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Name: ________________________ Grade and Section: _______________

Grammar Lesson 2.1: Identifying Voice of the Verb in

Sentences
Verbs in English have voice, which refers to the relationship between the subject of
the sentence and the verb.
There are two verb voices in English:
Active Voice-when the subject of the sentence the person or thing doing the
action of the verb or in the state expressed by the verb. This is the voice with which we are most
familiar-the subject performs the action of the sentence.
Passive Voice-when the subject of the sentence is being acted upon. The subject of the sentence is not
performing the action. Instead, it is receiving the action.
Most writers do not use passive voice. Passive voice should only be used when you need to emphasize the
thing that is being acted upon.
To write a sentence in the passive voice, you must use an auxiliary verb, or "helping" verb.
Examples of sentences written in active voice:
1) Joseph throws the ball through the neighbor's window.
2) Alyssa drank the last bottle of water.
3) Katie will read the library book.
Examples of the same sentences written in passive voice:
1) The ball is thrown through the neighbor's window by Joseph.
2) The last bottle of water was drunk by Alyssa.
3) The library book will be read by Katie.

EXERCISE A Identify if the underlined verb is in ACTIVE VOICE or PASSIVE VOICE

EXAMPLE: The class watched a movie about frogs. Answer: ACTIVE VOICE
1. Billy prepared coffee for the office. Answer: ____________
2. The students watched the movie in class. Answer: _____________
3. Bill will be changing the passwords this weekend. Answer: _____________
4. Anita was driven to the theatre by Carla. Answer: _____________________
5. Nowadays, black kites are protected. Answer: _______________________
6. The game had not been won. Answer: _____________________________
7. Marie will have danced for 40 minutes by the time the show is over. Answer: _____________
8. An order for a digital camera has been placed. Answer: ______________________
9. I have never been arrested. Answer: ____________________________
10. I had been reading an article when he called me. Answer: _______________________

EXERCISE B Identifying verb and its voice in a sentence. Encircle the verb/s used in the given sentences,
Write on the space provided for if it is active or passive.

EXAMPLE: I have been working on this project for almost two hours now. Answer: ACTIVE
1. Dentists are assisted by dental hygienists. ________________
2. My spouse arrived by plane at 6:55. _____________________
3. We were bitten by mosquitoes at the cottage! _______________________
4. Peter has broken another window. ________________________________
5. Have you received the parcel yet? ________________________________
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6. I had finished my homework before mom called me for dinner. ______________, _____________
7. My sister has taken martial arts lessons for six years. ___________________________________
8. Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013. __________________________________
9. By the time I am 18, I will have saved over 50,000. ________________________________
10. All the kids in the class are going on the field trip. _________________________________
11.I had been sleeping for almost an hour when my visitors arrived. _________________, ____________
12. They expected us to build the road. _____________________________
13. We are constantly being bugged by the neighbors. __________________________
14. Football is not being played this year. ____________________________________
15. Sheldon will have danced with Amy when she arrives. __________________, _______________

Grammar Lesson 2.2 Forms of the Verbs in Active in Passive Voice

SIMPLE TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE

Simple Present s-form of the verb (singular is (singular subject)
subject and pronoun I) am (pronoun I as subject)
base form of the verb (plural are (plural subject) + past
subject and pronoun You) participle
e.g. writes, write e.g. is written, are written
Simple Past Change to past form (depends on was (past tense of is)
regular or irregular verb) were (past tense of are)+ past
e. g. wrote participle
e.g. was written, were written
Simple Future Will/ shall + base form of the verb Will/shall+be+past participle of the
e.g. will write verb
e.g. will be written

PROGRESSIVE TENSE OR ACTIVE PASSIVE

CONTINUOUS TENSE
Present Progressive is (singular subject) is (singular subject)
am (pronoun I) am (pronoun I)
are (plural subject and pronoun are (plural subject) + being+ past
You) participle
e.g. is writing, am writing, are e.g. is being written, are being
writing written
Past Progressive was (singular subject and pronoun was (past tense of is)
I) were (past tense of are)+ being +
were (plural subject) + -ing form of past participle
verb e.g. was written, were written
e.g. was writing, were writing
Future Progressive Will/ shall + be + -ing form of verb Will/shall+be+being+past
e.g. will be writing particicple
e.g. will/ shall be being written
*N.B. This form is rarely used.
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PERFECT TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE

Present Perfect has (singular subject) has (singular subject)
have (plural subject and pronoun have (plural subject) + been+
You) + past participle of the past participle
verb e.g. has been written, have been
e.g. has written, have written written
Past Perfect had + past participle of the verb Had+ been+ past participle of
e.g. had written the verb
e.g. was written, were written
Future Perfect Will/shall+ have+ past participle of Will/shall+have+been+ past
the verb participle of the verb
e.g. will have written e.g. will have been written

A. Complete the chart below by providing the active and passive form of the given verbs:
1. clean 2. read 3. do

SIMPLE TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE

Simple Present
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.

Simple Past 1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.

Simple Future 1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.

B. Complete the chart below by providing the active and passive form of the given verbs:
1. scrutinize 2. take 3. work
PROGRESSIVE TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE
Present Progressive 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

Past Progressive 1. 1.
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2. 2.

3. 3.

Future Progressive 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

C. Complete the chart below by providing the active and passive form of the given verbs:
1. travel 2. study 3. throw

PERFECT TENSE ACTIVE PASSIVE

Present Perfect 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

Past Perfect 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

Future Progressive 1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

*The Perfect Progressive tense does not have passive form

Lesson 2.3 Changing Active Voice to Passive Voice

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Fundamental rules in Changing Active voice to passive in sentences and vice versa.
1. The places of subject and object will be interchanged in the sentence i.e. the object shifts to the
place of the subject and subject shifts to the place of the object.
EXAMPLE: Active: I (subject-doer of action) write a letter (object of the verb)
Passive: A letter (the object in the active sentence becomes the new subject) is written
by me.

2. Only the 3rd form of the verb or the past participle will be used as the main verb in passive voice in
all tenses. Base form of verb or present participle (-ing form of the verb) is never used as the main
verb in passive voice.
EXAMPLE: Active: Oprah returns the library card.
Passive: The library card is returned (past participle) by Oprah.
3. The word “by” is placed before the doer of the action but NOT ALWAYS. It can be omitted or
sometimes word such as “with” or “to” is used instead.
EXAMPLE: Active: He sings a song.
Passive: A song is sung. (without “by”, the doer of the action is not also mentioned)
Active: The water fills the tub.
Passive: The tub is filled with water.
Active: He knows me.
Passive: I am known to him.
4. Auxiliary verbs are used in passive voice according to the tense of the sentence.
EXAMPLE: Active: Cindy sends a letter. (simple present tense)
Passive: A letter is (present tense) sent (past participle) by Cindy.
Refer to the chart of the forms of the verb for the changes in the auxiliary verbs.
5. The case of pronoun is also changed from subjective to objective or vice versa.
ACTIVE VOICE (Subjective Case) PASSIVE VOICE (Objective Case)
I Me
We Us
You You
He Him
She Her
It It
They Them

EXAMPLE: Active: They (subjective case) sold that house.

Passive: That house is sold by them. (objective case)

EXERCISE Changing Active sentence to Passive in Simple Tense

A. Change the following sentences from active to passive. Write NOT
POSSIBLE, if the sentence is not possible to be changed to passive.

1. The guests enjoyed the dinner.

________________________________________________________________________________

2. The readers like the latest book of the writer.

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________________________________________________________________________________
3. The marvelous performance delivered by the children enthralled us.
_________________________________________________________________________________

4. Tom will change the flat tire. _________________________________________________________

5. During the cultural festival, the dancers danced gracefully to the rhythm of traditional music.
________________________________________________________________________________
B. Change the following sentences from passive to active. Supply an appropriate doer if necessary.

1. The cheese will be eaten by Sarah.

________________________________________________________________________________
2. Their invitation is accepted with pleasure.
________________________________________________________________________________
3. The jar is filled with sand.
________________________________________________________________________________
4. The town was destroyed by flood.
________________________________________________________________________________
5. My wallet was found on the street.
_______________________________________________________________________________

EXERCISE Changing Active sentence to Passive in Progressive Tense.

C. Change the following sentences from active to passive. Write NOT POSSIBLE, if the sentence is not
possible to be changed to passive.

1. We are discussing the project at the moment.

____________________________________________________________________________
2. Her husband is always complaining about his health.
____________________________________________________________________________
3. I will be seeing that movie next week.
____________________________________________________________________________
4. I was reading a book when I heard I a frightful noise.
____________________________________________________________________________
5. I was riding my bike all day yesterday. ______________________________________________

D. Change the following sentences from passive to active. Supply an appropriate doer if necessary
1. The pie is being eaten by the boys. ________________________________________________
2. The laundry was being washed by Benny when we met yesterday.
____________________________________________________________________________
3. The calf was being fed by its mother all day yesterday.
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Many of the chores were being done by Ben.
____________________________________________________________________________
5. The guests are enjoying the party.
____________________________________________________________________________
EXERCISE 2.6 Changing Active sentence to Passive in Perfect Tense.
E. Change the following sentences from active to passive. Write NOT POSSIBLE, if the sentence is not
possible to be changed to passive.

1. They have not read the book yet.

____________________________________________________________________________
2. Our salesmen have just sold all the carpet.
____________________________________________________________________________
3. They had finished the game before noon.
____________________________________________________________________________
4. After they had read those books they left.
____________________________________________________________________________
5. The little girl has dropped the toy.
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F. Change the following sentences from passive to active. Supply an appropriate doer if necessary.

1. The papers have not been brought here yet.

_____________________________________________________________________________
2. A fight had been started by them when we arrived.
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. The championship has won by our team.
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. The batteries shall have been charged by Joe.
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Have the problems been solved?
______________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF SCORES

TOPIC ITEM SCORE

Lesson 2.1 A Identifying Voice of the 10
Verbs
Lesson 2.1 B Identifying Verb and Its 36
Voice in a Sentence
Lesson 2.2 A Form of verb in active and 18
passive voice (simple tense)
Lesson 2.2 B Form of verb in active and 18
passive voice (progressive tense)
Lesson 2.2 C Form of verb in active and 18
passive voice (perfect tense)
Lesson 2.3 A Changing active to passive 5
(simple tense)
Lesson 2.3 B Changing passive to active 5
(simple tense)
Lesson 2.3 C Changing active to passive 5
(progressive tense)
Lesson 2.3 D Changing passive to active 5
(progressive tense)
Lesson 2.3 E Changing active to passive 5
(perfect tense)
Lesson 2.3 F Changing active to passive 5
(perfect tense)
Total 130 Total ____________

Checked by: _______________________________

Signature: ________________________________
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