Grade 8 English Notes: Active and Passive Voice (Rules, Examples and Exercises)

Grade 8 English · Theme 14 Sports · Sub-strand 14.3.1 Active and Passive Voice

These are free study notes for Grade 8 learners, written to the KICD curriculum design and taken from our full Grade 8 English notes. Rewriting sentences from active to passive is a classic exam question. The key is keeping the same tense: check the tense first, then change the verb.

A sentence can focus on who did something or on what was done. "Kipchoge won the marathon" focuses on the runner; "The marathon was won by Kipchoge" focuses on the race. In this topic we identify active and passive sentences and change one into the other.

Active and passive voice

When to use the passive

The passive is useful when the doer is unknown or unimportant: "The stadium was built in 1987." It is common in reports and news.

Transforming sentences

Passive to active

Reverse the steps: put the doer first, use the main verb in the right tense and put the receiver after it. "The ball was kicked by Wanjiku" becomes "Wanjiku kicked the ball."

Test yourself: multiple choice

1. Which sentence is in the passive voice?

   1. Kipchoge won the race.
   2. The race was won by Kipchoge.
   3. Kipchoge is running.
   4. Kipchoge trains daily.
   Show the answer

   B: The receiver comes first with be + past participle.

2. Change to passive: "The coach trains the athletes."

   1. The athletes are trained by the coach.
   2. The athletes were trained by the coach.
   3. The athletes train the coach.
   4. The coach is trained.
   Show the answer

   A: Present tense: are trained.

3. The passive of "The referee is checking the line" is

   1. The line was checked by the referee.
   2. The line checks the referee.
   3. The line has checked.
   4. The line is being checked by the referee.
   Show the answer

   D: Present continuous: is being checked.

4. When is the passive most useful?

   1. When the doer is very important
   2. Never
   3. When the doer is unknown or unimportant
   4. Only in questions
   Show the answer

   C: "The stadium was built in 1987."

5. Change to active: "The ball was kicked by Wanjiku."

   1. Wanjiku kicked the ball.
   2. Wanjiku kicks the ball.
   3. The ball kicked Wanjiku.
   4. Wanjiku was kicked.
   Show the answer

   A: Doer first, same tense.

Practice questions

1. Change to the passive: (a) Kip Keino won gold in 1968. (b) The fans painted the banner. (2 marks)

   Show the answer

   (a) Gold was won by Kip Keino in 1968. (b) The banner was painted by the fans.

2. Change to the active: (a) The trophy was lifted by the captain. (b) The match is being watched by millions. (2 marks)

   Show the answer

   (a) The captain lifted the trophy. (b) Millions are watching the match.

3. State the four steps for changing active to passive. (4 marks)

   Show the answer

   Move the receiver to the front; use the right form of "be" in the same tense; add the past participle; add "by" + doer if needed.

4. Write one sentence in the passive where the doer is not needed. (1 mark)

   Show the answer

   Example: "The new track was opened last year."