Master the transformation between active and passive voice. Learn rules, structures, and usage for all tenses and sentence types.
✅ Recommended for: Class 8-9 (Foundation) | Class 10-12 (Advanced)
1. What is Voice in Grammar?
Voice: The form of a verb that shows whether the subject performs the action (active) or receives the action (passive).
Key Concept: In passive voice, the focus shifts from the doer to the receiver of the action.
| Voice | Definition | Focus | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Voice | Subject performs the action | On the doer (who does the action) | The cat chased the mouse. |
| Passive Voice | Subject receives the action | On the action/receiver (what happens) | The mouse was chased by the cat. |
2. Basic Rules for Passive Voice
| Step | Active → Passive Transformation | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Object becomes subject | Object → Subject | The cat chased the mouse. → The mouse was chased... |
| 2 | Subject becomes object (with 'by') | Subject → by + Object | The cat chased the mouse. → ...was chased by the cat. |
| 3 | Main verb changes to past participle | Verb → be + V3 | chased → was chased |
| 4 | Add appropriate form of 'be' verb | According to tense | Simple present: is/am/are + V3 Simple past: was/were + V3 |
| Formula | Passive Voice = Subject + be + Past Participle + by + Agent (Agent = doer of action, can be omitted if unknown/unimportant) |
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3. Passive Voice in Different Tenses
| Tense | Active Voice | Passive Voice | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | She writes a letter. | A letter is written by her. | is/am/are + V3 |
| Present Continuous | She is writing a letter. | A letter is being written by her. | is/am/are + being + V3 |
| Present Perfect | She has written a letter. | A letter has been written by her. | has/have + been + V3 |
| Simple Past | She wrote a letter. | A letter was written by her. | was/were + V3 |
| Past Continuous | She was writing a letter. | A letter was being written by her. | was/were + being + V3 |
| Past Perfect | She had written a letter. | A letter had been written by her. | had + been + V3 |
| Simple Future | She will write a letter. | A letter will be written by her. | will/shall + be + V3 |
| Future Perfect | She will have written a letter. | A letter will have been written by her. | will/shall + have been + V3 |
| Modals | She can write a letter. She should write a letter. |
A letter can be written by her. A letter should be written by her. |
Modal + be + V3 |
4. Special Cases & Advanced Rules
| Case Type | Active Voice | Passive Voice | Rule/Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Objects | She gave me a book. (indirect: me, direct: book) |
I was given a book by her. OR A book was given to me by her. |
Either object can become subject |
| Imperative Sentences | Close the door. Don't touch it. |
Let the door be closed. Let it not be touched. |
Use 'Let + object + be + V3' |
| Questions | Do you like coffee? Why did she call you? |
Is coffee liked by you? Why were you called by her? |
Question word remains at beginning |
| Modal Perfect | She must have finished the work. | The work must have been finished by her. | Modal + have been + V3 |
| Intransitive Verbs | She sleeps. They arrived. |
NO PASSIVE (no object) | Only transitive verbs have passive |
| Prepositional Verbs | They laughed at him. She looks after the children. |
He was laughed at by them. The children are looked after by her. |
Keep preposition with verb |
| By + Agent Omission | Someone stole my purse. | My purse was stolen. (by someone omitted) | Omit 'by' phrase when agent is unknown/unimportant |
5. When to Use Passive Voice
| Situation | Example Active | Example Passive | Reason for Using Passive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doer unknown | Someone broke the window. | The window was broken. | We don't know who did it |
| Doer unimportant | They clean the streets daily. | The streets are cleaned daily. | Focus on action, not doer |
| Doer obvious | The police arrested the thief. | The thief was arrested. | Everyone knows police arrest thieves |
| Formal writing | We conducted the experiment. | The experiment was conducted. | More objective, scientific |
| Emphasize receiver | Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. | Hamlet was written by Shakespeare. | Focus on the play, not the author |
| Politeness | You made a mistake. | A mistake was made. | Less direct, more diplomatic |
6. Common Errors to Avoid
| Error Type | Wrong | Correct | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrong be verb | The letter are written. | The letter is written. | 'be' verb must agree with new subject |
| Missing past participle | The work is finish. | The work is finished. | Always use V3 (past participle) |
| Incorrect by placement | The book written was by her. | The book was written by her. | 'by' comes after 'be + V3' |
| Passive of intransitive | She was arrived. | She arrived. (no passive) | Intransitive verbs have no passive |
| Double passive | The work is been done. | The work is done. The work has been done. |
Don't use two forms of 'be' |
🎯 Active-Passive Challenge
Change the voice as directed.
1. Change to passive: "The students are reading the book."
Present continuous: am/is/are + being + V3
2. Change to active: "A beautiful song was sung by her."
Simple past: Subject (She) + V2 (sang) + Object
3. Change to passive: "They will complete the project tomorrow."
Simple future: will + be + V3
4. Change passive to active: "Let the window be opened."
Imperative: Verb (Open) + Object
5. Change to passive (question): "Why did she scold you?"
Question word remains, tense changes to were + V3
7. Memory Aids & Quick Conversion
Active to Passive Conversion:
1. Identify object of active sentence
2. Make object new subject
3. Add correct form of 'be' according to tense
4. Use past participle (V3) of main verb
5. Add 'by' + old subject (optional if unimportant)
Formula: Object + be + V3 + (by + Subject)
Passive to Active Conversion:
1. Identify agent (after 'by') - becomes new subject
2. Make subject new object
3. Remove 'be' + V3, use appropriate tense form
4. Remove 'by'
Formula: Subject + Verb (appropriate tense) + Object
📝 Practice Active & Passive Voice
Master all voice transformations with our comprehensive worksheet!
Go to Active-Passive WorksheetIncludes answer key • All tenses • Questions • Imperatives • Special cases • Error correction
