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Active and Passive Voice: Practice Questions with Answers

12 practice questions on Active and Passive Voice, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

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1. Q.1

   Change to passive voice: "Columbus discovered America."

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   Answer: "America was discovered by Columbus."

   Solution:

   1. Object "America" becomes the new subject.
   2. The verb "discovered" (simple past) becomes "was discovered" (was + past participle).
   3. The original subject "Columbus" moves after "by".

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2. Q.2

   Change to passive voice: "He teaches us English."

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   Answer: "We are taught English by him."

   Solution:

   1. This verb has two objects: "us" and "English". Promoting the person, "us", to subject is the more natural passive.
   2. "Teaches" (simple present) becomes "are taught" (are + past participle), matching the new plural subject "we".

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3. Q.3

   Change to passive voice: "The teacher checks the homework."

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   Answer: "The homework is checked by the teacher."

   Solution:

   1. Object "the homework" becomes the new subject.
   2. The verb "checks" (simple present) becomes "is checked" (is + past participle).
   3. The original subject "the teacher" moves after "by".

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4. Q.4

   Change to passive voice: "The workers are building a new bridge."

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   Answer: "A new bridge is being built by the workers."

   Solution:

   1. Object "a new bridge" becomes the new subject.
   2. The verb "are building" (present continuous) becomes "is being built" (be + being + past participle) — "is" because the new subject, "a new bridge", is singular.
   3. The original subject "the workers" moves after "by".

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5. Q.5

   Change to passive voice: "You must submit the report by Friday."

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   Answer: "The report must be submitted by Friday."

   Solution:

   1. Object "the report" becomes the new subject.
   2. The modal "must" stays, and the main verb becomes "be submitted" (be + past participle) right after it.
   3. The agent ("by you") is usually dropped here since it’s already understood from context.

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6. Q.6

   Change to passive voice: "They elected him president."

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   Answer: "He was elected president by them."

   Solution:

   1. Object "him" becomes the new subject; "president" (the object complement) stays in place after the verb.
   2. The verb "elected" (simple past) becomes "was elected" (was + past participle).

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7. Q.7

   Change to passive voice: "We should respect our elders."

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   Answer: "Our elders should be respected (by us)."

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8. Q.8

   Change to passive voice: "They have finished the work."

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   Answer: "The work has been finished by them."

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9. Q.9

   Change to passive voice: "Open the door." (an imperative sentence)

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   Answer: "Let the door be opened." (imperatives use "Let + object + be + past participle")

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10. Q.10

    Change to passive voice: "Someone has stolen my bicycle."

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    Answer: "My bicycle has been stolen." (the agent, "by someone", is dropped since it adds no information)

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11. Q.11

    Change to passive voice: "She will complete the project next week."

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    Answer: "The project will be completed by her next week."

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12. Q.12

    Change to passive voice: "They have cancelled tomorrow's meeting."

    1. A Tomorrow's meeting has been cancelled.
    2. B Tomorrow's meeting was cancelled.
    3. C Tomorrow's meeting is cancelled.
    4. D Tomorrow's meeting has being cancelled.
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    Correct answer: (A) Tomorrow's meeting has been cancelled.

    Present perfect "have cancelled" becomes "has been cancelled" (has been + past participle).

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