Active and Passive Voice

Understanding active and passive voice is important for students of all grades, whether they are in school or preparing for competitive exams. It is a key part of English grammar that helps us build a strong foundation in the language. This article will explain what active and passive voice are, their types, rules for converting them, and their use in different tenses.

What Is the Voice of a Verb?

The voice of a verb shows whether the subject in a sentence performs or receives the action. Let’s look at an example:

• Meera writes a letter.
• A letter is written by Meera.

In the first sentence, the subject Meera is doing the action of writing. The verb writes is in the active voice.

In the second sentence, the subject a letter is receiving the action. The verb is written is in the passive voice.

Types of Voice

There are two types of voice in English:

1. Active Voice
2. Passive Voice

Active Voice

A sentence is in the active voice when the subject does the action. The structure is:
Subject + Verb + Object

For example:

• The dog chases the cat.
• Ravi reads a book.
• The children play in the park.

In these sentences, the subject (dog, Ravi, children) performs the action.

Passive Voice

A sentence is in the passive voice when the subject receives the action. The structure is:
Object + Verb (past participle) + by Subject

For example:

• The cat is chased by the dog.
• A book is read by Ravi.
• The park is played in by the children.

In these sentences, the subject (cat, book, park) is not doing the action but is affected by it.

Rules for Changing Active Voice to Passive Voice

To change a sentence from active to passive voice, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object
Find the subject (doer), verb, and object (receiver) in the active sentence.

2. Switch the Subject and Object
The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

3. Change the Verb Form
Use the past participle (third form) of the verb in the passive voice.

4. Use “By” Before the Subject
Add by before the subject of the active sentence in the passive voice.

5. Change Pronouns If Necessary
Replace pronouns according to the table below:

6. Add Helping Verbs
Use the correct helping verb (is, am, are, was, were, etc.) based on the tense.

Active and Passive Voice in Different Tenses

Here’s how to form passive voice for different tenses:

Simple Present Tense

• Active: Subject + Verb + Object
• Passive: Object + is/am/are + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: The teacher checks the homework.
• Passive: The homework is checked by the teacher.

Present Continuous Tense

• Active: Subject + is/am/are + Verb + ing + Object
• Passive: Object + is/am/are + being + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: The chef is cooking the meal.
• Passive: The meal is being cooked by the chef.

Present Perfect Tense

• Active: Subject + has/have + past participle + Object
• Passive: Object + has/have + been + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: She has finished the project.
• Passive: The project has been finished by her.

Simple Past Tense

• Active: Subject + Verb (past tense) + Object
• Passive: Object + was/were + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: He painted the wall.
• Passive: The wall was painted by him.

Past Continuous Tense

• Active: Subject + was/were + Verb + ing + Object
• Passive: Object + was/were + being + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: They were planting trees.
• Passive: Trees were being planted by them.

Past Perfect Tense

• Active: Subject + had + past participle + Object
• Passive: Object + had been + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: She had written a letter.
• Passive: A letter had been written by her.

Simple Future Tense

• Active: Subject + will/shall + Verb + Object
• Passive: Object + will/shall + be + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: They will clean the house.
• Passive: The house will be cleaned by them.

Future Perfect Tense

• Active: Subject + will/shall + have + past participle + Object
• Passive: Object + will/shall + have been + past participle + by Subject

Example:

• Active: We will have completed the assignment.
• Passive: The assignment will have been completed by us.

Exceptions: No Passive Voice

Certain tenses cannot form passive voice:

• Present Perfect Continuous
• Past Perfect Continuous
• Future Perfect Continuous
• Future Continuous

These tenses focus on ongoing actions and do not fit the passive structure.

Examples of Active and Passive Voice

Here are more examples to understand active and passive voice:

Active Voice:

1. Rahul sings a song.
2. The children are playing football.
3. I wrote a story.
4. She has baked a cake.
5. They will complete the project.

Passive Voice:

1. A song is sung by Rahul.
2. Football is being played by the children.
3. A story was written by me.
4. A cake has been baked by her.
5. The project will be completed by them.

Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice

1. Use Active Voice for Simplicity:
   Active voice makes sentences clearer and more direct.
2. Use Passive Voice When Needed:
   Use passive voice when the focus is on the action or receiver.
3. Choose Based on Context:
   Decide whether you want to highlight the doer or the action.
4. Practice Regularly:
   Practice converting sentences to become comfortable with both voices.

By understanding and practicing active and passive voice, you can improve your grammar skills and write effectively.

Practice Exercises

Now that you know how active and passive voice work, try converting the following sentences:

1. The gardener waters the plants. (Change to passive voice)
2. The letters were delivered by the postman. (Change to active voice)
3. The manager will review the reports tomorrow. (Change to passive voice)
4. The students are solving the problems. (Change to passive voice)
5. A novel is being read by Sara. (Change to active voice)

Answers:

1. The plants are watered by the gardener.
2. The postman delivered the letters.
3. The reports will be reviewed by the manager tomorrow.
4. The problems are being solved by the students.
5. Sara is reading a novel.