Active vs Passive Voice Quiz: Grammar Usage

1. Which sentence is written in passive voice?

The band played three new songs.

Three new songs were played by the band.

The band plays every Friday night.

The songs play on the radio.

The subject (songs) receives the action — this is passive voice.

Explanation

The subject (songs) receives the action — this is passive voice.

2. Select two sentences that are written in passive voice.

The letter was mailed by Emma.

Emma mailed the letter.

The package was lost in the mail.

Emma is mailing the letter now.

Both a and c show the subject receiving the action.

Explanation

Both a and c show the subject receiving the action.

3. Match each sentence to its voice. A) The window was cleaned by Jake. B) Jake cleaned the window. 1) Active 2) Passive

A–1, B–2

A–2, B–1

A–2, B–2

A–1, B–1

A is passive (action received); B is active (action performed).

Explanation

A is passive (action received); B is active (action performed).

4. Which sentence is written in active voice?

The cookies were baked by my sister.

My sister baked the cookies.

The cookies had been baked.

The cookies are being baked.

My sister baked the cookies is active; the subject performs the action.

Explanation

My sister baked the cookies is active; the subject performs the action.

5. Which sentence is written in active voice?

The pizza was eaten by the children.

The children ate the pizza.

The pizza was being eaten.

The pizza had been eaten.

The subject performs the action directly.

Explanation

The subject performs the action directly.

6. Match the description to the example. A) Passive voice B) Active voice 1. The dog chased the cat. 2. The cat was chased by the dog.

A–1, B–2

A–2, B–1

A–2, B–2

A–1, B–1

Was chased by = passive; chased = active.

Explanation

Was chased by = passive; chased = active.

7. Identify the sentence that uses consistent active voice.

The doors were opened, and the guards greet the guests.

The guards opened the doors and greeted the guests.

The doors opened, and the guards were greeted.

The guests greeted the guards who opened the doors.

Both verbs (opened, greeted) are active and consistent.

Explanation

Both verbs (opened, greeted) are active and consistent.

8. Select two sentences that correctly use active voice.

The painting was admired by the crowd.

The crowd admired the painting.

The artist was inspired by nature.

The artist painted a beautiful scene.

In both, the subject (crowd, artist) performs the action.

Explanation

In both, the subject (crowd, artist) performs the action.

9. Rewrite the passive voice sentence in active voice: The flowers were planted by the class.

The flowers are planted.

The class planted the flowers

The flowers are planted by class

None of the above

The subject class now performs the action.

Explanation

The subject class now performs the action.

10. Which sentence shows a shift in voice?

The story was written and published by the student.

The student wrote and published the story.

The story was written by the student, and she published it herself.

The student was writing and was revising the story.

The first clause is passive (was written), but the second is active (she published).

Explanation

The first clause is passive (was written), but the second is active (she published).

11. Fill in the blank with the correct passive form: The trophies _____ by the coach at the ceremony.

Are presented

Presented

Was presenting

Present

Are presented makes it passive and grammatically correct.

Explanation

Are presented makes it passive and grammatically correct.

12. In passive voice, the subject performs the action of the verb.

True

False

Sometimes

Unsure

In passive voice, the subject receives the action.

Explanation

In passive voice, the subject receives the action.

13. Switching from active to passive voice in the same sentence can cause confusion for readers.

True

False

Only in long sentences

Depends on tense

Mixing voices makes sentences unclear or awkward.

Explanation

Mixing voices makes sentences unclear or awkward.

14. Fill in the blank with the correct active voice form: The essay _____ by Mia.

Was written

Wrote

Is writing

Writed

Mia wrote the essay uses active voice correctly.

Explanation

Mia wrote the essay uses active voice correctly.

15. Which sentence has a voice error?

The teacher collected the essays and graded them.

The essays were collected and were graded by the teacher.

The essays were collected, and the teacher graded them.

The essays were collected and graded by students.

The first clause is passive, but the second is active — an inappropriate shift.

Explanation

The first clause is passive, but the second is active — an inappropriate shift.