Worksheet 2: Advanced Voice Usage
Challenge yourself with exercises on choosing the appropriate voice for different writing contexts. Click below to print or save as a PDF.
Worksheet 2: Advanced Voice Usage
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
1. Choose the Better Sentence
For each pair, circle the sentence that is more effective for the given context.
Context: A scientific report about an experiment.
- a) We heated the solution to 100 degrees Celsius.
- b) The solution was heated to 100 degrees Celsius.
Context: An exciting action novel.
- a) The hero vanquished the villain.
- b) The villain was vanquished by the hero.
Context: A politician trying to avoid blame.
- a) I made a mistake.
- b) A mistake was made.
2. Rewriting for Clarity and Impact
Rewrite the following passive sentences in the active voice to make them more direct and engaging.
Original: The decision was made by the committee to approve the budget.
Original: The reason the project was delayed is that the necessary materials were not delivered on time by the supplier.
Original: A great time was had by all.
3. Creative Writing
Write a short paragraph (2-3 sentences) about a historical event from a neutral, encyclopedic perspective (hint: use the passive voice). Then, rewrite the same paragraph from the perspective of a person who participated, making it more personal and direct (hint: use the active voice).
Passive (Neutral Report):
Active (Personal Account):