Download Communication: Practice Identifying Active and Passive Voice

Communication: Practice Identifying Active and Passive
Voice (CCEC27)
The learner will identify active and passive voice.
Author - Elizabeth Jones
Question 1:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
James prepared the circuit board before sending it to the assembly team.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Active voice
Feedback:
First, identify the action word in the sentence. In this example, the action word is "prepared."
James prepared the circuit board before sending it to the assembly team.
Second, ask yourself, "Who or what did the action?" In this example, James did the action.
James prepared the circuit board before sending it to the assembly team.
If you learn who or what did the action before you get to the action word in the sentence, the
sentence is written in active voice.
If you don't learn who or what did the action before you get to the action word, the sentence is
written in passive voice.
In this case, we learn who or what did the action (James) before the action word (prepared), so
the sentence is written in active voice.
Question 2:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
The conveyor was tested by the assembly team to make sure it was operating properly.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Passive voice
Feedback:
First, identify the action word in the sentence. In this example, the action word is "tested."
The conveyor was tested by the assembly team to make sure it was operating properly.
Second, ask yourself, "Who or what did the action?" In this example, the assembly team did the
action.
The conveyor was tested by the assembly team to make sure it was operating properly.
If you learn who or what did the action before you get to the action word in the sentence, the
sentence is written in active voice.
If you don't learn who or what did the action before you get to the action word, the sentence is
written in passive voice.
In this case, we learn who or what did the action (the assembly team) after the action word
(tested), so the sentence is written in passive voice.
Question 3:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
The assembly team records the inventory check results in the daily logs.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Active voice
Feedback:
First, identify the action word in the sentence. In this example, the action word is "records."
The assembly team records the inventory check results in the daily logs.
Second, ask yourself, "Who or what does the action?" In this example, the assembly team does
the action.
The assembly team records the inventory check results in the daily logs.
In this case, we learn who or what does the action (the assembly team) before the action word
(records), so the sentence is written in active voice.
Question 4:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
The circuit board goes through a rigorous inspection before moving to the packaging area.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Active voice
Feedback:
Identify the action word. In this example, the action word is "goes."
The circuit board goes through a rigorous inspection before moving to the packaging area.
Who or what "goes?" The circuit board.
The circuit board goes through a rigorous inspection before moving to the packaging area.
In this case, we learn who or what did the action (the circuit board) before the action word
(goes), so we determine that the sentence is written in active voice.
Question 5:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
Procedures were developed to streamline the supply chain process.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Passive voice
Feedback:
Identify the action word. In this example, the action word is "developed."
Procedures were developed to streamline the supply chain process.
Who or what developed the procedures? We don't know. The sentence does not contain that
information.
Because we do not learn who or what did the action before the action word, we can determine
that the sentence is written in passive voice.
Question 6:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
An audit was conducted to determine the cause of the errors.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Passive voice
Feedback:
Identify the action word. In this example, the action word is "conducted."
An audit was conducted to determine the cause of the errors.
Who or what conducted the audit? We don't know. The sentence does not contain that
information.
Because we do not learn who or what did the action before the action word, we can determine
that the sentence is written in passive voice.
Question 7:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
The error was discovered by the quality review team and corrected the next morning.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Passive voice
Feedback:
Identify the action word. In this example, the action word is "conducted."
The error was discovered by the quality review team and corrected the next morning.
Who or what discovered the error? The quality review team.
The error was discovered by the quality review team and corrected the next morning.
Because we do not learn who or what did the action before the action word, we can determine
that the sentence is written in passive voice.
Question 8:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
The quality review team filed its report and provided a summary for the supervisor.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Active voice
Feedback:
Identify the action word. In this example, there are two action words: "filed" and "provided."
The quality review team filed its report and provided a summary for the supervisor.
Who or what "filed" and "provided?" The quality review team.
The quality review team filed its report and provided a summary for the supervisor.
In this case, we learn who or what did the action (the quality review team) before the first action
word (filed), so we determine that the sentence is written in active voice.
Question 9:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
Safety overviews will be presented during all staff meetings this month.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Passive voice
Feedback:
Identify the action word. In this example, the action word is "presented" (or "will be presented").
Safety overviews will be presented during all staff meetings this month.
Who or what will present the safety overviews? We don't know. The sentence does not contain
that information.
Because we do not learn who or what did (or will do) the action before the action word, we can
determine that the sentence is written in passive voice.
Question 10:
Is the following sentence written in active or passive voice?
Lean manufacturing processes have been considered essential for improving both productivity
and customer satisfaction.
Answer 1:
Active voice
Answer 2:
Passive voice
Correct Answer:
Passive voice
Feedback:
Identify the action word. In this example, the action word is "considered."
Lean manufacturing processes have been considered essential for improving both productivity
and customer satisfaction.
Who or what "considered?" We don't know. The sentence does not contain that information.
Because we do not learn who or what did (or will do) the action before the action word, we can
determine that the sentence is written in passive voice.
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