Passive Voice Exercises

The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the object of a sentence rather than the subject performing the action. Mastering the passive helps learners write more varied and sophisticated English. Below you will find a brief review, common patterns, and a set of exercises to practice converting between active and passive forms.

1. Quick Review of the Passive Structure

In the present simple, the passive is formed with am / is / are + past participle.

Active: The chef cooks the meal.
Passive: The meal is cooked by the chef.

In the past simple, use was / were + past participle.

Active: The committee approved the proposal.
Passive: The proposal was approved by the committee.

For perfect tenses, combine has/have/has been/had been with the past participle.

Active: Scientists have discovered a new particle.
Passive: A new particle has been discovered by scientists.

2. When to Use the Passive Voice

The doer is unknown or irrelevant: The laptop was stolen.
The speaker wants to emphasize the receiver of the action: Thousands of trees were planted.
Formal or academic writing often prefers the passive: The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions.
In instructions where the performer is obvious: The oven should be preheated to 180C.

3. Common Errors to Avoid

Leaving out the auxiliary verb (is / are / was / were).
Incorrect: The book written by Jane.
Correct: The book was written by Jane.
Using the wrong form of the verb to be.
Incorrect: She is invited the party.
Correct: She was invited to the party.
Adding a subject after a passive verb when the agent is already expressed.
Incorrect: The letters were mailed by the post office by John.
Correct: The letters were mailed by John.

4. Exercise Set

Exercise 1 Change to Passive

Rewrite each active sentence in the passive voice. Click Show Answer to check your work.

1. The engineer designs the bridge.

The bridge is designed by the engineer.
2. The children will paint the mural tomorrow.

The mural will be painted by the children tomorrow.
3. The manager had reviewed the report before the meeting.

The report had been reviewed by the manager before the meeting.

Exercise 2 Change to Active

Convert each passive sentence into an active one.

1. The novel was written in 1925.

Someone wrote the novel in 1925.
2. The cupcakes have been baked by Maria.

Maria has baked the cupcakes.
3. The tickets will be sold out by Friday.

People will sell out the tickets by Friday.

5. Mini Quiz Choose the Correct Passive Form

Select the best answer for each question.

She a promotion because of her performance.
All the data by the research team.
The tickets out within an hour.

6. Tips for Practicing Independently

Read short news articles and underline every passive construction you meet.
Take a paragraph you have written and rewrite it using the passive voice where it sounds natural.
Use online tools (e.g., languagelearning apps) that highlight passive forms and give instant feedback.
Record yourself speaking, then transcribe the recording. Replace some active sentences with passive ones to hear the difference.

With regular practice, the passive voice will become an intuitive option in your writing toolbox. Keep experimenting, and soon youll be able to decide naturally when the passive adds the right emphasis or tone.

Reference Files For Passive Voice Exercises

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