PASSIVE AND ACTIVE VOICE

Active Form

In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active.

[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]

Examples:

Passive Form

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.

[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]

Examples:

Active or Passive Voice

Make a choice by clicking on the radio button, then compare it with the correct answer hidden under the answer button.

1. Everybody ___ by the terrible news yesterday.
   shocked
   was shocked
2. Mr. Green ___ at the University since 1989.
   has been teaching
   has been taught
3. Not much ___ about the accident since that time.
   has said
   has been said
4. A new book ___ by that company next year.
   will publish
   will be published
5. He ___ the girl's name now.
   remembers
   is remembered