Passive voice – Grammar Game for ESL

Practice using the passive voice in English with this grammar game. Click the play button to begin.

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Passive voice – In English, sentences can be written in the active voice or the passive voice. When a sentence is in the active voice, the subject is performing the action. However, in the passive voice the subject is being acted by the verb and the subject comes after the action.

The following examples help illustrate the difference:

Active Voice: Tom wrote the book.
Passive Voice: The book was written by Tom.

In the above examples, the passive voice takes control away from the subject (Tom) and gives it to the object (the book). While it is generally advisable to write in the active voice in English, the passive voice has multiple functions in the English language.

It can be useful when we to place focus on the object, not the subject.
When we do not know who performed the action, or do not want to say who, we use the passive voice. For example – A new teacher was assigned.
The passive voice can make sentences sound more formal and less personal. For example – A decision has been taken to expel you.