Active Voice & Passive Voice

Definition of Voice –

A form of verb that tells us whether the Action is done by subject itself or it faces the result of action done by others. Sometime Action is done by the Subject directly and other times indirectly.

e.g.

He takes tea. ( The action of taking tea is being done by the subject” He” directly).

Tea is taken by him. ( The action of taking tea is being done by the same subject indirectly ).

There two type of voice – Active and Passive.

In Active Voice, the verb agrees the subject. It means the subject is active.

In Passive Voice, the verb agrees the object. It means the subject is passive.

Some Common Rules for Active and Passive Voice –

1. Subject is changed in to Passive Voice and vice versa.
2. Pronouns get changed when they change their positions in the following way –

I ↔ Me We ↔ Us You ↔ You He ↔ Him She ↔ Her It ↔ It They ↔ Them

1.  Only Verb III is used in Passive Constructions.

Active and Passive Voice Related with Tense –

Present Indefinite –

• Active Voice – Sub + V1+ s/es + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + is/am/are/ V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

She helps the poor.

The poor are helped by her.

Past Indefinite Tense –

• Active Voice – Sub + V2 + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + was/were + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

They played football in the evening.

Football was played by them in the evening.

Future Indefinite –

• Active Voice – Sub + will/shall + V1 + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + will/shall + be + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

We will take lunch now.

Lunch shall be taken by us now.

Present Continuous –

• Active Voice – Sub + is/am/are + V1+ ing + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + is/am/are + being + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

She is singing a beautiful song this time.

A beautiful song is being sung by her this time.

Voice of Past Continuous Tense –

• Active Voice – Sub + was/were + V1+ ing + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + was/were + being + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

The teacher was reading newspaper.

Newspaper was being read by the teacher.

Future Continuous –

• Active Voice – Sub + will/shall + be + V1+ ing + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + will/shall + be + being + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

They will be playing chess this time.

Chess will be being played by them this time.

Present Perfect –

• Active Voice – Sub + has/have + V3 + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + has/have + been + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

Children have taken their breakfast.

The breakfast has been taken by children.

Past Perfect –

• Active Voice – Sub + had + V3 + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + had + been + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

I had written a poem.

A poem had been written by me.

Future Perfect –

• Active Voice – Sub + will/shall+ have + V3 + Obj .
• Passive Voice – Obj + will/shall+have + been + V3+ by + Sub.

Examples –

She will have completed her home work.

The home work will have been completed by her.

Present Perfect Continuous –

• Active Voice – Sub + has/have + been + V1 + ing + Obj + since/for +time .
• Passive Voice – Obj + has/have + been + being + V3+ by + Sub + since+for +time.

Examples –

Rudra has been watching TV since Morning.

TV has been being watched by Rudra since morning.

Past Perfect Continuous –

• Active Voice – Sub + had + been + V1 + ing + Obj + since/for +time .
• Passive Voice – Obj + had + been + being + V3+ by + Sub + since+for +time.

Examples –

She had been cooking food for two hours.

Food had been being cooked by her for two hours.

Future Perfect Continuous –

• Active Voice – Sub + will/ shall+ have + been + V1 + ing + Obj + since/for +time .
• Passive Voice – Obj + will/shall + have + been + being + V3+ by + Sub + since+for +time.

They will have been writing a novel for two months.

A novel will have been being written by them for two months.

Rule No 2 – Voice Related with Modals –

• Active Voice – Sub + any Modal + V 1 + Obj.
• Passive Voice – Obj + same Modal + be + V 3 + by + sub.

Examples –

Rudra can speak English.

English can be spoken by Rudra.

You need not read this book.

The book need not be read by you.

Rule No 3 – Sentences with W-H Families ( Interrogative Sentences ) –

• Active Voice – What are you doing here ?
• Passive Voice – What is being done by you here ?

Rules of changing some Interrogative Pronouns –

Who is changed in to By whom

Whom in to Who

How many in to By how many

In some cases What into By what.

Rest of the Interrogative Pronouns remain unchanged.

Some more examples –

How many people attended the party ?

By how many people was the party attended ?

What brings you here?

By what are you brought here ?

Rule No – 4

Structure –

• It is time to + v1+ obj. – Active Voice
• It is time for obj + to + be + v3. – Passive Voice

Examples

It is time to tale tea.

It is time for tea to be taken.

Now Check your Preparation from the sentences below –

a. How does she tell a lie ?

b. Don’t wear my shirt.

c. Do it immediately.

d. She bade me go.

e. Let us rest here.

Answers –

a. How is a lie told by her ?

b.You are forbidden to wear my shirt.

c. Let it be done immediately.

d. I was bidden to go.

e. It is suggested that we should rest here.

Active & Passive Voice – Practice Paper 2 with Solution

 

Welcome to practice Active and Passive Voice . Before doing the Practice Set 2, read the rules of Voice from here. After reading the  rules you can solve Practice Set 2 below.

Practice is necessary to have command over any of English Grammar topics. So do as much practice as possible.

Change the voice of the following sentences –

a. Trees give us fruit to eat.

b. People say that Mr Rudra Gupta is a very good doctor.

c. His remark offended me.

d. Your work has satisfied me a lot.

e. I have got to do it carefully.

f. A snake bit John and the doctor gave him a serum.

g. The children were laughing at the old beggar.

Practice Paper for Active and Passive Voice

h. One must do one’s duty.

i. Women like men to flatter them.

j. This news has surprised him.

k. It is time to watch a movie.

l. The patients are being treated there.

m. What has caused you much pain ?

n. We don’t like people laughing at us.

o. Don’t touch my things

p. Somebody has stolen my purse.

q. I heard her open the door.

r. Who betrayed you ?

s. People sell fresh vegetables here.

Answers –

a. Trees give us fruit to be eaten b. Mr Rudra Gupta is said to be a good doctor c. I was offended at his remark d. I have been satisfied a lot with your work e. It has got to be done carefully by me f. John was bitten by a snake and given a serum by the doctor g. The old beggar was being laughed at by the children h. Duty must be done i. Women like to be flattered by men j. He has been surprised at this news

k. It is time for a movie to be watched l. The doctors are treating the patients there m. By what has much pain caused to you ? n. We don’t like being laughed at o. You are forbidden to touch my things p. My purse has been stolen q. She was heard to open the door r. By whom were you betrayed ? s. Fresh vegetables are sold here