Active and Passive Voice Practice Test — Basic

All 45 questions with answers

Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.

1. Q1This delicious cake ___ by my grandmother yesterday.

   Awas baked Bis baked Care baked Dwere baked

   Answer: A. was baked

   The sentence talks about 'yesterday,' so we need a past form. Since 'cake' is one thing (singular), we use 'was baked'.

2. Q2English ___ in many countries around the world.

   Ais spoken Bwas spoken Cspoke Dspeak

   Answer: A. is spoken

   This is a general fact in the present. For a singular subject like 'English,' we use 'is' + the past form of the action word: 'is spoken'.

3. Q3The dishes ___ by my brother last night.

   Ais washed Bwas washed Care washed Dwere washed

   Answer: D. were washed

   The phrase 'last night' tells us this happened in the past. Since 'dishes' is plural (more than one), we use 'were washed'.

4. Q4These beautiful photos ___ in Italy during our vacation.

   Aare taken Bis taken Cwas taken Dwere taken

   Answer: D. were taken

   The vacation happened in the past. Because 'photos' is plural, we use 'were taken'.

5. Q5My car ___ every Sunday morning.

   Awas cleaned Bare cleaned Cwere cleaned Dis cleaned

   Answer: D. is cleaned

   This happens 'every Sunday,' so it is a present habit. For one 'car,' we use 'is cleaned'.

6. Q6The keys ___ in the garden yesterday.

   Awere lost Bis lost Cwas lost Dare lost

   Answer: A. were lost

   'Yesterday' tells us to use the past. Because 'keys' is plural, the correct answer is 'were lost'.

7. Q7The house ___ every year to keep it looking new.

   Awas painted Bwere painted Care painted Dis painted

   Answer: D. is painted

   This is a regular action in the present ('every year'). For one 'house,' we use 'is painted'.

8. Q8The important email ___ five minutes ago.

   Aare sent Bis sent Cwere sent Dwas sent

   Answer: D. was sent

   'Five minutes ago' is in the past. Since 'email' is singular, we use 'was sent'.

9. Q9Coffee ___ in Brazil on large farms.

   Awere grown Bis grown Care grown Dwas grown

   Answer: B. is grown

   This is a general truth. In English, we treat 'coffee' as a singular noun, so we use 'is grown'.

10. Q10The report ___ by the manager yesterday afternoon.

    Awas finished Bare finished Cis finished Dwere finished

    Answer: A. was finished

    'Yesterday' shows the action is in the past. For one 'report,' we use 'was finished'.

11. Q11The front door ___ every evening at ten.

    Aare locked Bis locked Cwere locked Dwas locked

    Answer: B. is locked

    This happens every day (routine). For one 'door,' we use 'is locked'.

12. Q12The window ___ by the strong wind last night.

    Ais broken Bwere broken Care broken Dwas broken

    Answer: D. was broken

    'Last night' means the past. For one 'window,' we use 'was broken'.

13. Q13Fresh bread ___ in this shop every morning.

    Aare sold Bis sold Cwas sold Dwere sold

    Answer: B. is sold

    This is a daily routine in the present. 'Bread' is treated as singular, so we use 'is sold'.

14. Q14The difficult problem ___ by the teacher yesterday.

    Aare explained Bis explained Cwere explained Dwas explained

    Answer: D. was explained

    'Yesterday' tells us the action is in the past. For one 'problem,' we use 'was explained'.

15. Q15Dinner ___ at seven o'clock every evening.

    Awere served Bwas served Care served Dis served

    Answer: D. is served

    This is a regular schedule. For 'dinner,' we use 'is served'.

16. Q16Active: 'He wrote a letter.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AA letter is written by him. BA letter were written by him. CA letter was written by him. DA letter are written by him.

    Answer: C. A letter was written by him.

    The original sentence ('He wrote') is in the past. To change it to passive, we use 'was' + the past form of the action. Since there is one 'letter,' we say 'was written'.

17. Q17Active: 'They clean the room.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe room are cleaned by them. BThe room is cleaned by them. CThe room were cleaned by them. DThe room was cleaned by them.

    Answer: B. The room is cleaned by them.

    The original sentence ('They clean') is in the present. For one 'room,' we use 'is cleaned'.

18. Q18Active: 'The dog chased the cat.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe cat was chased by the dog. BThe cat is chased by the dog. CThe cat were chased by the dog. DThe cat are chased by the dog.

    Answer: A. The cat was chased by the dog.

    The original action ('chased') is in the past. For one 'cat,' we say 'was chased'.

19. Q19Active: 'She makes delicious cakes.' Choose the correct passive form:

    ACakes was made by her. BCakes is made by her. CCakes are made by her. DCakes were made by her.

    Answer: C. Cakes are made by her.

    The original sentence ('makes') is in the present. Because 'cakes' is plural, we use 'are made'.

20. Q20Active: 'They opened the shop at nine.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe shop were opened at nine. BThe shop are opened at nine. CThe shop was opened at nine. DThe shop is opened at nine.

    Answer: C. The shop was opened at nine.

    The original sentence ('opened') is in the past. For one 'shop,' we use 'was opened'.

21. Q21Active: 'Someone stole my bike.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AMy bike is stolen. BMy bike was stolen. CMy bike were stolen. DMy bike are stolen.

    Answer: B. My bike was stolen.

    The action happened in the past ('stole'). For one 'bike,' we say it 'was stolen'.

22. Q22Active: 'They paint the walls.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe walls is painted. BThe walls are painted. CThe walls were painted. DThe walls was painted.

    Answer: B. The walls are painted.

    The original action is in the present ('paint'). Since 'walls' is plural, we use 'are painted'.

23. Q23Choose the correct sentence:

    AThe cake is ate by him. BThe cake is eat by him. CThe cake was eaten by him. DThe cake was ate by him.

    Answer: C. The cake was eaten by him.

    Passive voice needs the 'third form' of the action word. For 'eat,' that form is 'eaten.' We cannot use 'ate' or 'eat' here.

24. Q24Choose the correct sentence:

    AThe keys were found yesterday. BThe keys was found yesterday. CThe keys are find yesterday. DThe keys is found yesterday.

    Answer: A. The keys were found yesterday.

    'Yesterday' requires the past tense. Since 'keys' is plural, we use 'were found.' Using 'are find' or 'is found' is incorrect for past time.

25. Q25Active: 'She sells flowers.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AFlowers were sold by her. BFlowers is sold by her. CFlowers are sold by her. DFlowers was sold by her.

    Answer: C. Flowers are sold by her.

    The action is in the present ('sells'). Since 'flowers' is plural, we use 'are sold'.

26. Q26Active: 'He fixed the computer.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe computer was fixed by him. BThe computer were fixed by him. CThe computer is fixed by him. DThe computer are fixed by him.

    Answer: A. The computer was fixed by him.

    The original action is in the past ('fixed'). For one 'computer,' we use 'was fixed'.

27. Q27Active: 'They wash the clothes.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe clothes were washed. BThe clothes was washed. CThe clothes are washed. DThe clothes is washed.

    Answer: C. The clothes are washed.

    The action is in the present ('wash'). Since 'clothes' is plural, we use 'are washed'.

28. Q28Active: 'Someone broke the glass.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe glass were broken. BThe glass was broken. CThe glass is broken. DThe glass are broken.

    Answer: B. The glass was broken.

    The original sentence is in the past ('broke'). For one 'glass,' we use 'was broken'.

29. Q29Active: 'They play football.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AFootball is played. BFootball were played. CFootball are played. DFootball was played.

    Answer: A. Football is played.

    The action is in the present ('play'). For 'football' (singular), we use 'is played'.

30. Q30Active: 'He watered the plants.' Choose the correct passive form:

    AThe plants was watered by him. BThe plants is watered by him. CThe plants are watered by him. DThe plants were watered by him.

    Answer: D. The plants were watered by him.

    The original sentence is in the past ('watered'). Because 'plants' is plural, we use 'were watered'.

31. Q31My bike was stolen. What is the most appropriate action regarding the agent if the thief is unknown?

    Aby someone Bomit agent Cby him Dby a person

    Answer: B. omit agent

    If we don't know who did the action, we usually leave out (omit) the person. We don't need to say 'by someone'.

32. Q32The street was cleaned. What is the most appropriate action regarding the agent if the cleaner is obvious?

    Aby someone Bby the cleaner Cby a person Domit agent

    Answer: D. omit agent

    If it is obvious who did the job (like a street cleaner), we don't need to mention them. We can just say 'The street was cleaned'.

33. Q33The tree was cut down. What is the most appropriate action regarding the agent if the person is unimportant?

    Aby a person Bomit agent Cby someone Dby a man

    Answer: B. omit agent

    We leave out the agent when the action itself is more important than who did it.

34. Q34Choose the correct sentence:

    AThe letter is written by a pen. BThe letter was write by a pen. CThe letter was written with a pen. DThe letter is write by a pen.

    Answer: C. The letter was written with a pen.

    We use 'by' for people, but we use 'with' for tools or instruments (like a pen).

35. Q35This song was sung ___ Adele.

    Afor Bat Cwith Dby

    Answer: D. by

    We use 'by' to name the person who did the action (the agent).

36. Q36The door can ___ by anyone.

    Abeen opened Bwas opened Cis opened Dbe opened

    Answer: D. be opened

    After helper words like 'can,' we use 'be' + the past form of the action word. So, 'can be opened' is correct.

37. Q37The work must ___ by tomorrow.

    Ais finished Bbe finished Cbeen finished Dwas finished

    Answer: B. be finished

    After 'must,' we use 'be' + the past form of the action word. 'be finished' is the correct choice.

38. Q38The room ___ cleaned yesterday.

    Aaren't Bwasn't Cweren't Disn't

    Answer: B. wasn't

    For one 'room' in the past ('yesterday'), the negative form is 'was not' or 'wasn't'.

39. Q39___ the window broken by him yesterday?

    AWas BWere CAre DIs

    Answer: A. Was

    To ask a question about one thing ('window') in the past, we start the sentence with 'Was'.

40. Q40The documents ___ signed by the director yesterday.

    Aare Bwas Cwere Dis

    Answer: C. were

    'Yesterday' shows it is in the past. Since 'documents' is plural, we use 'were'.

41. Q41The cake ___ eaten by the children yesterday.

    Awere Bis Cwas Dare

    Answer: C. was

    For one 'cake' in the past, we use 'was'.

42. Q42The project should ___ completed on time.

    Abe Bbeen Cwas Dis

    Answer: A. be

    After 'should,' we use 'be' to form the passive voice.

43. Q43The problem might ___ solved easily.

    Ais Bbeen Cbe Dwas

    Answer: C. be

    After 'might,' we use 'be' followed by the past form of the action word.

44. Q44The game could ___ won by our team.

    Abeen Bis Cwas Dbe

    Answer: D. be

    After 'could,' we use 'be' + the third form of the action word ('won').

45. Q45The house will ___ sold next month.

    Abe Bwas Cbeen Dis

    Answer: A. be

    To talk about the future with 'will,' we use 'will be' + the past form of the action word.