PASSIVE VOICE (SIMPLE PRESENT) EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
✓ Useful for TOEIC
The passive voice in the simple present uses the structure am/is/are + past participle. It shifts focus from who does the action to what receives it. This is especially useful when the agent (the person doing the action) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context. This is exercise 1 of 2 in this series.
Grammar review
The passive voice (simple present) — structure and purpose
In the active voice, the subject performs the action. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action. The focus shifts from who does it to what happens.
Structure: am / is / are + past participle
• Singular subjects → is + past participle
• Plural subjects → are + past participle
• I → am + past participle
Examples:
Active: The chef cooks the meal every day.
Passive: The meal is cooked every day.
Active: People speak English all over the world.
Passive: English is spoken all over the world.
When do we use the passive?
• When the doer of the action is unknown: “The windows are cleaned twice a week.”
• When the doer is obvious or unimportant: “The cars are washed every morning.”
• In formal or scientific writing, to sound more objective.
• When the receiver of the action is more important than the doer.
Adding the agent (by + noun):
If you want to mention who performs the action, add by + noun at the end:
“The report is written by the manager.”
In the active voice, the subject performs the action. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action. The focus shifts from who does it to what happens.
Structure: am / is / are + past participle
• Singular subjects → is + past participle
• Plural subjects → are + past participle
• I → am + past participle
Examples:
Active: The chef cooks the meal every day.
Passive: The meal is cooked every day.
Active: People speak English all over the world.
Passive: English is spoken all over the world.
When do we use the passive?
• When the doer of the action is unknown: “The windows are cleaned twice a week.”
• When the doer is obvious or unimportant: “The cars are washed every morning.”
• In formal or scientific writing, to sound more objective.
• When the receiver of the action is more important than the doer.
Adding the agent (by + noun):
If you want to mention who performs the action, add by + noun at the end:
“The report is written by the manager.”
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PASSIVE VOICE EXERCISES:
Passive voice (simple present) 1 (I)
Passive voice (simple present) 2 (I)
Passive voice (simple past) 1 (B/I)
Passive voice (mixed) 1 (B)
Passive voice (mixed) 2 (I)
Passive voice (mixed) 3 (I)
Causative form (passive) 1 (B/I)
Causative form (passive) 2 (B/I)
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Passive voice (simple present) 1 (I)
Passive voice (simple present) 2 (I)
Passive voice (simple past) 1 (B/I)
Passive voice (mixed) 1 (B)
Passive voice (mixed) 2 (I)
Passive voice (mixed) 3 (I)
Causative form (passive) 1 (B/I)
Causative form (passive) 2 (B/I)
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