Active vs Passive Voice Examples: A Complete Classroom Lesson

ByDylan Callens

Active and Passive Voice Lesson: Teach active and passive voice as choices about which part of an action to emphasize. Students compare sentence patterns, revise examples in both directions, and explain why a writer might choose either form.

← All grammar lessons and worksheets

📘 Grammar Notes: Active vs. Passive Voice

Active Voice

The subject does the action.
Formula: Subject + Verb + Object
Example: The dog chased the ball.

Passive Voice

The subject receives the action.
Formula: Object + Form of “to be” + Past Participle (+ by Subject)
Example: The ball was chased by the dog.

Why Writers Use Active Voice

  • Clearer and more direct

  • Stronger and more engaging

  • Emphasizes who is doing the action

When Passive Voice Can Be Useful

  • When the doer of the action is unknown

  • When the doer doesn’t matter

  • When the writer wants to focus on the result

  • When writing scientific or formal texts

Quick Test: How to Identify Voice

  1. Find the main verb.

  2. Ask: Who is doing this action?

  3. If the doer is unclear, at the end of the sentence, or missing → passive.

  4. If the subject is clearly performing the action → active.

🤝 Practice Together

Underline the verb(s) and determine whether each sentence is active or passive.

  1. The cookies were baked by my grandmother.

  2. The team won the championship yesterday.

  3. The movie was filmed in New Zealand.

  4. The students completed their assignments early.

  5. The announcement was made this morning.

🔍 Answer Key (Practice Together)

  1. Passive

  2. Active

  3. Passive

  4. Active

  5. Passive

✏️ Student Worksheet/Quiz

Student Worksheet

Answer Key

Understanding the difference between active and passive voice gives students real power in their writing. They learn not only how to make sentences clearer and stronger, but also how to shift emphasis when needed—an essential skill for both academic and creative work. This lesson builds foundational grammar knowledge in a way that’s accessible, engaging, and immediately useful.

Back to the Grammar Lessons

Apply and Extend This Grammar Skill

Exit ticket: Rewrite “The report was reviewed by the class” in active voice, then compare what each version emphasizes.

Next lessons: simple past tense · sentence fragments. Explore the complete Grammar Lessons hub.

Plot Twist! interactive English classroom review game

A FREE CLASSROOM GAME FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Make your next English review a Plot Twist!

Bring some unexpected fun to your next lesson. Get a free game of Plot Twist!, the ultimate classroom review game, and discover fresh ideas for teaching English.

Subscribe for English teaching ideas and occasional resource updates, plus your free Plot Twist! game. You can unsubscribe from emails at any time.