📖 Quick Grammar Reference: Passive Voice
| Tense | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | is/are + past participle | The report is written every month. |
| Past simple | was/were + past participle | The window was broken last night. |
| Present perfect | has/have been + past participle | The email has been sent. |
| Past perfect | had been + past participle | The decision had been made before she arrived. |
| Future | will be + past participle | The results will be announced tomorrow. |
| Modal | modal + be + past participle | The form must be submitted by Friday. |
Exercise 1 — Fill in the Blank (Put the verb in brackets into the correct passive form.)
- The report (write) every month.
- The window (break) last night.
- The email already (send).
- The decision (make) before she arrived.
- The results (announce) tomorrow.
- The form (must / submit) by Friday.
- A new product (launch) by the company last year.
- Mistakes (make).
- The bridge (build) in 1887.
- The samples (should / test) twice.
Exercise 2 — True or False (Read each statement about passive voice rules and circle T (True) or F (False).)
-
The passive is formed with be + past participle.
T F
-
We must always mention the agent (the doer) in a passive sentence.
T F
-
Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be used in the passive voice.
T F
-
“The accident was happened” is a correct passive sentence.
T F
-
Modal passives use modal + be + past participle.
T F
Print version: write T or F on the line next to each statement.
Exercise 3 — Write Your Own Sentences (Rewrite each active sentence in the passive voice.)
- Rewrite in the passive: "They built this house in 1990."
- Rewrite in the passive: "Someone stole my bike yesterday."
- Describe a process you know using the passive (e.g. "First, the data is collected...").
- Rewrite in the passive: "The company will announce the results next week."
- Rewrite in the passive: "The teacher must correct the essays by Monday."
📋 Show Answer Key
Exercise 1
- is written
- was broken
- has … already been sent
- had been made
- will be announced
- must be submitted
- was launched
- were made
- was built
- should be tested
Exercise 2
- True — e.g. “The report is written.”
- False — the agent is optional and only included with by when it matters
- True — intransitive verbs like arrive or happen cannot be passivised
- False — happen is intransitive, so it cannot be used in the passive at all
- True — e.g. “The form must be submitted by Friday.”
Exercise 3
Suggested answers: (1) This house was built in 1990. (2) My bike was stolen yesterday. (3) Open answer — check for correct passive tense sequence. (4) The results will be announced next week (by the company). (5) The essays must be corrected by Monday (by the teacher).
Passive Voice Worksheet — FAQ
What does this passive voice worksheet cover?
This worksheet covers the passive voice (be + past participle) across present simple, past simple, present perfect, past perfect, future and modal forms. It includes fill-in-the-blank, true/false, and sentence-writing/transformation exercises.
What level is this passive voice worksheet?
This worksheet is designed for B1 (Intermediate) and B2 (Upper-Intermediate) learners who are consolidating passive voice constructions across different tenses.
How do I form the passive voice?
Use the appropriate form of be plus the past participle of the main verb. Example: The report is written every month (present simple passive); The window was broken last night (past simple passive); The email has been sent (present perfect passive).
When should I use the passive instead of the active voice?
Use the passive when the agent (the doer) is unknown or unimportant, when you want to focus on the action or result rather than who did it, or in formal and academic writing. Example: A new product was launched (by the company) — the focus is on the product, not the company.
How does the modal passive work?
Modal passives use modal + be + past participle, with the modal itself never changing. Example: The form must be submitted by Friday. The samples should be tested twice.
Can I save this worksheet as a PDF?
Yes. Click the orange ‘Print / Save as PDF’ button at the top of the page. In your browser’s print dialogue, select ‘Save as PDF’ as the destination. The worksheet is formatted for A4 paper.
Is the answer key included?
Yes. Scroll to the bottom of the worksheet to find the collapsible answer key. Click ‘Show Answer Key’ to reveal all answers. If you want to print the answers too, open the key before clicking Print.
What online exercise goes with this worksheet?
The related online exercise is Complete the Sentence at lexfizz.com/exercises/complete-the-sentence/ — it provides immediate feedback for supplying the correct passive form in context.
Can every verb be used in the passive voice?
No. Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be passivised, such as write or break. Intransitive verbs like arrive, happen or sleep have no object and cannot form a passive sentence.
How long does this worksheet take to complete?
The three exercises take approximately 20–25 minutes for most B1–B2 learners. Allow extra time for the transformation task in Exercise 3, which requires converting active sentences into the passive.