Active And Passive Verbs

The queen was eating a jam sandwich.

The queen was eating a jam sandwich.

Can you tell me what is the subject in this sentence?

The queen was eating a jam sandwich.

The queen is the subject of this sentence.

The queen was eating a jam sandwich.

What is the verb in this sentence?

The queen was eating a jam sandwich.

The verb in this sentence is written in red.

This is an active sentence. The subject-the queen is actively

tucking into her jam sandwich!

But we could change the sentence around.

The jam sandwich was being eaten by the queen.

The jam sandwich was being eaten by the queen.

Which is the subject in this sentence?

The jam sandwich was being eaten by the queen.

The jam sandwich is the subject of this sentence.

The jam sandwich was being eaten by the queen.

What is the verb in this sentence?

The jam sandwich was being eaten by the queen.

The verb is written in red in this sentence.

The jam sandwich was being eaten by the queen.

This is a passive sentence. The subject-the jam sandwich- is ‘passively’ having something done to it. It is being eaten!

Perhaps this seems complicated!

But I bet you hear passive sentences all the time!

“This ruler got broken, Miss.”

Is this sentence active or passive?

Mark was eating an apple.

Mark was eating an apple.

That’s right! This sentence is active. Mark is actively eating the apple.

The picture was painted by Tom.

Is this sentence active or passive?

Well done! This sentence is passive.

The subject of the sentence is the picture. The picture is having

something done to it.

Now it is your turn!

See if you can work out which sentences are active and which

passive.