Active & Passive Voice - General English Study Material: Compare The Following Two Sentences
Active & Passive Voice - General English Study Material: Compare The Following Two Sentences
Active & Passive Voice - General English Study Material: Compare The Following Two Sentences
Study Material
Both the sentences convey the same information. In the first sentence, the agent or the doer of the action (the
fisherman) is the subject, while the receiver of the action (fish) is the object of the verb (caught). Here the
subject (fisherman) is the doer of the action.
So this sentence is said to be in the Active Voice.
In the second sentence, the object (a strange fish) of the first sentence becomes the subject and passively allows
something to be done to it. The agent or the doer of the action (the fisherman ) functions as the object of the
preposition ‘by’.
This sentence is in the Passive Voice.
When we change a sentence from the active to the passive voice, the tense form does not get changed.
Tense in the Active Voice Form of the Passive Example
Verb
Present Simple ‘be’ verb + past participle Tamil is spoken in Tamilnadu.
Present continuous or Present ‘be’ verb + being Sorry for the inconvenience!
Exercise 1
Write the sentences in the passive voice.
Example:
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Active & Passive Voice – General English
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Active & Passive Voice – General English
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......................................................................... ?
(anything else/change)
The police caught the robbers early in the morning.
Where ............................................................. ?
(the robbers/catch)
The earthquake has damaged a lot of houses.
......................................................................... ?
(anybody/kill)
Answers
Exercise 1:
White bricks are used to build the hall.
The road must not be crossed now.
The dinner was being cooked at 7 o'clock.
Derek will be informed by Mr. Black.
This picture was painted by El Greco.
The old school is being knocked down.
Has the light been switched on?
Bicycles may be left in the schoolyard.
Exercise 2:
Were your children admitted to see it?
Will Susan be invited?/Has Susan been invited?
Had people been warned before?
Must handbags be left here?
Has anything else been changed?
Where were the robbers caught?
Has anybody been killed?
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Active & Passive Voice – General English
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Sentences are given in the active voice. Change them into the passive voice.
1. He teaches English.
2. The child is eating bananas.
3. She is writing a letter.
4. The master punished the servant.
5. He was writing a book.
6. Who wrote this letter?
7. Somebody cooks meal every day.
8. He wore a blue shirt.
9. May God bless you with happiness!
10. They are building a house.
11. I have finished the job.
12. I sent the report yesterday.
13. She bought a diamond necklace.
14. Somebody had stolen my purse.
Answers
1. English is taught by him.
2. Bananas are being eaten by the child.
3. A letter is being written by her.
4. The servant was punished by the master.
5. A book was being written by him.
6. By whom was this letter written?
7. Meal is cooked by someone every day.
8. A blue shirt was worn by him.
9. May you be blessed with happiness!
10. A house is being built by them.
11. The job has been finished by me.
12. The report was sent yesterday.
13. A diamond necklace was bought by her.
14. My purse had been stolen by somebody.
Rewrite the following sentences so that the verbs will be in the active voice.
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Active & Passive Voice – General English
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Answers
1. Ms Sullivan teaches us grammar.
2. The teacher praised him.
3. The firemen took the injured to the hospital.
4. An earthquake destroyed the town.
5. The boy’s work pleased the teacher.
6. The fire damaged the building.
7. Who taught you French?
8. The manager will give you a ticket.
9. Spectators thronged the streets.
10. Everyone will blame us.
11. The wind blew down the trees.
12. The police caught the thieves.
13. Alice posted the letter.
14. The hostess received us.
15. They/somebody killed the snake with a stick.
16. The people welcomed the minister.
17. They found him guilty of murder.
18. John Mathews built this house in 1991.
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Active & Passive Voice – General English
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