Passive to active voice exercises

• They often listen to music. → • She is reading the newspaper now. → • These cars are produced in Japan. → • Alan teaches geography. → • German is spoken in Austria. → • Lots of houses were destroyed by the earthquake in 1906. → • Henry Ford invented the assembly line. → • The bus driver was hurt yesterday. → • You should open your workbooks. → • Houses have been built. →

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Summary: This handout will explain the difference between active and passive voice in writing. It gives examples of both, and shows how to turn a passive sentence into an active one. Also, it explains how to decide when to choose passive voice instead of active. If you want to change a passive-voice sentence to active voice, find the agent in a "by the..." phrase, or consider carefully who or what is performing the action expressed in the verb. Make that agent the subject of the sentence, and change the verb accordingly. Sometimes you will need to infer the agent from the surrounding sentences which provide context. If you want to change an active-voice sentence to passive voice, consider carefully who or what is performing the action expressed in the verb, and then make that agent the object of a by the...phrase. Make what is acted upon the subject of the sentence, and change the verb to a form of be + past participle. Including an explicit by the... phrase is optional.

Guernica was painted by Picasso. The doctor talked to him. The fire was put out. My parents gave me a present. English is spoken here. The dog has been taken to the vet. Somebody has stolen my bag. The car has been repaired. Some people were laughing. Olive oil is made from olives. The work will be finished by two. A comet was seen for a long time. Check More exercises =>