A2 · Elementary · Practice

The Passive Voice: A2 Exercises

60 exercises · 20 multiple choice · 20 fill in the blank · 20 word ordering

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The passive moves the receiver of an action into the subject position and pushes the doer out of the spotlight. Somebody built this house in 1890 becomes This house was built in 1890, and the change is not decoration: it lets you talk about a thing when you do not know, do not care about, or do not want to name the person responsible. That is why the passive dominates news reports, instructions, notices and academic writing.

The form is be plus the past participle, and both parts do work. Be carries the tense — is written, was written, will be written — while the participle carries the meaning, which is why the irregular third forms matter here as much as they do in the present perfect. These sixty exercises drill the present and past simple passive, the by phrase that names the doer when it is worth naming, and the transformation itself: turning an active sentence into a passive one, and back again.

60 exercises in this set

3 question types

~25 minutes to finish

80% to pass

What these exercises drill

Every question in this set tests one of the rules below. If any of them is unfamiliar, read the The Passive Voice lesson first — practice before the rule is understood mostly teaches you your own guesses.

The passive = be + past participle; the object becomes the subject.
Use the passive when the doer is unknown, obvious or unimportant.
The tense lives in be: is made (present), was made (past), will be made (future).
Add by + agent only when the doer matters.

Practise The Passive Voice now

Answer at your own pace — nothing is timed and nothing is submitted. Each answer is marked the moment you give it, the explanation appears whether you were right or wrong, and the progress bar tracks all 60. Your score is saved in this browser, and to your account if you are signed in.

Multiple choice questions

Choose the correct answer.

This bridge ___ in 1974.built · was built · is build · were built
The rooms ___ every morning.clean · is cleaned · are cleaned · cleaning
Coffee ___ in more than fifty countries.grow · grows · is grown · is growing
The letters ___ yesterday afternoon.was sent · were sent · are sent · sent
Which sentence is passive?Somebody stole my bike. · My bike was stolen. · My bike disappeared. · I lost my bike.
This song ___ by a Georgian composer.wrote · was wrote · was written · is writing
The parcel ___ tomorrow morning.will deliver · will be delivered · will delivered · is deliver
Make this active sentence passive: They repair bicycles here.Bicycles repair here. · Bicycles are repaired here. · Bicycles were repaired here. · Bicycles is repaired here.
The museum ___ every Monday.close · is closed · are closed · closing
My car ___ last week.was serviced · were serviced · is serviced · serviced
The results ___ by email next Friday.will announce · will be announced · are announce · announced
Which word introduces the doer of a passive action?from · with · by · of
These photographs ___ in the 1930s.was taken · were taken · are taken · took
The office ___ at six every evening.lock · is locked · are locked · locking
Which sentence is correct?The window was break. · The window was broken. · The window was broke. · The window is break.
English ___ in more than sixty countries.speaks · is spoken · is speaking · was spoke
Why would a writer choose the passive here? — The road was closed for two days.to name who closed it · because the doer is unknown or unimportant · to make it a question · to make it past
The documents ___ by the manager this morning.was signed · were signed · are sign · signed by
Our flight ___ because of the fog.cancel · was cancelled · were cancelled · is cancel
Make this passive sentence active: The cake was made by my sister.My sister made the cake. · My sister was made the cake. · The cake made my sister. · My sister is made the cake.

Fill-in-the-blank questions

Type the missing word.

This house __________ built in 1890.
The offices __________ cleaned every evening.
Rice is __________ in many parts of Asia.
The invitations __________ sent out last week.
My bicycle was __________ from outside the library.
The report will __________ published in March.
That novel was written __________ a Turkish author.
The museum __________ closed on public holidays.
These photographs were __________ in the 1920s.
The match __________ cancelled because of the weather.
Breakfast is __________ between seven and ten.
All the tickets __________ sold within an hour.
English __________ spoken all over the world.
The results will be __________ by email.
This bridge was __________ by an Italian engineer.
The windows __________ cleaned twice a year.
My passport was __________ at the border.
The road __________ closed for three days after the storm.
Those letters have never been __________.
The building is __________ used as a school.

Sentence structure: word ordering

Put the words in the correct order.

Date a construction without naming the builder.This / house / was / built / in / 1890.
Describe a hotel routine in the present passive.The / rooms / are / cleaned / every / morning.
Report a theft without naming a thief.My / bicycle / was / stolen / last / night.
State a general fact about agriculture.Coffee / is / grown / in / many / countries.
Report a dispatch with a plural subject.The / letters / were / sent / on / Monday.
Name the composer with a by phrase.This / song / was / written / by / my / grandfather.
Announce a future delivery.The / parcel / will / be / delivered / tomorrow.
Give opening information to a visitor.The / museum / is / closed / on / Mondays.
Report a very quick sell-out.All / the / tickets / were / sold / immediately.
Make a general statement about a language.English / is / spoken / in / many / countries.
Explain why a sporting event did not happen.The / match / was / cancelled / because / of / rain.
Give hotel dining information.Breakfast / is / served / until / ten / o'clock.
Say where some pictures were made.These / photographs / were / taken / in / Georgia.
Tell candidates when to expect news.The / results / will / be / announced / on / Friday.
Describe a regular maintenance routine.My / car / is / serviced / twice / a / year.
Report damage caused by weather.The / windows / were / broken / in / the / storm.
Credit a professional with a by phrase.This / bridge / was / designed / by / an / engineer.
Report a continuing closure.The / road / is / still / closed / to / traffic.
Describe a formality during a journey.Our / passports / were / checked / at / the / border.
Describe a daily security routine.The / office / is / locked / at / six / every / day.

Show the answer key for all 60 exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. This bridge ___ in 1974. → was built: A singular subject in the past passive takes was plus the participle.
2. The rooms ___ every morning. → are cleaned: A plural subject in the present passive takes are plus the participle.
3. Coffee ___ in more than fifty countries. → is grown: The coffee does not grow itself in this sense; it is grown by farmers.
4. The letters ___ yesterday afternoon. → were sent: A plural subject in the past passive takes were.
5. Which sentence is passive? → My bike was stolen.: Was plus a past participle is the passive structure.
6. This song ___ by a Georgian composer. → was written: Write, wrote, written — the passive needs the third form.
7. The parcel ___ tomorrow morning. → will be delivered: The future passive is will be plus the past participle.
8. Make this active sentence passive: They repair bicycles here. → Bicycles are repaired here.: A present passive with a plural subject takes are plus the participle.
9. The museum ___ every Monday. → is closed: A singular subject in the present passive takes is.
10. My car ___ last week. → was serviced: A singular subject in the past passive takes was.
11. The results ___ by email next Friday. → will be announced: The future passive is will be plus the participle.
12. Which word introduces the doer of a passive action? → by: The by phrase names the agent: written by a composer.
13. These photographs ___ in the 1930s. → were taken: A plural subject in the past passive takes were, and take becomes taken.
14. The office ___ at six every evening. → is locked: A singular subject in the present passive takes is.
15. Which sentence is correct? → The window was broken.: Break, broke, broken — the passive requires the participle.
16. English ___ in more than sixty countries. → is spoken: The present passive of speak is is spoken.
17. Why would a writer choose the passive here? — The road was closed for two days. → because the doer is unknown or unimportant: The passive lets you report the event without naming who caused it.
18. The documents ___ by the manager this morning. → were signed: A plural subject takes were, and the by phrase names the agent.
19. Our flight ___ because of the fog. → was cancelled: A singular subject in the past passive takes was.
20. Make this passive sentence active: The cake was made by my sister. → My sister made the cake.: The by phrase becomes the subject of the active sentence.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. This house ___ built in 1890. → was: A singular subject in the past passive takes was.
2. The offices ___ cleaned every evening. → are: A plural subject in the present passive takes are.
3. Rice is ___ in many parts of Asia. → grown: Grow, grew, grown — the passive needs the past participle.
4. The invitations ___ sent out last week. → were: A plural subject in the past passive takes were.
5. My bicycle was ___ from outside the library. → stolen: Steal, stole, stolen — the participle is required.
6. The report will ___ published in March. → be: The future passive is will be plus the past participle.
7. That novel was written ___ a Turkish author. → by: The by phrase introduces the agent of a passive sentence.
8. The museum ___ closed on public holidays. → is: A singular subject in the present passive takes is.
9. These photographs were ___ in the 1920s. → taken: Take, took, taken — the passive uses the third form.
10. The match ___ cancelled because of the weather. → was: A singular subject in the past passive takes was.
11. Breakfast is ___ between seven and ten. → served: Serve is regular, so the participle is served.
12. All the tickets ___ sold within an hour. → were: A plural subject in the past passive takes were.
13. English ___ spoken all over the world. → is: A singular uncountable subject takes is in the present passive.
14. The results will be ___ by email. → announced: The participle follows will be in the future passive.
15. This bridge was ___ by an Italian engineer. → designed: Design is regular, so the participle is designed.
16. The windows ___ cleaned twice a year. → are: A plural subject in the present passive takes are.
17. My passport was ___ at the border. → checked: Check is regular, so the participle is checked.
18. The road ___ closed for three days after the storm. → was: A singular subject in the past passive takes was.
19. Those letters have never been ___. → answered: The passive can also appear in the present perfect, with been plus the participle.
20. The building is ___ used as a school. → still: An adverb can sit between be and the past participle in a passive sentence.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Date a construction without naming the builder. → This house was built in 1890.: Date a construction without naming the builder.
2. Describe a hotel routine in the present passive. → The rooms are cleaned every morning.: Describe a hotel routine in the present passive.
3. Report a theft without naming a thief. → My bicycle was stolen last night.: Report a theft without naming a thief.
4. State a general fact about agriculture. → Coffee is grown in many countries.: State a general fact about agriculture.
5. Report a dispatch with a plural subject. → The letters were sent on Monday.: Report a dispatch with a plural subject.
6. Name the composer with a by phrase. → This song was written by my grandfather.: Name the composer with a by phrase.
7. Announce a future delivery. → The parcel will be delivered tomorrow.: Announce a future delivery.
8. Give opening information to a visitor. → The museum is closed on Mondays.: Give opening information to a visitor.
9. Report a very quick sell-out. → All the tickets were sold immediately.: Report a very quick sell-out.
10. Make a general statement about a language. → English is spoken in many countries.: Make a general statement about a language.
11. Explain why a sporting event did not happen. → The match was cancelled because of rain.: Explain why a sporting event did not happen.
12. Give hotel dining information. → Breakfast is served until ten o'clock.: Give hotel dining information.
13. Say where some pictures were made. → These photographs were taken in Georgia.: Say where some pictures were made.
14. Tell candidates when to expect news. → The results will be announced on Friday.: Tell candidates when to expect news.
15. Describe a regular maintenance routine. → My car is serviced twice a year.: Describe a regular maintenance routine.
16. Report damage caused by weather. → The windows were broken in the storm.: Report damage caused by weather.
17. Credit a professional with a by phrase. → This bridge was designed by an engineer.: Credit a professional with a by phrase.
18. Report a continuing closure. → The road is still closed to traffic.: Report a continuing closure.
19. Describe a formality during a journey. → Our passports were checked at the border.: Describe a formality during a journey.
20. Describe a daily security routine. → The office is locked at six every day.: Describe a daily security routine.

The errors these questions are built to catch

My wallet stolen yesterday.

My wallet was stolen yesterday.

The passive collapses without be — the participle alone is not a verb.
The room was clean by the staff. (meaning the action)

The room was cleaned by the staff.

The passive needs the participle cleaned; clean here is just an adjective.
English is speak all over the world.

English is spoken all over the world.

Be + past participle — speak must become spoken.

After this set

The passive changes the shape of a sentence. Relative clauses change its size, letting you add information about a noun without starting a new sentence.