Active & Passive Voice Quiz

Question 1

Which sentence is in the passive voice?

Accepted Answer

A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.

Answer

The chef cooked a delicious meal.

Answer

The chef is cooking a delicious meal.

Answer

The chef had cooked a delicious meal.

Question 2

Convert to passive voice: 'Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.'

Accepted Answer

Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.

Answer

Hamlet wrote by Shakespeare.

Answer

Hamlet is written by Shakespeare.

Answer

Hamlet had written by Shakespeare.

Question 3

What is the passive form of: 'They are building a new stadium'?

Accepted Answer

A new stadium is being built.

Answer

A new stadium is built by them.

Answer

A new stadium was being built.

Answer

A new stadium has been built.

Question 4

In which situation is passive voice most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

When the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious

Answer

When you want to emphasise who performed the action

Answer

When writing casual, conversational text

Answer

When the subject is performing an action on itself

Question 5

Which sentence is in the active voice?

Accepted Answer

The scientist discovered a new element.

Answer

The window was broken by the ball.

Answer

The letter was delivered this morning.

Answer

Mistakes were made.

Question 6

What is the passive voice of: 'The committee will announce the results tomorrow'?

Accepted Answer

The results will be announced tomorrow.

Answer

The results are announced by the committee tomorrow.

Answer

The results would be announced tomorrow.

Answer

The results have been announced by the committee.

Question 7

Identify the passive sentence where the agent is omitted:

Accepted Answer

The fire was extinguished.

Answer

The car was repaired by the mechanic.

Answer

A letter was sent by the manager to all staff.

Answer

The criminal was caught by the police.

Question 8

Which passive sentence is in the present perfect tense?

Accepted Answer

The form has been completed.

Answer

The form was completed.

Answer

The form is being completed.

Answer

The form will have been completed.

Question 9

Why do scientists and academics often prefer passive voice in writing?

Accepted Answer

It removes the personal subject, making writing seem objective and impersonal

Answer

It sounds more intelligent and impressive

Answer

It is grammatically more precise than active voice

Answer

It takes up less space on the page

Question 10

Convert to active voice: 'The cake was eaten by the children.'

Accepted Answer

The children ate the cake.

Answer

The cake ate by the children.

Answer

The children have eaten the cake.

Answer

The cake is eaten by the children.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of the 'agentless passive' used to avoid responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Mistakes were made.

Answer

The window was broken by the ball.

Answer

The contract was signed by both parties.

Answer

The suspect was arrested by police.

Question 12

What is wrong with this sentence? 'The homework was forgot by the student.'

Accepted Answer

'Forgot' should be 'forgotten' — passive needs the past participle

Answer

'By the student' should come before 'the homework'

Answer

The sentence should use active voice

Answer

There is nothing wrong with this sentence

Question 13

Which sentence correctly uses a passive infinitive?

Accepted Answer

She wants to be promoted.

Answer

She wants to promoted.

Answer

She wants being promoted.

Answer

She was wanting to promote.

Question 14

What is the passive form of: 'Someone has stolen my wallet'?

Accepted Answer

My wallet has been stolen.

Answer

My wallet was stolen by someone.

Answer

My wallet is stolen.

Answer

My wallet had been stolen by someone.

Question 15

Which sentence uses passive voice to shift emphasis to the recipient of an action?

Accepted Answer

Mary was given a prize by John.

Answer

John gave Mary a prize.

Answer

John awarded the prize.

Answer

The prize was John's to give.

Question 16

What does 'get-passive' mean in informal English?

Accepted Answer

Using 'get' instead of 'be' to form informal passives: 'She got fired'

Answer

Using 'become' instead of 'be' in passive constructions

Answer

A passive construction with no agent

Answer

Using passive voice in questions only

Question 17

Convert to passive: 'The teacher is marking the essays.'

Accepted Answer

The essays are being marked by the teacher.

Answer

The essays were being marked by the teacher.

Answer

The essays have been marked by the teacher.

Answer

The essays are marked by the teacher.

Question 18

In journalism, why is 'Two people were killed in the crash' preferred over 'The crash killed two people'?

Accepted Answer

The passive foregrounds the victims, which is the news focus, not the crash

Answer

Passive is always grammatically preferred in news writing

Answer

The active form would be too emotionally direct

Answer

Shorter sentences are always better in news

Question 19

Which sentence has a grammatically incorrect passive construction?

Accepted Answer

They were arrived at the airport.

Answer

The bill was paid by the company.

Answer

The song is being sung.

Answer

She was given a warning.

Question 20

What is the difference between 'The window was broken' (passive) and 'The window is broken' (stative)?

Accepted Answer

'Was broken' describes an action in the past; 'is broken' describes the current state/condition

Answer

There is no difference — both are passive

Answer

'Is broken' is active; 'was broken' is passive

Answer

'Was broken' is informal; 'is broken' is formal