We use active voice when the subject performs the action. We use the passive voice when we don’t want to say who performs the action.
Test your understanding of active and passive verb forms with this interactive grammar exercise.
1His command ...............
Wrong!
The subject receives the action, so the correct passive form is "was promptly obeyed".
2That portrait ............... by my grandmother.
Wrong!
The phrase "by my grandmother" shows the agent, so the correct passive form is "was painted".
3They ............... to the party.
Wrong!
The people receive the invitation, so the correct present perfect passive form is "have been invited".
4You ............... when the time comes.
Wrong!
The person receives the information in the future, so the correct passive form is "will be told".
5Everybody ............... with me.
Wrong!
The subject does the action, so the correct active form is "agrees".
6I was very ............... in the lesson.
Wrong!
We describe how the speaker felt, so the correct adjective is "interested".
7The dog ............... the man.
Wrong!
The dog performs the action, so the correct active past form is "bit".
8He ............... a very remarkable discovery.
Wrong!
The subject performs the action, so the correct active past form is "made".
9The accused ............... to a tree.
Wrong!
The accused receives the action, so the correct passive form is "was bound".
10She ............... the first prize in the competition.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
With no clear time marker, both "won" and "has won" can complete the sentence naturally.
11The ocean ............... dry.
Wrong!
The ocean receives the action, so the correct passive modal form is "cannot be pumped".
12I ............... to leave the room.
Wrong!
The speaker receives the instruction, so the correct passive form is "was told".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- His command was promptly obeyed
- That portrait was painted by my grandmother.
- They have been invited to the party.
- You will be told when the time comes.
- Everybody agrees with me.
- I was very interested in the lesson.
- The dog bit the man.
- He made a very remarkable discovery.
- The accused was bound to a tree.
- She won / has won the first prize in the competition.
- The ocean cannot be pumped dry.
- I was told to leave the room.