Sentence Analysis and Grammar Awareness Exercises
for Active and Passive Voice
• Grammar explanation through verb frame
• Reading comprehension passage
• Identifying active and passive voice sentences in
reading passage.
• Placing the active and passive voice sentences in
verb frame.
• Longman’s Appendix G pp. 530-531
• Longman’s Skill 38-39 pp. 179-182
• CCF for Passive Voice
Verb Frame Active and Passive Voice (form) Thewlis, Stephen H. 2000
Aspect Simple Progressive Perfect Perfect
Time progressive
Present A: Many people A: A: A:
study English.
P: English is P: P: P: XXXXXXX
studied by
many people.
Past A: A: A: A:
P: P: P: P: XXXXXXX
Future A: A: A: A:
P: P: XXXXXXXX P: P: XXXXXXXX
Verb Frame Active and Passive Voice (form) Thewlis, Stephen H. 2000
Aspect Simple Progressive Perfect Perfect
Time progressive
Many people study Many people are Many people have Many people have
Present English. studying English. studied English. been studying
English.
English is studied English is being English has been
by many people. studied by many studied by many *English has been
people. people. getting studied by
many people.
Many people Many people were Many people had Many people had
Past studied English. studying English. studied English. been studying
English.
English was studied English was being English had been
by many people. studied by many studied by many *English had been
people. people. getting studied by
many people.
Many people Many people Many people Many people will
Future will study English. will be studying will have studied have been studying
(Are going to study) English. English. English.
English will be *English will be English will have *English had been
studied by many getting studied by been studied by getting studied by
many people. many people. many people.
people.
(Is going to be studied)
(Phillips 2001. p. 284)
The extinction of many species of birds has undoubtedly been hastened by modern man; since 1600 it has been
estimated that approximately 100 bird species have become extinct over the world. In North America, the first species
known to be annihilated was the great auk, a flightless bird that served as an easy source of food and bait the Atlantic
fishermen through the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Shortly after the great auk’s extinction, two other North American species, the Carolina parakeet and the passenger
pigeon, began dwindling noticeably in numbers. The last Carolina parakeet and the last passenger pigeon in captivity
both died in September 1914. In addition to these extinct species, several others such as the bald eagle, the peregrine
falcon, and the California condor are today recognized as endangered; steps are being taken to prevent their extinction.
The number of bird species that have become extinct in the United States since 1600 most probably is
more than 100
exactly 100
less than 100
exactly three
The passage implies that the great auk disappeared
before 1600
in the 1600s
in the 1800s
in the last fifty years
It can be inferred from the passage that the great auk was killed because
it was eating the fishermen’s catch
fishermen wanted to eat it
it flew over fishing areas
it baited fishermen
The paragraph following the passage probably discusses
what is being done to save endangered birds
what the bald eagle symbolizes to Americans
how several bird species became endangered
other extinct species
(Phillips 2001. p. 284)
The extinction of many species of birds has undoubtedly been hastened by modern man; since 1600 it has been
estimated that approximately 100 bird species have become extinct over the world. In North America, the first species
known to be annihilated was the great auk, a flightless bird that served as an easy source of food and bait the Atlantic
fishermen through the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Shortly after the great auk’s extinction, two other North American species, the Carolina parakeet and the passenger
pigeon, began dwindling noticeably in numbers. The last Carolina parakeet and the last passenger pigeon in captivity
both died in September 1914. In addition to these extinct species, several others such as the bald eagle, the peregrine
falcon, and the California condor are today recognized as endangered; steps are being taken to prevent their extinction.
The number of bird species that have become extinct in the United States since 1600 most probably is
more than 100
exactly 100
less than 100
exactly three
The passage implies that the great auk disappeared
before 1600
in the 1600s
in the 1800s
in the last fifty years
It can be inferred from the passage that the great auk was killed because
it was eating the fishermen’s catch
fishermen wanted to eat it
it flew over fishing areas
it baited fishermen
The paragraph following the passage probably discusses
what is being done to save endangered birds
what the bald eagle symbolizes to Americans
how several bird species became endangered
other extinct species
Identify subjects and verbs in this passage.
The extinction of many species of birds has undoubtedly been
hastened by modern man; since 1600 it has been estimated that
approximately 100 bird species have become extinct over the
world. In North America, the first species known to be annihilated
was the great auk, a flightless bird that served as an easy source of
food and bait for Atlantic fishermen through the beginning of the
nineteenth century.
Shortly after the great auk’s extinction, two other North
American species, the Carolina parakeet and the passenger pigeon,
began dwindling noticeably in numbers. The last Carolina parakeet
and the last passenger pigeon in captivity both died in September
1914. In addition to these extinct species, several others such as the
bald eagle, the peregrine falcon, and the California condor are today
recognized as endangered; steps are being taken to prevent their
extinction.
Place the sentences of the passage in the active or passive column
Active Voice Passive Voice
1. ……approximately 100 bird species 1. The extinction of many species of
have become extinct over the birds has undoubtedly been
hastened. by modern man
world.
2. ….the first species known to be
2. …since 1600 it has been estimated…
annihilated was the great auk….
3. ….a flightless bird that served as 3. ….several others such as the bald
an easy source of food and bait… eagle, the peregrine falcon, and the
4. two other North American species, California condor are today
the Carolina parakeet and the recognized as endangered.
passenger pigeon, began
dwindling noticeably in numbers. 4. …..steps are being taken to prevent
5. The last Carolina parakeet and the their extinction.
last passenger pigeon in captivity 5. the first species known to be
both died in September 1914. annihilated ….. (infintive passive voice)
Insert all of the active voice sentences in the following chart considering the tense.
Aspect Simple Progressive Perfect Perfect progressive
Time
Present 1. approximately 100
bird species have
become extinct over
the world.
Past 2. species…. was
the great auk….
3. ….a flightless bird
that served….
4. species…….,
began
5. …..both died in
September 1914.
Insert all of the passive voice sentences in the following chart considering the tense.
Aspect Simple Progressive Perfect Perfect progressive
Time
Present 3. others ……are 4. …..steps are 1. The extinction
…recognized as being taken to ….has ….been
endangered. prevent their hastened …..
extinction. 2. since 1600 it
has been
estimated…
Past
Appendix G1
ACTIVE PASSIVE
1. He writes many letters. Many letters are written by him.
2. He wrote many letters. Many letters were written by him.
3. He has written many letters. Many letters have been written by him.
4. He had written many letters. Many letters had been written by him.
5. He would write many letters. Many letters would be written by him.
6. He would have written many letters. Many letters would have been written by
7. He is writing many letters. him.
8. He was writing many letters. Many letters are being written by him.
9. He will write many letters.
• Many letters were being written by him.
10. He will have written many letters. Many letters will be written by him.
11. He is going to write many letters. Many letters will have been written by him.
•
12. He should write many letters. Many letters are going to be written by
him.
Many letters should be written by him.
Appendix G2
ACTIVE PASIVE
1. Soon the armies will fight the battle. 1. The battle will be fought by the armies soon.
2. The company is going to buy the 2. The equipment is going to be bought by the
equipment. company.
3. Someone was digging in the yard. 3. A hole was being dug in the yard.
4. The referee had already blown the 4. The whistle had already been blown
whistle. by the referee.
5. Parents should teach their children 5. Children should be taught good values by
good values. parents.
6. She keeps her valuable jewelry in the 6. Her valuable jewelry is kept in the safe.
safe.
7. The enemy’s torpedoes sank the ship . 7. The ship was sunk by the enemy’s torpedoes.
8. What you said hurt me. 8. I was hurt by what you said.
9. Someone is feeding the children now. 9. The The children are being fed now.
10. You should not have said it so 10. It should not have been said so strongly.
strongly.
Active/Passive Voice
Missing verb in the A grass eating, river-dwelling mammal, the hippopotamus ________ to the pig.
sentence: passive verb (A) being related
All distractors are (B) is related
different forms of the (C) relate
verb. (SC) (D) relating
ETS Practice Test A 1997 Vol. 1
Although Emily Dickenson is now a well-known American poet, only seven of her poems
_______ while she was alive.
(A) publishing
(B) to publish
(C) have published
(D) were published
Missing subject and verb _______ in 1968 as a non profit agency to finance the growth of noncommercial radio and
in the sentence: passive television in the .
verb (SC) (A) The cooperation for public broadcasting established
(B) The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established
(C) When the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established
(D) Even though the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established
ETS Practice Test A 1997 Vol. 2
Infinitive passive voice Except for the sun, all stars are too far from the Earth for their distances ________ in miles or
after intensifier ‘too’ kilometers.
(SC) (A) to be conveniently measured
(B) which conveniently measured
(C) to measure conveniently
(D) conveniently measured
ETS Practice Test A 1997 Vol. 2
Modal Auxiliary Passive or Active Voice Scientists have found that occasional exposure to bright light
(simple present) (EI and SC items) can be help a person get used to working the night shift.
ETS Practice Test A 1997 Vol. 2
Correct answer: can help
The ease with which houseplants can grown causes them to be
popular among amateur horticulturists.
ETS Practice Test A 1997 Vol. 1
Correct answer: can be grown
Paint must be stirred and sometimes dilution before it is
applied.
ETS Practice Test D 1997 Vol. 2
correct answer: diluted
Active vs. Passive Although best known for her prose works, Maya Angelou was
also published several collections of poetry.
ETS Practice Test B 1997 Vol.
correct answer: also
The novels of Pearl S. Buck show a keen understanding of and
the Chinese people, knowledge which learned by living there
for many years.
TOEFL ETS Workbook 1995
correct answer: was learned
Passive Voice Form With the incorporation of jazz history into current academic
Past participle vs. present participle curricula, leading jazz musicians are now founding on the
faculties of several universities.
ETS Practice Test D 1997 Vol. 2
correct answer: found
The number 8 ½ is an example of a mixed number because it is
composing of an integer and a fraction.
ETS Practice Test C 1997 Vol.2
correct answer: composed
