ENGLISH PASSIVE VOICE EXERCISE 2 (Mixed tenses)
B1–B2 · IntermediateUseful for:✓ IELTS✓ TOEIC
This second passive voice exercise is a step up from exercise 1. Several questions feature tenses that are easily confused, such as the past simple vs. past continuous passive and the present perfect passive. Start with exercise 1 if you haven't already.
Rewrite each active sentence in the passive voice.
Example: Anna is grading the essays. → The essays are being graded by Anna.
1. They were interviewing her for the job.
She ________ for the job.
She ________ for the job.
Correct answer: was being interviewed — active: were interviewing = past continuous → passive: was being interviewed.
2. Tom is writing the letter.
The letter ________ by Tom.
The letter ________ by Tom.
Correct answer: is being written — active: is writing = present continuous → passive: is being written.
3. Everyone understands English.
English ________ by everyone.
English ________ by everyone.
Correct answer: is understood — active: understands = present simple → passive: is understood.
4. The employees brought up this issue during the meeting.
This issue ________ by the employees during the meeting.
This issue ________ by the employees during the meeting.
Correct answer: was brought up — active: brought up = past simple → passive: was brought up.
5. The professor told him not to talk in class.
He ________ by the professor not to talk in class.
He ________ by the professor not to talk in class.
Correct answer: was told — active: told = past simple → passive: was told.
6. They say that women are smarter than men.
Women ________ to be smarter than men.
Women ________ to be smarter than men.
Correct answer: are said — general truths use present simple passive — are said to be = it is generally believed.
7. The fire has destroyed the house.
The house ________ by the fire.
The house ________ by the fire.
Correct answer: has been destroyed — active: has destroyed = present perfect → passive: has been destroyed.
8. She would have told you.
You ________ by her.
You ________ by her.
Correct answer: would have been told — active: would have told = conditional perfect → passive: would have been told.
9. She would reject the offer.
The offer ________ by her.
The offer ________ by her.
Correct answer: would be rejected — active: would reject = conditional → passive: would be rejected.
10. This surprises me.
I ________ by this.
I ________ by this.
Correct answer: am surprised — active: surprises = present simple → passive: am surprised.
Next exercise: Passive Voice — Mixed – Exercise 3 →
DID YOU KNOW? The passive voice in IELTS Writing
The passive voice is specifically mentioned in the IELTS Writing band descriptors under Grammatical Range and Accuracy, which accounts for 25% of your writing score. Examiners at Band 7 and above expect to see a variety of complex structures — and the passive is one of the clearest signals of grammatical range.
In IELTS Academic Task 1 (describing charts, graphs, and diagrams), the passive is almost essential: "A steady increase was recorded...", "The figures are represented by...", "Sales were projected to rise..." — these structures sound natural and academic in a way that active alternatives often don't.
In Task 2 (essay writing), using the passive correctly and confidently — especially reporting verb passives like "it is argued that..." or "it has been suggested that..." — is a reliable way to demonstrate the grammatical range examiners are looking for at Band 7+.
The passive voice is specifically mentioned in the IELTS Writing band descriptors under Grammatical Range and Accuracy, which accounts for 25% of your writing score. Examiners at Band 7 and above expect to see a variety of complex structures — and the passive is one of the clearest signals of grammatical range.
In IELTS Academic Task 1 (describing charts, graphs, and diagrams), the passive is almost essential: "A steady increase was recorded...", "The figures are represented by...", "Sales were projected to rise..." — these structures sound natural and academic in a way that active alternatives often don't.
In Task 2 (essay writing), using the passive correctly and confidently — especially reporting verb passives like "it is argued that..." or "it has been suggested that..." — is a reliable way to demonstrate the grammatical range examiners are looking for at Band 7+.
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