Active and Passive Voice Quiz

APRIL 21, 2017 - pdf

We use active voice when the subject performs the action. We use the passive voice when we don’t
want to say who performs the action.

Test your understanding of active and passive verb forms with this interactive grammar exercise.

1. His command .................................

promptly obeyed

was promptly obeyed

has promptly obeyed

Correct !

We use the passive voice when we want to talk about an action, but are not interested in saying
who/what does/did it.

2. That portrait ................................. by my grandmother.

painted

has painted

was painted

Correct !

Passive voice is used when the subject is not the doer of the action.

3. They .................................... to the party.

have invited

have been invited

have been inviting

Correct !

We use the passive voice, when the subject is not the doer of the action.

4. You ............................... when the time comes.

will be told

told

will told

Correct !

5. Everybody ............................ with me.

agrees

is agrees

is agreed

Correct !

Active voice is used when the subject is the doer of the action.

6. I was very ................................ in the lesson.

interest

interesting

interested

Correct !

7. The dog ............................... the man.

bit

was bit

was bitten
Correct !

Use the active voice when the subject performs the action.

8. He ............................ a very remarkable discovery.

is made

made

was made

Correct !

The active voice is used when the subject performs the action mentioned in the sentence.

9. The accused ........................... to a tree.

bind

bound

was bound

Correct !

The accused did not perform the action. Something was done to him so we need a passive voice here.

10. She ................................ the first prize in the competition.

won

has won

was won

Correct !

Since there is no time reference, both simple past and present perfect tense are possible here.

11. The ocean .................................... dry.

cannot pump

cannot be pumped

cannot have pumped

Correct !

The ocean does not perform any action here so a passive verb is required.

12. I ..................................... to leave the room.

told

have told

was told

Correct !

When the verb 'tell' is used in the active voice, it is followed by an object. Since there is no object in this
sentence, it is evident that the structure is passive.

Answers

1. His command was promptly obeyed.

2. That portrait was painted by my grandmother.

3. They have been invited to the party.

4. You will be told when the time comes.

5. Everybody agrees with me.

6. I was very interested in the lesson.

7. The dog bit the man.

8. He made a very remarkable discovery.

9. The accused was bound to a tree.

10. She won / has won the first prize in the competition.

11. The ocean cannot be pumped dry.

12. I was told to leave the room.

Select the modal form that best completes the sentence and the context.

Select your response.

Review your correct and incorrect responses by clicking the "submit" button.

(Answers will open in a new page. Turn off your pop-up blocker.)

1.Before this year, I __________ move out of my parents' house because I did not have a job.a. may
notb. cannot c. should notd. could note. shall not2.But now that I have finished college and have a job, I
realize that living at home _____ drive my parents and me crazy. (potentially)a. could b. would c. should
d. would have e. should have 3.Unfortunately, it's not so easy to find to find an apartment in the city.
Without an agent, you _____ not be able to find all the available listings. (possibility)a. ought to b. must
c. should d. might e. can 4.Before now, I couldn't sign a lease, but now I _____ because I am twenty-one.
a. able b. can c. can able d. can do e. sign 5.I asked my friends to help me move because I knew that I
_____ fit all my possessions into my little car. (inability)a. can't be able to b. not able to c. don't be able
tod. couldn't e. couldn't be able to 6.My best friend said, " I _____ help you move next week." (an offer)
a. able to b. would be able to c. be able tod. must be able toe. will be able to 7.He added, " I _____ help
earlier in the morning than later in the afternoon." (preference)a. would better b. would like c. would
have d. would rather e. would 8.My father also offered to help me move. He __________ be really eager
to have me move out! (conclusion) a. must b. will c. can d. ought to e. have to 9.Another friend told me
that he ______ me move, but he never showed up. a. would help b. would have helped c. will help d.
would helped e. will have helped 10.With the help of three friends, I ___ get all my possessions into the
new condo. ("managed to")a. am able to b. can c. could d. was able to e. could have 11.My parents are
happy for me, but warned, "You _____ spend all your money each month. Save a little extra money for
unexpected emergencies." a. mustn't b. don't have to c. must not have d. aren't able to e. would not
12.I know that everyone _______ save a little extra money, but it is hard with so many bills to pay.
(customary, expected behavior)a. must b. is supposed to c. has to d. was able to e. could have 13.I made
a few purchases. The first thing that I _____ was furniture. (requirement) a. must have b. had to have c.
must have had d. have to have e. would have had 14.I _____ on the wood floor, but it was too hard, so I
bought a sofa-bed. (option not taken)a. could sleepb. couldn't sleep c. could have slept d. could of
slepte. couldn't have slept 15.It _____ about a year until I am able to completely furnish my apartment.
(prediction)a. must takeb. will take c. would take d. will have takene. must have taken

Modal Quiz

Number correct: 8

Number incorrect: 8

1. Before this year, I _____ move out of my parents’ house because I did not have a job.

a. may not

b. cannot

c. should not

d. could not

e. shall not

Answer: d. could not

Reason: "Could not" expresses a past inability to do something, a financial inability in this case.

2. But now that I have finished college and have a job, I realize that living at home _____ drive my
parents and me crazy. (potentially)

a. could
b. would

c. should

d. would have

e. should have

3. Unfortunately, it's not so easy to find to find an apartment in the city. Without an agent, you _____
not be able to find all the available listings.

a. ought to

b. must

c. should

d. might

e. can

Answer: d. might

Reason: "Might" expresses possibility in the present and future.

4. Before now, I coudn’t sign a lease, but now I _____ because I am twenty-one.

a. able

b. can

c. can able

d. can do

e. speak

5. I asked my friends to help me move because I knew that I _____ fit all my possessions into my little
car.
a. can't be able to

b. not able to

c. don't be able to

d. couldn't

e. couldn't be able to

Answer: d. couldn't

Reason: Both "can" or "could" express ability. However, if the verb tense in the main clause is past ("I
knew"), we backshift the verb tense ("can’t" to "couldn’t") in the subordinated clause.

6. My best friend said, "I _____ help you move next week."

a. able to

b. would be able to

c. be able to

d. must be able to

e. will be able to

7. He added, "I _____ help earlier in the morning than later in the afternoon." (preference)

a. would better

b. would like

c. would have

d. would rather

e. would

Answer: d. would rather

Reason: "Would rather" expresses preference (e.g., "I'd rather do X than Y).

8. My father also offered to help me move. He __________ be really eager to have me move out!
(conclusion)

a. must

b. will

c. can

d. ought to

e. have to

9. Another friend told me that he _________ me move, but he never showed up.

a. would help

b. would have helped

c. will help

d. would helped

e. will have helped

Answer: a. would help

Reason: Both "will" or "would" express a future prediction. However, if the verb tense in the main clause
is past ("He told me"), we backshift the verb tense ("will" to "would") in the subordinated clause. → He
told me that he would help.

10. With the help of three friends, I ___ get all my possessions into the new condo. (managed to).

a. can

b. could
c. am able to

d. was able to

e. could have

11. My parents are happy for me, but warned, "You _____ spend all your money each month. Save a
little extra money for unexpected emergencies."

a. mustn't

b. don't have to

c. must not have

d. aren't able to

e. would not

12. I know that everyone _______ save a little extra money, but it is hard with so many bills to pay.

a. must

b. is supposed to

c. has to

d. was able to

e. could have

13. I made a few purchases. The first thing that I _____ was furniture.

a. must have

b. had to have

c. must have had

d. have to have

e. would have
Answer: b. had to have

Reason: Because the modal "must" has no past tense form, we switch to the expression "had to" to
express a past obligation or requirement.

14. I _____ on the wood floor, but it was too hard, so I bought a sofa-bed.

a. could sleep

b. couldn't sleep

c. could have slept

d. could of slept

e. couldn't have slept

Answer: c. could have slept

Reason: When discussing past options or opportunities that we didn't take or do, we use the modal
expression "could have" (e.g., I could have gone early, but I didn't. (It was a lost opportunity.)

15. It _____ about a year until I am able to completely furnish my apartment.

a. must take

b. will take

c. would take

d. will have taken

e. must have taken

16. By this time next year, I _____ a lot about living independently.

a. must learn
b. will learn

c. would learn

d. will have learned

e. must have learned

Answer: d. will have learned

Reason: We use "will have" to express a prediction about an activity whose completion is relative to
another future acitivity or time. (e.g., By next year, you will have begun your studies abroad.)

1.

How is this following sentence in DIRECT speech incorrect? john said, "How are you today?'

A.

Missing capital letters inside inverted comma

B.

Missing commas

C.

Missing inverted cimmas

D.

Missing capital letters outside inverted commas

2.

What punctuation mark needs to be added to the following sentence in DIRECT speech James asked "Are
you coming to my house today?"

A.
.

B.

C.

D.

3.

Find the correct sentence in INDIRECT speech which matches to this sentence in DIRECT speech Mary
asks, "Are you ok, Harry?"

Discuss

A.

Mary asked if harry was ok?

B.

Mary asks if Harry was ok.

C.

Mary asks Harry if he was ok.

D.

Mary told Harry he was ok.

4.

Which of the following sentences are the correct form of INDIRECT speech if the sentence below is in
DIRECT speech. Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today."

Discuss

A.

Kelly says that she is feeling sick today.

B.
Kelly said that she was feeling sick that day.

C.

Kelly says that today she is feeling sick.

D.

Kelly is feeling sick today.

5.

Which is the correct sentence in DIRECT speech if using the INDIRECT sentence that follows as a guild.
The teacher ordered the children to do their homework.

Discuss

A.

The teacher asked, "Children, do your homework!"

B.

The teacher ordered, Children, do your homework!

C.

The teacher ordered, "Children, do your homework!"

D.

The teacher ordered "Children, do your homework!"

6.

Which of the following sentences are the wrong form of DIRECT speech.

Discuss

A.

Sarah said, "My family and I are going to the flea market today."

B.

Nabilah asked, "Can I go with Sarah to the flea market today?"

C.

Charlotte said, "I dont want to go to the flea market today."

D.

Chloe said, "what is the flea market?"

7.

Spoken words sometimes come first. Which of these sentences in DIRECT speech are incorrect?

Discuss

A.

"how long until half-time?" asked an excited spectator.

B.

"You people are hopless!" shouted the coach.

C.

"Work harder while saving goals!" screamed a frustrated fan.

D.

"When will this match be over? asked a bored spectator.

1. D

2. D

3. C

4. B

5. C

6. D

7. D
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 - pdf

Change the following into indirect speech.

1. The girl said that it ..................................... her great pleasure to be there that evening.

gives

gave

would give

Wrong !

2. The man ........................................... that he must go as soon as possible.

said

asked

told

Correct !

3. She said that she ........................................... to see any of them and asked them to go away.

did not want

does not want

had not wanted

Correct !

4. The teacher says that if you work hard you .....................................

will pass

would pass

Correct !

5. He said that he ..........................................

won

has won

had won

Wrong !

6. He proposed that they ....................................... wait for her return.

shall

will

should

Correct !

7. Alice exclaimed how clever .........................................

was she

she was

Correct !

8. The young man asked which way she ........................................

has gone

had gone

would go

Wrong !

9. He asked me where .................................... going.

I was

was I

I am

Correct !

10. She requested them to wait there till she ...................................

returns
returned

will return

Wrong !

Answers

1. The girl said that it gave her great pleasure to be there that evening.

2. The man said that he must go as soon as possible.

3. She said that she did not want to see any of them and asked them to go away.

4. The teacher says that if you work hard you will pass.

5. He said that he had won.

6. He proposed that they should wait for her return.

7. Alice exclaimed how clever she was.

8. The young man asked which way she had gone.

9. He asked me where I was going.

10. She requested them to wait there till she returned.

Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today."

Kelly said, "I am feeling sick today?

Question 2 45 seconds

Q. 2. What is missing in the sentence that follows? James asked "Are you coming to my house today?"

answer choices

!?,.

Question 3 45 seconds

Q. 3. Which of the following sentences is correct?

answer choices

Mai said, "My family is going to the market today.""We want candy!" The children shouted."I told you
not to go there." My father said.Chloe asked, "where is my timetable?"

Question 4 45 seconds

Q. 4. Which of these is correct?

answer choices

"Could you help me carry these bags?" He asked."Could you help me carry these bags?" he asked."Could
you help me carry these bags" he asked?"Could you help me carry these bags," he asked?

Question 5 45 seconds

Q. 5. Which of these is correct?

answer choices

Jamal said, “We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa".Jamal said, We passed by a beautiful lake in
Goa.Jamal said, “We passed by a beautiful lake in Goa.”Jamal said, “we passed by a beautiful lake in
Goa.”

Question 6 45 seconds

Q. 6. What's missing from this sentence? He said, “be quiet, please, and listen to my words.”

answer choices

Quotation marks

A capital letterAn exclamation markA question mark

Question 7 45 seconds

Q. 7. Which is correct?

answer choices

He said, “Could you please repeat the question"?He said, Could you please repeat the question?”He
said, "could you please repeat the question?”He said, “Could you please repeat the question?”

Question 8 45 seconds

Q. 8.What's wrong with this sentence? I said to him, “Why are you working so hard”?

answer choices

"Why" should be lowercasedThere should not be a comma before the spoken words begin.There should
be a full-stop after "hard".The question mark should be eN closed by quotation marks.

Question 9 45 seconds

Q. 9. What needs to be corrected? Kiran asked, "did you see the match on television last night"

answer choices

add a question mark at the end.capitalize did and add a question mark after night.capitalize did and add
an exclamation mark at the end.capitalise "did" and add a question mark at the end.

Question 10 45 seconds

Q. 10. Which of these is correct?

answer choices

"We lost our keys last night", my parents said."We lost our keys last night," my parents said.

"We lost our keys last night", My parents said."We lost our keys last night." My parents said.

Question 1 30 seconds

Q. She said, "I'll go shopping."

answer choices
She said she will go shopping.

She said she should go shopping.

She said she would go shopping. Correct

She said I will go shopping.

Question 2 30 seconds

Q. She said to me, "What is your name?"

answer choices

She asked me what my name was. Correct

She said to me what was my name.

She asked me what was my name.

She said to me what my name was.

Question 3 30 seconds

Q. He said , "Get out of my house immediately."

answer choices

He told me to get out of his house immediately. Correct

He told me that I get out of his house immediately.

He told me to get out of my house immediately.

He said that I got out of his house immediately.

Question 4 30 seconds

Q. "Do you want to buy anything?" She asked him.

answer choices

She asked him did he want to buy anything.

She asked him that did he want to buy anything.

She asked him if did he want to buy anything.

She asked him if he wanted to buy anything. Correct

Question 5 30 seconds

Q. "I've broken your glass," Tim said to me.

answer choices

Tim told me that he had broken my glass. Correct

Tim said to me that I have broken your glass.

Tim said to me that he has broken my glass.

Tim told me that he has broken my glass.

Question 6 30 seconds

Q. Wipa said to him, "I want you to return my book now."

answer choices

Wipa said to him that I wanted him to return my book now."

Wipa told him that she wanted him to return her book now.

Wipa said to him that she wants him to return her book then.

Wipa told him that she wanted him to return her book then. Correct

Question 7 30 seconds

Q. Bill said to Helen, "Please give this book to your sister today."

answer choices

Bill said to Helen that she gives this book to your sister today.

Bill told Helen that she would give that book to her sister today.

Bill asked Helen to give that book to her sister that day. Correct

Bill told Helen to give that book to your sister that day.

Question 8 30 seconds

Q. "I saw your father yesterday," he said to me.

answer choices

He said to me that he saw my father the day before.

He said to me that he had seen my father yesterday.

He told me that he had seen my father the previous day. Correct

He told me that he saw your father the previous day

Question 9 30 seconds

Q. "What are you doing?" the policeman said to me.

answer choices

The policeman asked if what I was doing.

The policeman asked what I was doing. Correct

The policeman asked me what I was doing.

The policeman said to me what I was doing.

Question 10 30 seconds

Q. They said to me, "Do you like our house?"

answer choices

They said to me if I like their house.

They said to me if I liked our house.

They asked me if I like our house.

They asked me if I liked their house. Correct