Is the passive voice bad?

No. Science writing uses it freely, because the process often matters more than who performed it, though it uses the active voice too. It is a poor default for storytelling, where the active voice is more direct.

Active and passive voice, and correcting inappropriate shifts between them, are eighth grade standards.

How do I spot the passive quickly?

Find the main verb. If it is a form of be followed by a past participle, and you could sensibly add "by someone" after it, the sentence is passive. If no doer could be added, it is probably describing a state instead.

Active and Passive Voice Worksheets

In the active voice the subject does the action; in the passive it receives it. Neither is wrong — but a writer who cannot tell them apart cannot choose, and the passive is where vague writing hides.

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8th Grade Active and Passive Voice Practice

Active and Passive Voice

Circle the correct answer.

1.
Which sentence puts the procedure first rather than the person doing it?
The solution was heated to 80 degrees.I heated the solution to 80 degrees.
2.
Which sentence hides who is responsible?
We made mistakes.Mistakes were made.
3.
The window was broken by a falling branch. This sentence is in the:
active voicepassive voice
4.
Which of these is the passive form?
The letter was written by Ana.Ana wrote the letter.Ana was writing quickly.

Write the correct word on each line.

5.
The homework blank (collect) by the teacher every Friday. (passive)
6.
The song blank (record) last summer. (passive, past)
7.
The new library blank (open) next spring. (passive, future)

Follow the directions for each sentence.

8.
The road is being repaved this month. (underline the full passive verb)
9.
The cake was eaten by the twins. (underline the form of "be" and the past participle)

Rewrite each sentence following the directions in brackets.

10.
Someone left the gate open. (rewrite in the passive voice)
11.
The students will present the project. (rewrite in the passive voice)
12.
The letter was signed by the principal. (rewrite in the active voice)
13.
The team practiced every day, and the trophy was won by them in June. (rewrite with both halves in the active voice)
14.
The rules were explained by the coach, and then he handed out the sheets. (rewrite with both halves in the active voice)
15.
The committee approved the plan. (rewrite in the passive voice)

Active and Passive Voice: the rules these questions test

Active: the subject acts: "The dog chased the ball." The subject is doing the chasing.
Passive: a form of be plus a past participle: "The ball was chased by the dog." Look for was chased, is collected, will be opened. The pattern is a strong clue, but check the subject is actually undergoing the action — "the door was closed" can also just describe its state.
The passive can drop the doer: "The gate was left open" never says who left it. Useful when nobody knows, evasive when somebody does — "Mistakes were made" is the famous example.
Progressive is not passive: "Ana was writing quickly" is active. was writing is a past progressive verb, not be plus a past participle.
Do not switch voice for no reason: "She wrote the essay, and it was revised by her twice" should be "She wrote the essay and revised it twice."

Questions parents and teachers ask

Is the passive voice bad?: No. Science writing uses it freely, because the process often matters more than who performed it, though it uses the active voice too. It is a poor default for storytelling, where the active voice is more direct.
When is this taught?: Active and passive voice, and correcting inappropriate shifts between them, are eighth grade standards.
How do I spot the passive quickly?: Find the main verb. If it is a form of be followed by a past participle, and you could sensibly add "by someone" after it, the sentence is passive. If no doer could be added, it is probably describing a state instead.