form 'was approved' along with the agent introduced by 'by'.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses passive voice with an omitted agent?
A mistake was made.
The mistake makes itself.
A mistake is making.
Mistake made by someone.
The sentence 'A mistake was made' is a clear example of passive voice with the agent left out. This is common when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.
Which sentence is active voice?
Found by the team, the solution was impressive.
The solution is found.
The solution was found by the team.
The team found the solution.
Active voice clearly indicates the subject performing the action. 'The team found the solution' is straightforward and unambiguous in structure.
In the passive voice sentence 'The novel was written by the author,' what role does 'by the author' play?
It is the auxiliary verb phrase.
It indicates the indirect object.
It specifies the agent performing the action.
It acts as the direct object.
The phrase 'by the author' identifies the agent who performs the action, which is a key element in passive voice constructions. It clarifies who is responsible for writing the novel.
Which sentence correctly changes an active sentence into passive voice when the object is plural?
The letters was mailed by the secretary.
The letters were mailed by the secretary.
The secretary mails the letters.
The letters had mailed by the secretary.
For sentences with plural objects, the passive voice uses the correct plural auxiliary verb form. 'The letters were mailed by the secretary' is both grammatically correct and clearly structured.
What is a common reason to use passive voice in academic writing?
To focus on the action or result rather than the actor.
To confuse the reader.
To emphasize the subject's personal opinion.
To make sentences shorter.
Passive voice is often employed in academic writing to shift focus from the doer to the action or its results. This allows the writer to emphasize the process or outcome over the agent.
How is the auxiliary verb typically used in forming the past passive voice?
It is always omitted in past passive sentences.
It is placed at the end of the sentence.
It is combined with the base verb to show ongoing action.
It is combined with the past participle to indicate completed action.
The past passive voice is constructed by linking an auxiliary verb (a form of 'to be') with a past participle. This combination signals that the action has been completed.
Which transformation correctly converts the active sentence 'Engineers design bridges' to passive voice?
Bridges are designed by engineers.
Engineers are designed by bridges.
By engineers, bridges design.
Bridges design engineers.
The passive version places the object 'bridges' at the beginning and uses the correct form 'are designed' with the agent introduced by 'by engineers'. This correctly reverses the active sentence structure.
In what situation might active voice be preferred over passive voice?
When the doer of the action is important to the meaning of the sentence.
When the action is completed.
When the sentence is too short.
When the action is ongoing.
Active voice is often chosen when it is important to know the actor performing the action, as it provides clarity and directness in who is responsible for the action.
Which sentence best demonstrates the correct use of passive voice to emphasize the result of an action?
Conducting the experiment, the researchers succeeded.
The experiment was conducted successfully.
The researchers conducted the experiment.
The success of the experiment was research.
By using the passive construction, 'The experiment was conducted successfully' shifts the focus to the outcome rather than who performed the action. This is a typical strategy in formal writing to emphasize results.
Analyze the sentence 'By redesigning the curriculum, the school improved its performance' and choose the version in passive voice.
The school was redesigned by improving its curriculum.
The curriculum was redesigned by the school, leading to improved performance.
The curriculum redesign improved the school performance.
Its performance was improved by the curriculum redesigning the school.
This option correctly reorders the sentence to passive voice by making 'the curriculum' the subject and introducing the agent with 'by the school'. It also preserves the meaning and emphasizes the change made.
Which of the following sentences involves a passive construction that might be ambiguous due to the lack of a clear agent?
The door was closed.
The guard closed the door.
Closing the door, the guard left.
The door closed after the storm.
Without an explicit agent, 'The door was closed' leaves it unclear who performed the action. This is a hallmark of passive voice that can sometimes introduce ambiguity.
When converting a sentence from active to passive voice, which element typically becomes the new subject?
The subject of the active sentence.
The adverb modifying the action.
The object of the active sentence.
The predicate of the active sentence.
In passive constructions, the object of the active sentence is elevated to the subject position. This shift is fundamental to the transition from active to passive voice.
Identify the error in the following passive voice conversion: 'The song sung by the artist was loved by the audience.'
No error; the sentence correctly employs passive voice.
The sentence lacks an auxiliary verb.
The subject is incorrectly placed.
The verb tense is inconsistent.
The sentence is correctly structured in the passive voice. It uses the past participle 'sung' along with an appropriate auxiliary formation and clearly identifies the agent.
In academic writing, why might it be important to correctly order sentence elements when using passive voice?
To obscure the subject's identity deliberately.
To make the text more casual.
To only vary the sentence length.
To ensure clarity in attributing actions and avoiding ambiguity.
Correct ordering in passive constructions is essential for clarity, preventing ambiguity about who is responsible for the action. This is especially important in academic writing where precision is key.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the key differences between active and passive voice.
  2. Identify and differentiate between active and passive sentence structures.
  3. Apply conversion techniques to change sentences from active to passive voice and vice versa.
  4. Analyze the impact of voice choice on sentence clarity and style.
  5. Evaluate sentences for grammatical correctness based on active or passive constructions.

Active & Passive Voice Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand the Structure of Active Voice - In active voice, the subject performs the action, making sentences punchy and clear. For example, "The cat chased the mouse" shows who does what right away, so your reader never gets lost. Get into the habit of spotting active constructions and watch your writing supercharge its clarity. Purdue OWL: Active vs. Passive Voice
  2. Recognize the Structure of Passive Voice - Passive voice flips the script: the subject is acted upon rather than doing the action. You'll often see a form of "to be" plus a past participle (was eaten, is painted) and sometimes a "by" phrase. While it can sound more formal, knowing how it works helps you choose the strongest voice. Merriam‑Webster Grammar: Active vs. Passive Voice
  3. Identify Clues for Passive Voice - Keep an eye out for "was," "were," "is," "are" followed by a past participle (written, built, played) and for sneaky "by" phrases naming an agent. These are your red flags that the sentence might be hiding the actor. Spotting these clues is like giving your inner writing detective a magnifying glass! UAGC Writing Center: Active vs. Passive Voice
  4. Practice Converting Passive to Active Voice - Turn "The cake was baked by Mary" into "Mary baked the cake" to make your sentences more energetic and concise. This simple swap brings the actor to center stage and tightens up your prose. Regular drills like this boost your writing stamina in no time. Eastern Washington University: Active & Passive Grammar Basics
  5. Know When to Use Passive Voice - Passive voice isn't a villain - it shines when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or you want to spotlight the action itself. Sentences like "The experiment was conducted successfully" focus on results over researchers. Mastering this balance is your passport to versatile writing. Brandeis Writing Program: Active & Passive Voice
  6. Understand the Impact on Clarity and Conciseness - Generally, active voice serves clarity and brevity, while passive constructions can feel longer and blur the action. Compare "The team won the game" with "The game was won by the team" and feel the difference in energy. Choosing active voice is like swapping a dull bulb for a bright spotlight on your ideas. Purdue OWL: Clarity in Active vs. Passive
  7. Recognize Passive Voice in Scientific Writing - Scientists often lean on passive voice to keep the focus on procedures or findings rather than personalities. Sentences such as "The solution was heated to 100°C" emphasize the method, not the researcher. Knowing this convention helps you read and write research like a pro. Scribbr: Passive Voice in Academic Writing
  8. Be Aware of Passive Voice in News Reporting - Journalists sometimes use passive voice when the actor is unknown or to highlight the event. Headlines like "A new policy was implemented yesterday" focus the reader's attention on what happened. Spotting this choice can give you insight into how stories are framed. Merriam‑Webster Grammar: News Reporting Tips
  9. Use Active Voice for Stronger Writing - In persuasive and narrative pieces, active voice brings action and personality to the forefront. "She completed the project ahead of schedule" hits harder than its passive alternative. Lean on active constructions to keep your audience hooked and convinced. University of Lynchburg Writing Center: Active vs. Passive
  10. Practice Identifying and Revising Voice - Turn voice-spotting into a daily workout: find passive sentences in articles and rewrite them actively. Changing "The meeting was scheduled by the manager" to "The manager scheduled the meeting" sharpens your editing skills. With regular practice, your writing will become more dynamic and reader-friendly. PrepScholar Blog: Active vs. Passive Voice
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