Active vs. Passive Voice
Active Voice: In the Active Voice, the verb is directly related to the subject, which is the doer of the action. The focus is on the subject.
Example: She is reading a book.
Passive Voice: In the Passive Voice, the verb is related to the receiver of the action, and the focus is on the action itself. Sometimes the performer of the action (the agent) is not identified, which is known as a 'Short Passive'.
Example: The plants are watered by her every day.
Uses of the Passive Voice
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When the action is more important than the subject (the doer).
Active: I made a mistake.
Passive: A mistake was made.
(Here, the focus is on the mistake, not on who made it.)
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When the subject is unknown or obvious.
Active: Someone left a phone in the hall.
Passive: A phone was left in the hall.
Rules for Changing Active to Passive Voice
- The verb must be transitive (a verb that takes an object).
- The subject and object switch places.
- The main verb is changed to its third form (past participle). For example, play → played.
- An appropriate helping verb (e.g., is, am, are, was, been) is added according to the tense.
- Pronouns change their form (e.g., I becomes me, she becomes her).
- The preposition 'by' is usually added before the new object (the original subject).
Tense Changes in Active to Passive Voice
Note: There is no passive form for Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous, Future Continuous, and Future Perfect Continuous tenses.
| Tense | Active Voice Example | Passive Voice Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I bake a cake. | A cake is baked by me. |
| Present Continuous | I am baking a cake. | A cake is being baked by me. |
| Present Perfect | I have baked a cake. | A cake has been baked by me. |
| Simple Past | The principal introduced the chief guest. | The chief guest was introduced by the principal. |
| Past Continuous | The principal was introducing the chief guest. | The chief guest was being introduced by the principal. |
| Past Perfect | The principal had introduced the chief guest. | The chief guest had been introduced by the principal. |
| Simple Future | The chief minister will inaugurate the new building. | The new building will be inaugurated by the chief minister. |
| Future Perfect | The chief minister will have inaugurated the new building. | The new building will have been inaugurated by the chief minister. |
Sentences with Verbs Followed by Prepositions
The preposition remains attached to the verb in the passive form.
Active: Mr. Singh looks after the firm.
Passive: The firm is looked after by Mr. Singh.
Active: My mother looks after the whole household.
Passive: The whole household is looked after by my mother.
Sentences with Two Objects
Either object can become the subject of the passive sentence.
Active: John sent him a letter.
Passive 1: A letter was sent to him by John.
Passive 2: He was sent a letter by John.
Active: I shall tell you an interesting story.
Passive 1: An interesting story will be told to you by me.
Passive 2: You will be told an interesting story by me.
Sentences Where 'by' is Not Used
Prepositions other than 'by' (such as 'to', 'with', 'in') are used with certain verbs.
Active: She knows you well.
Passive: You are well known to her.
Active: The bottle contains ink.
Passive: Ink is contained in this bottle.
Active: I cannot please her.
Passive: She cannot be pleased with me.
The agent with 'by' is also omitted when the subject is unknown or understood (e.g., someone, the management, the school).
Active: Someone switched off the light.
Passive: The light was switched off.
Active: You must do your duty.
Passive: Your duty must be done.
Sentences with Modals
The structure is: Modal + be + Past Participle.
Active: I can speak English.
Passive: English can be spoken by me.
Active: You must obey your parents.
Passive: Your parents must be obeyed by you.
Note: The modal verb (can, must, should, might, etc.) does not change when converting the sentence to passive voice.
Interrogative (Question) Sentences
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WH- Questions: Questions starting with 'who', 'what', 'where', etc. 'Who' changes to 'By whom'.
Active: Who teaches you English?
Passive: By whom are you taught English?
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Yes/No Questions: Questions starting with an auxiliary verb (is, do, have, etc.). The passive question also starts with an auxiliary verb.
Active: Does the shopkeeper sell eggs?
Passive: Are eggs sold by the shopkeeper?
Imperative (Command/Request/Advice) Sentences
These sentences are often changed using the structure: You are [ordered/requested/advised] to...
Command (Active): Lock all the doors.
Passive: You are ordered to lock all the doors.
Advice (Active): Speak the truth.
Passive: You are advised to speak the truth.
Request (Active): Please help me arrange these books.
Passive: You are requested to help me arrange these books.
In negative imperative sentences, 'do not' changes to 'not to'. For example, "Do not touch it" becomes "You are warned not to touch it."
