Free Year 9 Active and Passive Voice Worksheet
Students learn that in the active voice the subject does the action (the council approved the plan) while in the passive the subject receives it (the plan was approved by the council). They identify voice, convert sentences in both directions, and judge when the passive is the better choice: when the doer is unknown, unimportant or deliberately hidden, and in scientific writing. Controlling voice gives students a precise tool for emphasis and tone.
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- Year
- Year 9
- Subject
- English
- Topic
- Sentences & Clauses
- Difficulty
- Level 2 · Standard
- Estimated time
- 20 minutes
- Curriculum
- New Zealand Curriculum
- Questions
- 17
- Answers
- Included, with working
- Format
- PDF (A4) + print
Students will practise
- identifying active and passive voice
- converting active sentences to passive
- converting passive sentences to active
- judging when the passive voice is appropriate
Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
What's next?
Completed: Active and Passive Voice
Ready for more? Move on to Year 10 English.
How to use this worksheet
- Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
- Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
- Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
- Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.
Common questions
Who is this worksheet for?
Year 9 students (typically ages 13–14) working on sentences & clauses. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.
Are the answers included?
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
How long does it take?
About 20 minutes for 17 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
Do I need to sign up to download?
No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
What should we do next?
Explore more Year 9 english resources.
Preview
Year 9 · English · Sentences & Clauses
Active and Passive Voice
Student name:
Date:
Score: /
Active: the subject acts. Passive: the subject is acted upon. Choose deliberately.
Part A — Active or passive?
In the active voice, the subject does the action. In the passive voice, the subject has the action done to it (look for a form of *be* + past participle, often followed by *by*). Circle the voice.
- Aactive
- Bpassive
- Aactive
- Bpassive
- Aactive
- Bpassive
- Aactive
- Bpassive
- Aactive
- Bpassive
- Aactive
- Bpassive
Part B — Convert
Rewrite each sentence in the other voice. Keep the same tense.
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
Sentences & Clauses in other year levels
- Sentence Editing: Fragments, Run-ons and Variety
Worksheet · Year 8 · Sentences & Clauses · Level 2 · Standard
- Sentence Variety and Cohesion
Worksheet · Year 10 · Sentences & Clauses · Level 2 · Standard
- Clauses and Sentence Editing
Worksheet · Year 7 · Sentences & Clauses · Level 2 · Standard
- Editing for Clarity and Concision
Worksheet · Year 11 · Sentences & Clauses · Level 3 · Challenge
About this resource
- Created by
- Success Tutoring
- Last reviewed
- 1 October 2026
- How it was made
- Written by our team
Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.