The Use of Active and Passive Voice with Example – JSS1 English Lesson Note (Third Term)

In an active sentence, the subject does the action, as in “Mary kept her schedule meticulously”. In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action, as in “Mary’s schedule was kept meticulously”. The passive verb is made with a form of “be” followed by the past participle. The table below shows this with the verb “keep”.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain the difference between active and passive voice;
• identify the active and passive verb forms of “keep” in five tenses;
• change active sentences to passive sentences using the correct tense;
• rewrite given active sentences in the passive voice.

How are active and passive voice formed with the verb “keep”?

In each passive verb form, a form of “be” comes before “kept”. The tense of the sentence stays the same when it changes from active to passive.

Evaluation

Mixed exercise on passive voice. Rewrite the sentences in the passive voice.

1. John collects money.
2. Anna opened the window.
3. We have done our homework.
4. I will ask a question.
5. He can cut out the picture.
6. The sheep ate a lot.
7. We do not clean our rooms.
8. William will not repair the car.
9. Did Sue draw this circle?
10. Could you feed the dog?