Active and Passive Voice

Why do we change active into passive

voice?
 Activevoice is used when the subject
performs the action stated by the verb.

 Passivevoice is used when the subject is

acted upon by the verb.
Present Present Present Present
Indefinite Continuous Perfect Perfect
Continuous
do/does is/am/are is/are/am + has/have has been/
s/es being have been

Past Past Past Perfect Past Perfect

Indefinite Continuous Continuous
did was/ were was/were + had had been
being

Future Future Future Future

Indefinite Continuous Perfect Perfect
Continuous
will/shall will be/ shall will Will have
be have/shall been/ shall
How to convert active into passive voice
Active Passive
S+V+O (Active)
O+V3+S (Passive)
Example:
The cow is eating grass. (A)
Grass is being eaten by the cow. (Passive)
 To make Passive Voice, first of all you have to use the following rules:
1. Change the object into subject. If in object, we have a pronoun of object
case, convert that by following rules;
I-me
you- you
She-her
They-them
we- us
he-him
it-it
who-whom
2. Change the subject into object and use by before the object. If in subject,
we have a pronoun of nominative case, convert that by following rules;
I- by me
You-by you
She- by her etc………
 Simple Present
Active Voice Passive Voice

He lights the candle. The candle is lighted

by him.
He does not light The candle is not
the candle. lighted by him.
Do you eat meat? Is meat eaten by
you?
 Present Continuous
Active Voice Passive Voice

I am driving a car. A car is being

driven by me.
I am not driving a A car is not being
car. driven by me.

Am I driving a car? Is a car being

 Present Perfect
Active Voice Passive Voice

She has stolen my My book has been

book. stolen by her.
She has not stolen My book has not
my book. been stolen by her.
Has she stolen my Has my book been
book. stolen by her?
 Simple Past
Active Voice Passive Voice

She finished work. Work was finished by

her.
She did not finish Work was not
work. finished by her.
Did she finish work? Was work finished by
her?
 Past Continuous

Active Voice Passive Voice

He was revising his His books were
books. being revised by
him.
He was not revising His books were not
his books. being revised by
him.
 Past Perfect
Active Voice Passive Voice

I had completed The assignment had

the assignment. been completed by
me.
I had not The assignment had
completed the not been completed
by me.
assignment.
Had I completed Had the assignment
 Simple Future
Active Voice Passive Voice

My uncle will pay My tuition fee will

my tuition fee. be paid by my
uncle.
My uncle will not My tuition fee will not
pay my tuition fee. be paid by my uncle.

Will my uncle pay Will my tuition fee be

 Future Perfect
Active Voice Passive Voice

We shall have done Our homework shall

our homework. have been done by us.

We shall not have Our homework shall

done our have not been done
by us.
homework.

Shall we have done Shall our homework

 A/P with Modals
 Can/could – can/could + be + 3rd form of Verb
 must – must + be + 3rd form of Verb
 May – may + be + 3rd form of Verb
 Might – might + be + 3rd form of Verb
 Should – should + be + 3rd form of Verb
 Will/shall- would/should + be + 3rd form of Verb
Examples:
1. I can solve these sums.
These sums could be solved by me.
2. You must learn this book.
This book must be learned by you.
3. I may buy the book.
The book might be bought by me.
4. They might play chess.
Chess might be played by them.
5. Students should learn all lessons.
All lessons should be learnt by students.
A/P with Imperatives
 These are the sentences in which we express
our feeling and emotions like command, advice
and request.
 Rules:

1. Let + new object + be/not be+ V 3rd

2. For sentences containing request, advice, and
order; we will use, you are requested to,
advised to, and ordered to.
Note: Always remove please and kind, if they are
given in the sentence.
1. Shut the door.
Let the door be shut.
2. Post the letter at once.
Let the letter be posted at once.
3. Always speak the truth.
Let the truth always be spoken.
4. Let him help his brother.
Let his brother be helped by him.
5. Please do me a favor tonight.
You are requested to do me a favor tonight.
6. Kindly do not smoke in public place.
You are requested not to smoke in public place.
Passive into Active Voice
 Reading is enjoyed by Mary. (P)
 Mary enjoys reading. (A)

 The town was destroyed by fire. (P)

 Fire destroyed the town. (A)

 Cheese was eaten by Sara. (P)

 Sara ate the cheese. (A)

 The room will be cleaned by John every

Saturday. (P)
 John will clean the room every Saturday. (A)
Change the following sentences into passive voice

 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.
Answers:
 1. We are taught grammar by Ms Sullivan.
 2. He was praised by the teacher.
 3. The injured were taken to the hospital by the

firemen.
 4. The town was destroyed by an earthquake.
 5. The teacher was pleased with the boy’s work.
 6. The building was damaged by the fire.
Modal Verbs Passive Voice

Active: They can do it

Passive: It could be
done by them.
Active: You could sell your car.
Passive: Your car could be sold.
Active: He might fix the
refrigerator.
Passive: The refrigerator
might be fixed by him.
Active: They may make a
donation.
Passive: A donation might be
made by them.
Active: You must finish this today.
Passive: This must be finished
today by you.
Active: He has to send that
email.
Passive: That email has to be
sent by him.
Active: They need to find that
document.
Passive: That document needs to
be found by them.
Active: She should fix her writing.
Passive: Her writing should be
fixed.
 If it contains an order or a command :
 You are ordered to or You are commanded to
 If it contains a request:
 You are requested to
 If it contains an advice:

 You are advised to

 If it contains a negative order:
 You are forbidden to
 If it contains’Let us’ :
 It is suggested that we should or It is proposed that we
should