Active and Passive Verbs Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.8.1.B

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

We will often come across or use verbs that commit an action. These verbs can be written in one of two form depending on if the subject of the sentence is performing the action or receiving the action. If the subject of the sentence performs the action, the verb involved is using the active voice and therefore the verb is labelled as active. If the subject of the sentence has the action performed on them, the verb involved is using the passive voice (passive verb). These worksheets will help students learn the action of verbs in sentences.

Active and Passive Verb Worksheets To Print:

Differing Choices – A little identification activity followed by rewriting passive sentences.

Turn Up the Volume – Get those action words fired up.

Tell What You Think... – Similar to the first worksheet, but we include some larger vocabulary words.

Voice in Writing – Add a little "GIDDY UP!" to these sentences.

Writing in Active Voice – Shorter sentences to work with here.

Voice It Out – Write "A" on the line if the sentence is in active voice, or "P" if it is in passive voice.

Beef It Up – Do you notice that we mostly transition from passive to active?

Slow It Down – Now we reverse the verb sequencing on you.

You Got This... – Shorter sentences require you to be more creative.

Using Passive Voice to Find a Direct Object – Make sure not to replace the overall meaning of the sentence.

What's The Deal? – Identify whether it is written in active voice (A) or passive voice (B). Identify the direct object.

Sit Back and Jump Up! – Write two sentences for each subject/direct object pair.

2 Sentences Please – Write the first sentence in active voice. Write the second sentence in passive voice.

Pass Me Directly – You will need to use the pairing here to perfectly execute the task at hand.

Active or Passive Voice? – We finish it all of with a little identification task.

What Are Active and Passive Verbs?


There is an infinite number of sentences in the English language. Some sentences differ from others because of the individual forms of wording sequences used in them. Depending on how the sentences are worded, verbs in those sentences can either be passive or active.


The differences between active and passive verbs must be understood completely by students so that they can correctly use the language. Students are mostly able to differentiate between active and passive verbs and use them correctly by the time they complete their elementary education. Here is a brief description of active and passive verbs:


Active Verbs


The verb of a sentence is called active when the subject of a verb is directly doing the action. The entity on which the action is being done is called an object of the sentence. The sentences are said to be active voice sentences whenever their verbs are in active forms. Commonly practiced sentence structure for sentences with active verbs are as follows:


Subject + verb + object


Where the subject performs an action, the verb is the action itself, and the object receives that action. An example of sentences with active verbs can be "The girl ate an apple".


Passive Verbs


The verb of a sentence is called passive when the subject of that verb is undergoing an action instead of directly performing it. In such sentences, the entity receiving the action is given more importance than the entity performing it and is therefore placed at the beginning of the sentence. Commonly practiced sentence structure for such sentences is as follows:


Thing receiving an action + be + past participle + by + thing performing an action.

An example of a sentence with a passive verb can be "An apple was eaten by the girl".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Differing Choices Preview