Active and Passive Voice – Complete Notes
What is a Sentence?
A sentence is a group of words that makes complete sense. It has a subject and a verb, and often an object.
Example: She writes a letter.
What is Voice?
Voice shows whether the subject performs the action or receives the action. On the basis of form, there are two voices in English: Active Voice and Passive Voice.
Active Voice
In Active Voice, the subject performs the action.
Example:
The cow eats grass.
Here, “the cow” is the subject and it is doing the action.
Passive Voice
In Passive Voice, the subject receives the action.
Example:
Grass is eaten by the cow.
Here, “grass” becomes the subject and the action happens to it.
Basic Rules to Change Active into Passive
First, identify the object of the active sentence.
Second, make the object the subject of the passive sentence.
Third, use the correct form of be according to the tense.
Fourth, use the past participle (3rd form) of the verb.
Finally, use “by + subject” if required.
Object → Subject
Verb → be + 3rd form
Subject → by + object (optional)
Active and Passive Voice with Tenses
Simple Present Tense
Active form uses the base verb or verb + s/es.
Passive form uses is/am/are + 3rd form.
Example:
He lights the candle.
The candle is lighted by him.
He does not light the candle.
The candle is not lighted by him.
Do you eat meat?
Is meat eaten by you?
Present Continuous Tense
Passive form uses is/am/are + being + 3rd form.
Example:
I am driving a car.
A car is being driven by me.
I am not driving a car.
A car is not being driven by me.
Am I driving a car?
Is a car being driven by me?
Present Perfect Tense
Passive form uses has/have + been + 3rd form.
Example:
She has stolen my book.
My book has been stolen by her.
Has she stolen my book?
Has my book been stolen by her?
Simple Past Tense
Passive form uses was/were + 3rd form.
Example:
She finished the work.
The work was finished by her.
Did she finish the work?
Was the work finished by her?
Past Continuous Tense
Passive form uses was/were + being + 3rd form.
Example:
He was revising his books.
His books were being revised by him.
Past Perfect Tense
Passive form uses had + been + 3rd form.
Example:
I had completed the assignment.
The assignment had been completed by me.
Simple Future Tense
Passive form uses will/shall + be + 3rd form.
Example:
My uncle will pay my fees.
My fees will be paid by my uncle.
Future Perfect Tense
Passive form uses will/shall + have been + 3rd form.
Example:
We shall have done our homework.
Our homework shall have been done by us.
Important Note on Continuous Perfect Tenses
Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous and Future Perfect Continuous cannot normally be changed into passive voice.
Active and Passive Voice with Modals
In passive voice, modals are followed by be + 3rd form.
Example:
I can solve the sums.
The sums can be solved by me.
You must learn this lesson.
This lesson must be learnt by you.
They might play chess.
Chess might be played by them.
Students should follow rules.
Rules should be followed by students.
Passive Voice of Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences express order, request, advice or command.
Rule:
Use Let + object + be + 3rd form
For request or order, use You are requested to / ordered to
Examples:
Shut the door.
Let the door be shut.
Post the letter at once.
Let the letter be posted at once.
Do not starve the cow.
Let the cow not be starved.
Clean your room.
Let your room be cleaned.
Please help me.
You are requested to help me.
Get out of the room.
You are ordered to get out of the room.
When NOT to Use Passive Voice
If the object is missing, passive voice cannot be formed.
Example: He sleeps. (No passive form)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using wrong tense of “be”.
Forgetting the 3rd form of verb.
Using passive voice for intransitive verbs.
Worksheets – Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Change into Passive Voice
She writes a letter.
They are playing football.
He has completed the work.
The teacher punished the boy.
We will organize the function.
Exercise 2: Change into Active Voice
The song was sung by her.
The room is being cleaned by him.
The work has been finished by them.
The match will be won by our team.
The letter was posted by me.
Exercise 3: Identify the Voice
She is cooking food.
The food is being cooked.
The window was broken by the boy.
The baby is sleeping.
A prize was given to her.