Active Voice And Passive Voice Quiz | Fix Voice Errors

Active and passive voice show up in essays, emails, exams, and job writing tests. You don’t need fancy grammar talk to get them right. You need a simple way to spot the pattern, then a repeatable method to rewrite it.

This page gives you both. First, you’ll learn a clean “spot it” checklist. Next, you’ll practice with a graded quiz. Then you’ll fix the sentences you missed with short explanations that stick.

What Active And Passive Voice Mean In Plain English

In active voice, the subject does the action. The sentence feels direct because the “doer” sits up front.

In passive voice, the subject receives the action. The “doer” is pushed back, hidden, or missing.

Two Tiny Examples That Make The Pattern Obvious

Active: The chef prepared the meal.

Passive: The meal was prepared (by the chef).

Same meaning. Different shape. The difference is not “good vs bad.” It’s about what you want readers to notice first.

The Usual Passive Voice Shape

Most passive sentences contain a form of be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being) plus a past participle (done, written, built, seen).

Many also carry a “by + doer” phrase. The phrase can be present or missing.

Active And Passive Voice Quiz Practice With Clear Rules

Before you start the quiz, lock in three checks you can run in your head while reading.

Check 1: Find The Main Verb

Skip the extra words and find the action. If you can’t spot the action, you can’t judge the voice.

Check 2: Ask “Who Does This?”

If the subject does the action, it’s active. If the subject gets the action, it’s passive.

Check 3: Watch For “Be + Past Participle”

This combo is a strong passive clue. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a solid flag that tells you to double-check.

A Fast Warning About False Alarms

Not every sentence with “was” is passive. “She was tired” uses a linking verb, not a passive verb phrase. The action test (“Who does what?”) keeps you from guessing.

When Passive Voice Works Well

Passive voice can be the right call when the doer is unknown, when the doer doesn’t matter, or when the result deserves the spotlight. Many academic and lab-style sentences use it for that reason.

If you’re unsure, use this tie-breaker: active voice makes the doer clear. Passive voice makes the receiver clear.

For a crisp explanation of active vs passive and common rewrite moves, Purdue’s writing handout is a solid reference: Purdue OWL “Active and Passive Voice”.

How To Switch Voice Without Breaking Meaning

Changing voice is not just swapping words. You need to keep tense, keep meaning, and keep any needed details.

Passive To Active In Three Steps

1. Find the real doer (often in a “by” phrase).
2. Move the doer into the subject position.
3. Choose a clean active verb that matches the original tense.

Active To Passive In Three Steps

1. Move the object into the subject position.
2. Add the right form of be to match the tense.
3. Add the past participle of the main verb. Add “by + doer” only if readers need it.

If you want extra clarity on passive forms and when English allows them, Cambridge’s grammar notes are handy: Cambridge Dictionary “Passive voice”.

Spot-The-Voice Checklist You Can Use Mid-Quiz

• Circle the main verb in your head.
• Ask who does the verb.
• Scan for “be + past participle.”
• Check if the doer is missing or delayed.
• Pick the voice that matches what the subject is doing.

Voice Patterns And Fixes You’ll See A Lot

The quiz below uses patterns that show up in school writing. This table gives you a compact map of what to watch for, plus a clean rewrite direction.

Pattern You See	What It Signals	Fast Fix Or Check
is/are/was/were + past participle	Often passive voice	Ask “Who did it?” If you can name a doer, try active
has/have been + past participle	Passive in perfect tenses	Keep “has/have” meaning while moving the doer to subject
will be + past participle	Passive in future form	Use “will + base verb” in active if the doer matters
being + past participle	Passive in progress form	Match the “in progress” sense when rewriting
by + noun (by the team, by Sara)	Doer appears late	Move that noun to the front to test an active rewrite
Agent missing (no “by” phrase)	Passive hides the doer	Add the doer only if meaning needs it, then rewrite
Linking verb (is, seems, feels) + adjective	Not passive	Run the action test; adjectives aren’t actions
Get + past participle (“got hired”)	Passive-like form	Decide if you want formal “was hired” or active “the firm hired”
It is said / It is believed	Reporting passive	Name the source if you can; keep it passive if source is unknown

Active Voice And Passive Voice Quiz

Instructions: Answer all questions. Some ask you to label the voice. Some ask you to rewrite. Keep your answers in a notebook or notes app, then score yourself with the answer section.

Part 1: Identify The Voice

Write Active or Passive.

1. The students submitted the assignment before noon.
2. The assignment was submitted before noon.
3. Our team has completed the project on time.
4. The project has been completed on time.
5. The door was open all night.
6. The door was opened during the night.
7. My phone was stolen at the station.
8. The coach praised the players after the match.
9. The players were praised after the match.
10. These shoes were made in Italy.

Part 2: Choose The Best Rewrite

Pick the option that creates a clean active sentence while keeping the same meaning.

1. The report was written by Nadia.
   • A) The report wrote Nadia.
   • B) Nadia wrote the report.
   • C) Nadia was wrote the report.
2. The tickets were checked at the gate.
   • A) Staff checked the tickets at the gate.
   • B) The gate checked the tickets.
   • C) The tickets checked staff at the gate.
3. The mistake has been fixed.
   • A) Fixed has the mistake.
   • B) Someone has fixed the mistake.
   • C) The mistake has fixed someone.
4. The lights will be turned off at 10 p.m.
   • A) The lights will turn off at 10 p.m.
   • B) The building will turn off the lights at 10 p.m.
   • C) Turned off will be the lights at 10 p.m.
5. The final decision was made after the meeting.
   • A) After the meeting, the committee made the final decision.
   • B) After the meeting, the final decision made the committee.
   • C) The meeting made after the final decision.

Part 3: Rewrite To Match The Purpose

Rewrite each sentence as directed. Keep the same tense and meaning. Add a doer only when needed.

1. Rewrite to active: The emails were sent yesterday.
2. Rewrite to passive: The manager approved the budget.
3. Rewrite to active: A new rule is being introduced by the school.
4. Rewrite to passive: Someone has stolen my bike.
5. Rewrite to active: The match was won by our side.

Scoring And What Your Score Means

Give yourself 1 point per correct item. Part 1 has 10 points. Part 2 has 5 points. Part 3 has 5 points. Total: 20 points.

Score Range	What It Says	Next Step
18–20	You spot patterns fast and rewrite cleanly	Practice mixed sentences with longer subjects and clauses
14–17	You know the basics, a few traps still catch you	Drill “be + past participle” and the action test
10–13	You’re close, tense and doer placement cause slips	Rewrite ten passive sentences into active using the 3-step method
0–9	You need a reset on voice shape and verb forms	Study the pattern list, then redo Part 1 only

Answer Key With Short Explanations

Don’t rush this section. The value comes from the “why,” not just the letter.

Part 1 Answers

1. Active. “Students” do the action “submitted.”
2. Passive. “Assignment” receives the action; doer is not named.
3. Active. “Team” completes the project.
4. Passive. “Project” is the receiver; “has been completed” signals passive.
5. Active (not passive). “Was open” describes a state, no action.
6. Passive. “Was opened” shows an action done to the door.
7. Passive. The subject “phone” receives “was stolen.”
8. Active. “Coach” does the praising.
9. Passive. “Players” receive the praising.
10. Passive. “Shoes” receive “were made.”

Part 2 Answers

1. B. “Nadia wrote the report” keeps meaning and makes the doer the subject.
2. A. “Staff checked the tickets” names a clear doer and keeps the location.
3. B. Agentless passive hides the doer; “Someone” restores it in active.
4. B. “Building” can act as the doer; the verb stays in future form.
5. A. “Committee” fits as the doer; the timing stays the same.

Part 3 Sample Answers

More than one rewrite can be correct. These models keep tense and meaning clean.

1. Active: Someone sent the emails yesterday.
2. Passive: The budget was approved by the manager.
3. Active: The school is introducing a new rule.
4. Passive: My bike has been stolen.
5. Active: Our side won the match.

Common Traps That Drop Scores

Most mistakes come from the same small set of traps. Fix these and your accuracy jumps fast.

Trap 1: Treating All “Was” Sentences As Passive

“Was” can link a subject to an adjective or noun: “The room was quiet.” No action happens, so it’s not passive voice.

Trap 2: Keeping The Passive Verb While Moving The Doer

When you rewrite, the verb must change shape too. “The report was written by Nadia” becomes “Nadia wrote the report,” not “Nadia was written the report.”

Trap 3: Losing The Tense

Match time. If the passive is past, keep the active past. If the passive is present perfect, keep that form in active.

Trap 4: Dropping Needed Details

Some passives hide the doer on purpose. If the doer matters for meaning, add it back. If the doer is unknown, keep it agentless and write clearly.

A Simple Practice Routine That Fits Busy Schedules

If you want this skill to stick, repeat short drills. Long study sessions can feel heavy, and most learners quit.

1. Pick five passive sentences from any article or textbook.
2. Underline the verb phrase.
3. Name the doer in one word.
4. Rewrite each sentence in active voice.
5. Check tense and meaning. Read it out loud once.

Do this three times a week for two weeks, then retake the quiz. Your brain starts spotting voice patterns while you read, not after you stop to think.