Active or passive?
Notice whether the subject performs or receives the action.
For parents and teachers
About this game
The selected pairs keep the event while changing how it is presented. In the active version, the subject performs the action; in the passive version, the subject receives it. Not every sentence containing was is passive: The door was open may describe a state. The examples here use clear actions. Discuss why a writer might change the focus, and retain a clear meaning when rewriting.
Active and passive voice are not a Grade 5 Common Core standard. This Grade 5 game is enrichment practice, not a standards claim.
Suggested for ages 10–11. Grade 5 is a starting point, not a rule for every class.
How to play
Read each sentence and sort it into the group that fits the named grammatical feature. Play the rounds without a timer; a mistaken card can be tried again.
Step by step
- Read. Read the card, sentence or story clue all the way through.
- Choose. Use the meaning, not a guess from the first word.
- Talk. After the round, explain one choice out loud.
Worked examples
Use the first item as a model. Read it aloud, name the clue that decides the answer, then choose. The same steps work for the next item.
Common mistakes
Choosing too quickly. Slow down and use the whole sentence or clue. A familiar word can still be the wrong choice.
At home
Play one round together, then let the learner try the next round. Ask which words decided the answer.
In class
Use one round as a warm-up. Invite a learner to explain a choice before the next card.
Printable
This on-screen game does not include a worksheet. Practice the same idea with paper and a pencil, using an example from the guide.
Questions
Does this cover a whole standard?
No. This is enrichment practice, and it does not claim a Common Core standard.