Active and passive voice exercise
Many students have trouble using active and passive voices correctly. Some of them can’t even distinguish active forms from passive forms.
State whether the verb forms in the following sentences are active or passive.
1. The cat killed the mouse.
2. The birds were chirping.
3. The police caught the thief.
4. The sun rises in the east.
5. The teacher praised the students.
6. It has been raining since morning.
7. The prices have been distributed.
8. She has written several stories.
9. His poems have been translated into several languages.
10. This house was built in 1885.
11. The positive hydrogen atoms are attracted to the negative oxygen atoms.
12. She was given a car.
Answers
1. The cat killed the mouse. (killed – active voice)
2. The birds were chirping. (were chirping – active voice)
3. The police caught the thief. (caught – passive voice)
4. The sun rises in the east. (rises – active voice)
5. The teacher praised the students. (praised – active voice)
6. It has been raining since morning. (has been raining – active voice)
7. The prices have been distributed. (have been distributed – passive voice)
8. She has written several stories. (has written – active voice)
9. His poems have been translated into several languages. (have been translated – passive voice)
10. This house was built in 1885. (was built – passive voice)
11. The positive hydrogen atoms are attracted to the negative oxygen atoms. (are attracted – passive voice)
12. She was given a car. (was given – passive voice)