Understanding Passive Voice

Change to passive voice: 'The teacher explains the lesson.'

• The lesson explains the teacher.

• The lesson is explained by the teacher.

• The teacher is explaining the lesson.

• The lesson was explained by the teacher.

Rewrite in passive voice: 'The dog chased the cat.'

• The dog was chased by the cat.

• The cat chased the dog.

• The dog is chasing the cat.

• The cat was chased by the dog.

Convert to passive voice: 'The artist painted the mural.'

• The mural is painted by the artist.

• The artist was painting the mural.

• The mural was painted by the artist.

• The mural painted the artist.

Make this passive: 'The students completed the project.'

• The project is completed by the students.

• The students are completing the project.

• The project was finished by the students.

• The project was completed by the students.

Change to passive voice: 'The manager will review the report.'

• The report is reviewed by the manager.

• The manager reviews the report.

• The report will be reviewed by someone.

• The report will be reviewed by the manager.

Rewrite in passive voice: 'The children are playing the game.'

• The game was played by the children.

• The game is played by the children.

• The children are playing the game.

• The game is being played by the children.

Transform into passive voice: 'The scientist discovered a new species.'

• A new species was discovered by the scientist.

• A new species discovered the scientist.

• A new species is discovered by the scientist.

• The scientist was discovered by a new species.

Convert to passive voice: 'The company launched a new product.'

• A new product is being launched by the company.

• A new product was launched by the company.

Change to passive voice: 'The mechanic repairs the car.'

• The mechanic is repairing the car.

• The car is repaired by the mechanic.

• The mechanic repairs cars.

• The car was repaired by the mechanic.

Which of the following statements about the passive voice is accurate?

• The passive voice is less effective than active voice.

• The passive voice can only be used in the present tense.

• The passive voice shifts focus from the doer to the receiver of the action.

• The passive voice is only used in formal writing.