ACT Grammar Exercise

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

Active Voice:

When the subject of a verb performs an action the verb is said to be in the active voice. The
effect of the action may or may not fall on an object, that is, the verb may or may not have
an object.

Examples: The boy kicked the ball.

The girl cries.

In the first sentence, ‘kicked’ is the verb or the action; the ‘boy’ is the subject or the ‘doer’
who performs that action; and the ‘ball’ is the object on whom the effect of that action is
directed.

In the second sentence, ‘cries’ is the verb or the action; and the ‘girl’ is the subject or the
doer of that action. There is no object because the effect of the girl’s crying cannot be
directed at another object.

Passive Voice:

When the object of a verb appears to perform an action so that the effect of that action
appears to fall on the subject the verb is said to be in the passive voice.

Examples: The work was completed on time.

The song was sung beautifully by the singer.

A sentence in the active voice can be converted to form a sentence in the passive voice.

Examples: A film was watched by us.

A kite was flown by me.

Rules for changing voice:

 Identify if the verb used in active voice sentence is transitive verb or not.
 Only sentences containing transitive verbs can be changed from the active voice to
the passive voice.
 
Identify the object/s in the active voice sentence. Then, the object/s takes the
position of a subject in a passive voice sentence.
 Ask questions about the action verb such as what/ who to find the direct object of
AV sentence and for who/m an action is done.
Examples : I eat my breakfast every morning. (I eat what?- my breakfast-> direct object)

She helps me. (She helps who?- me-> direct object)

Maza has given Henok a New Year gift.( She has given what?-> a new year gift-
Direct object. For whom that gift has been given-> for Henok- Indirect object)

Construct the passive voice verbs by combining linking verbs with the past
participle verbs.
N.B. Linking verbs (is , am,are, was, were, be, been, being) + past participle verbs or V3

• For the simple present tense use am, is or are with a past participle to form the passive
voice.
Active voice Passive voice
The caretaker locks the door. The door is locked by the caretaker. The
waiter carries the trays. The trays are carried by the waiter.
• For the simple past tense, use was or were with a past participle to form the passive voice.
Active voice Passive voice
Dad drove us home. We were driven home by Dad.
He caught the ball. The ball was caught by him.
• For the present continuous tense, use am, is or are with being followed by a past
participle, to form the passive voice.
Active voice Passive voice
The servants are washing The cloths are being washed the
cloths. away by the waves.
She is working on the computer. The computer is being worked upon by her.
• For the past continuous tense, use was or were with being, followed by a past participle, to
form the passive voice.
Active voice Passive voice
Ali was making our costumes. Our costumes were being made by Ali. She
was reading a book. The book was being read by her.
• For the future tense, use shall or will with be, followed by a past participle, to form the
passive voice.
Active voice Passive voice
 The choir will sing the next hymn. The next hymn will be sung by the choir. We will
celebrate her birthday. Her birthday will be celebrated by us.

• For the present perfect tense, use have or has with been, followed by a past participle, to
form the passive voice.
Active voice Passive voice
Ali has scored two goals. Two goals have been scored by Ali. I have seen that movie.
That movie has been seen by me.

• For the past perfect tense, use had with been, followed by a part participle, to form the
passive voice.
Active voice Passive voice
The hunter had caught a fox. A fox had been caught by the hunter.
Sheila had given a gift to Rina. A gift had been given to Rina by Sheila.

EXERCISE 1

I. The following sentences are in the active voice. Change them into the passive
voice.
a) My mother will punish me.
b) The children are studying grammar.
c) I had finished my homework.
d) They called off the match.
e) Mrs Bajaj teaches us English.
f) You must switch off the lights.
g) I must finish this assignment.
h) The children ate the food.
i) The painter created a beautiful painting.
j) Mr Kumar has filed the papers properly.
II. Read the following instructions and fill in the blanks.
Construction of the road
• Assess the needs
• Plan the route
• Take the soil samples
• Clear and level the route
• Put down thick layers of concrete
• Lay the top surface and add traffic guides
The needs a) assessed. The soil samples b) and the
route c) . The route is d) thick layers of
concrete e) . The top surface f) and the traffic guides
g) .
Making Soap
• Take some castor oil in a beaker.
• Add an equal volume of sodium hydroxide solution to it.
• Heat the mixture. Keep stirring till a paste is formed.
• Cool the contents.
• Separate the solid soap from the aqueous solution.

Plain Rice
• Pour water into the cooker and boil.
• Add rice and salt and stir.
• Bring to full pressure and high heat.
• Reduce heat and cook for two minutes.
• Allow to cook naturally after removing from heat.
The water a) and boiled. The rice and salt b) and
it c) . It is brought d) for two minutes. The
heat e) and it is further f) . The rice is g)
naturally after h) heat.

III. In the passage given below, few words are missing. Write the missing word from the
box along with the word that comes before and after in the given space.
 put rinse separate brush squeeze

First the white clothes are_______________The clothes are then_______________ in a bucket

with detergent. The dirty part is_______________ vigorously and they are in clean
water. Finally, they are _______________ to dry.

Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form of the verb in brackets .

A new sports and athletic centre _____________________ (OPEN) in our town last week. The
facility ____________________ (BELIEVE) to be one of the largest in the country and experts
hope that it ________________________ (VISIT) by thousands of amateur and professional
athletes over the course of the next few years. The centre _____________________________
(CONSTRUCT) for over 6 years before it ______________________ (OPEN) by local
authorities last Monday. However, it _______________________________________ (NOT
COMPLETELY FINISH) yet. Workers are making the final adjustments this week and say that
it _____________________ (COMPLETE) by the end of the month. The centre offers various
sports facilities including two indoor swimming pools, three large gyms and a ball court. They
_____________________ (CAN BOOK) online or directly at the administration desk. The
equipment ______________________ (BUY) from local companies, which also provided the
training programs. The new centre _____________________ (FINANCE) by government funds
as well as grants that ________________________ (GIVE) to the region by the European Union.
Politicians and famous athletes from all over the country __________________________
(INVITE) to the official opening ceremony, scheduled for next Tuesday.

Write down the passive form of the verbs. Use the tense in brackets.
1. Paul (send) to prison. (Future tense)
2. My brother (just beat) in the race. (Present perfect)
3. He (tell) to wait outside. (Past tense)
4. I (not pay) for the work. (Past tense)
5. Policemen (often ask) the way. (Present tense)
6. Their lawn (cut) once a week. (Present tense)
7. We (ask) by the police. (Future tense)
8. The towels (not use). (Past tense)
9. The jewels (not sell) so far. (Present perfect)
10. They (teach) French. (Present tense)
11. The fire brigade (phone) soon after the fire had broken out. (Past tense)
12. You (laugh) at if you talk such nonsense. (Future tense)
13. All the fruits (eat up) by the guests. (Past tense)
14. The email (answer) tomorrow. (Future tense)
15. The best cookies (sell) here. (Present tense)

Change the following active voice sentences in to passive voice sentences.

1. They were interviewing her for the job.

2. Tom is writing the letter.
3. Everyone understands English.
4. The employees brought up this issue during the meeting.
5. The professor told him not to talk in class.
6. They say that women are smarter than men.
7. The fire has destroyed the house.
8. She would have told you.
9. She would reject the offer.
10. This surprises me.