Rewriting Passive to Active Quiz

1. Passive: 'The window was broken by the storm.' Active: 'The storm broke the window.' This is a correct change to active voice.

True

False

In the active version, 'storm' is the subject doing the action 'broke' to 'window'.

Explanation

In the active version, 'storm' is the subject doing the action 'broke' to 'window'.

2. Passive: 'The letter was written by Alex.' Active: 'The letter wrote Alex.' This is a correct change to active voice.

True

False

The subject must be the doer, so the correct active sentence is 'Alex wrote the letter'.

Explanation

The subject must be the doer, so the correct active sentence is 'Alex wrote the letter'.

3. Passive: 'The speech was given by the principal.' Which sentence is active voice?

The speech gave the principal.

The principal gave the speech.

The principal was given by the speech.

The speech was being given.

The principal is the doer, so in active voice the sentence starts with 'The principal'.

Explanation

The principal is the doer, so in active voice the sentence starts with 'The principal'.

4. Passive: 'The game was won by our team, and the trophy was received by the captain.' Choose the best active voice version.

Our team won the game, and the captain received the trophy.

The game won our team, and the trophy received the captain.

Our team was winning the game, and the trophy was received by the captain.

The game was won, and the captain was receiving the trophy.

Both clauses are rewritten so the doers 'team' and 'captain' are the subjects.

Explanation

Both clauses are rewritten so the doers 'team' and 'captain' are the subjects.

5. To change a passive sentence with 'by' into active voice, you usually move the noun after 'by' into the subject position.

True

False

The noun in the by-phrase is the doer of the action, so it becomes the subject in active voice.

Explanation

The noun in the by-phrase is the doer of the action, so it becomes the subject in active voice.

6. If a passive sentence does not name who did the action, you may need to add a logical subject when rewriting it in active voice.

True

False

Active voice usually needs a clear doer, so you sometimes infer a reasonable subject like 'Someone' or a specific group.

Explanation

Active voice usually needs a clear doer, so you sometimes infer a reasonable subject like 'Someone' or a specific group.

7. Passive: 'The experiment was designed by the science team.' Active: The science team __________ the experiment.

In the active sentence, 'science team' is the subject and 'designed' is the action.

Explanation

In the active sentence, 'science team' is the subject and 'designed' is the action.

Submit

8. Passive: 'The cake was baked by Maria.' Which sentence is the correct active voice version?

The cake baked Maria.

Maria baked the cake.

The cake was baking Maria.

Maria was baked by the cake.

In active voice, the doer comes first, so 'Maria baked the cake' is correct.

Explanation

In active voice, the doer comes first, so 'Maria baked the cake' is correct.

9. Passive: 'The trophy was awarded by the judges.' Choose the best active voice revision.

The trophy awarded the judges.

The judges awarded the trophy.

The judges were awarded by the trophy.

The trophy was awarding the judges.

The judges are the ones doing the action, so they become the subject in the active sentence.

Explanation

The judges are the ones doing the action, so they become the subject in the active sentence.

10. When changing a passive sentence to active voice, you should keep the same basic meaning and time of the action.

True

False

Active voice rewrites should not change who did what or when it happened.

Explanation

Active voice rewrites should not change who did what or when it happened.

11. Passive: 'The rules were changed last year.' Which active sentence adds a clear and reasonable subject?

Last year changed the rules.

The rules changed last year by themselves.

The principal changed the rules last year.

The rules were changing last year.

C supplies a clear doer 'principal' and keeps the same time and action.

Explanation

C supplies a clear doer 'principal' and keeps the same time and action.

12. Passive: 'The homework was completed by the students.' Which sentences are correct active voice versions?

The students completed the homework.

The homework completed the students.

The students will complete the homework.

The homework was completed.

The homework was being completed by the students.

A keeps the same time and meaning, and C is also active with the students as the subject.

Explanation

A keeps the same time and meaning, and C is also active with the students as the subject.

Submit

13. Passive: 'The picture was painted by Leo.' Active: __________ painted the picture.

In the active version, 'Leo' is the subject who painted the picture.

Explanation

In the active version, 'Leo' is the subject who painted the picture.

Submit

14. Passive: 'The streets were flooded by the heavy rain.' Active: The heavy rain __________ the streets.

The subject 'heavy rain' now does the action 'flooded' to 'streets'.

Explanation

The subject 'heavy rain' now does the action 'flooded' to 'streets'.

Submit

15. Passive: 'The song was sung by the choir.' Which versions are in active voice?

The choir sang the song.

The song sang the choir.

The choir is singing the song.

The song was being sung by the choir.

The choir will sing the song.

A, C, and E all place 'choir' as the subject doing the action 'sang/singing/will sing'.

Explanation

A, C, and E all place 'choir' as the subject doing the action 'sang/singing/will sing'.

Submit

16. Passive: 'The test was taken by the class.' Which is the best active voice version?

The class was taking the test.

The test took the class.

The class took the test.

The test was taken.

C clearly makes 'class' the subject that performs the action 'took'.

Explanation

C clearly makes 'class' the subject that performs the action 'took'.

17. Passive: 'The essay was written by the student.' Active: The student __________ the essay.

The verb changes to a simple past form so the subject 'student' clearly does the action.

Explanation

The verb changes to a simple past form so the subject 'student' clearly does the action.

Submit

18. Passive: 'The invitations will be sent by Jenna.' Which active voice sentence keeps the same future tense meaning?

Jenna sends the invitations.

Jenna is sending the invitations.

Jenna will send the invitations.

The invitations are sent by Jenna.

Using 'will send' keeps the future time and puts Jenna as the subject.

Explanation

Using 'will send' keeps the future time and puts Jenna as the subject.

19. Passive: 'The car was washed by them.' Which active voice sentences are correct?

They washed the car.

Them washed the car.

They were washing the car.

The car washed them.

They wash the car.

A, C, and E use the pronoun 'They' correctly as the subject doing the action.

Explanation

A, C, and E use the pronoun 'They' correctly as the subject doing the action.

Submit

20. Which step comes first when rewriting a passive sentence into active voice?

Change the main verb to future tense.

Remove every form of 'to be'.

Find who or what is actually doing the action.

Move the object to the end of the sentence.

You must first identify the real doer of the action so you can make it the subject in the active sentence.

Explanation

You must first identify the real doer of the action so you can make it the subject in the active sentence.

Conversion Practice: Rewriting Passive to Active Quiz