When we say what people and things do, we use active verb forms. When we say what happens to people and things, we often use passive verb forms.
Note that the object of the active verb corresponds to the subject of the passive verb. This grammar exercise tests your ability to use active and passive voices correctly.
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate active or passive verb form.
1A small hut ............... at a distance.
Wrong!
The passive form "was seen" shows that someone saw the hut, but the doer is not important.
2The winners ............... at the function.
Wrong!
The passive form "were felicitated" is correct because the winners received the honour.
3The missing boy ............... by the police.
Wrong!
The passive form "has been traced" is correct because the missing boy was found by someone.
4She has never ............... any interest in politics.
Wrong!
The present perfect needs the past participle "shown" after "has never".
5I am ............... with your performance.
Wrong!
The adjective-like past participle "impressed" describes how the speaker feels.
6As soon as they heard the siren, the thieves ............... behind the bushes.
Wrong!
The active past simple verb "hid" shows what the thieves did as soon as they heard the siren.
7The patient ............... to another hospital when his health deteriorated.
Wrong!
The passive form "was moved" is correct because the patient was taken to another hospital by someone.
8The women ............... an alarm when they saw the big cat.
Wrong!
The active past simple verb "raised" shows what the women did when they saw the big cat.
9I ............... a letter from an old friend in the morning.
Wrong!
The active past simple verb "received" is correct because the subject got the letter.
Exercise complete
0 out of 9
correct answers
Answers
- A small hut was seen at a distance.
- The winners were felicitated at the function.
- The missing boy has been traced by the police.
- She has never shown any interest in politics.
- I am impressed with your performance.
- As soon as they heard the siren, the thieves hid behind the bushes.
- The patient was moved to another hospital when his health deteriorated.
- The women raised an alarm when they saw the big cat.
- I received a letter from an old friend in the morning.