ACTIVE PASSIVE

THE BASIC RULES

 VOICE

It means the mode of stating an action

giving importance to the subject or the
object.

 ACTIVE

VOICE
A verb is in the active voice when the person
or thing denoted by the subject is the doer of
the action (i.e., when the subject acts or is
active)
E.g.: The hunter killed the lion.

 PASSIVE

VOICE
A verb is in passive voice when the person or
the thing denoted by the subject is the receiver
of the action (i.e., when the subject is acted
upon or is passive)
E.g.: The lion was killed by the hunter.

WHEN THE VERB IS CHANGED FROM

THE ACTIVE VOICE TO THE PASSIVE
VOICE, THE OBJECT OF THE
TRANSITIVE VERB IN THE ACTIVE
VOICE BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF
THE VERB IN THE PASSIVE VOICE.

 SIMPLE

PRESENT
The grocer sells sugar. (ACTIVE)
subj. + v1 + obj.
Sugar is sold by the grocer. (PASSIVE)
subj. +is/am/are +v3 +obj.

 PRESENT

CONTINUOUS
The farmer is ploughing the field. (ACTIVE)
subj.+is/am/are+v1+ing +obj.

The field is being ploughed by the farmer.

(PASSIVE)
subj. +is/am/are+being+v3 +obj.

 PRESENT

PERFECT
Ashok has written this letter. (ACTIVE)
subj. + has/have +v3 +obj.

This letter has been written by Ashok.

(PASSIVE)
subj. +has/have +been+v3 +obj.

 SIMPLE

PAST
Hari stole my book. (ACTIVE)
subj. +v2 +obj.
My book was stolen by Hari. (PASSIVE)
subj. +was/were +v3 +obj.

 PAST

CONTINUOUS
The postman was delivering the letters.
(ACTIVE)
subj. +was/were+v1+ing +obj.
The letters were being delivered by the
postman. (PASSIVE)
subj. +was/were + being +v3 +obj.

 PAST

PERFECT
The boys had eaten all the cakes. (ACTIVE)
subj. +had +v3 +obj.

All the cakes had been eaten by the boys.

(PASSIVE)
subj. +had +been +v3 +obj.

 SIMPLE

FUTURE
He will never hurt you. (ACTIVE)
subj. +will/shall +v1 +obj.
You will never be hurt by him. (PASSIVE)
subj. +will/shall +be +v3 +obj.

 FUTURE

PERFECT
The chemist will have closed the shop by eight
oclock. (ACTIVE)
subj. +will/shall+have+v3 +obj.
The shop will have been closed by the chemist
by eight oclock. (PASSIVE)
subj. +will/shall+have+been+v3 +obj.

 Sometimes

some verbs take two objects after

them (direct object, indirect object), when
they are changed from active to passive voice,
then one of the objects becomes the subject in
the passive voice and the other remains
object.
E.g: He gave me a book.
subj. indirect direct
obj. obj.
A book was given to me by him.
subj.
indirect direct
obj.
obj.
I was given a book by him.
subj.
direct
indirect
obj.
obj.

 Only

transitive verbs can be used in

passive voice but sometimes intransitive
verbs with prepositions, are used as
transitive verb, can also be used in passive
voice.
E.g: All laughed at her.
subj.+intrans.(v2)+prepos.+obj.
She was laughed at by all.
subj. +was/were +intrans.(v3)
+prepos. +obj.

 When

we change an imperative sentence

from active to passive
E.g: Open the door.
v+ obj.
Let the door be opened. (To keep the
sentence imperative)
Otherwise
The door should be opened

 If

intransitive verb is used, the change of

imperative sentences into passive is in
this manner
E.g: Sit down.
You are ordered to sit down.

 To

change auxiliary verb from active to

passive, add be/have been along with v3.
E.g: Ramesh can do the work.
The work can be done by Ramesh.
He may have planted a tree.
A tree may have been planted by him.

 When

we change a question into passive,

it will remain a question only. So question
word should come in the beginning.
E.g: When did you write this letter?
When was this letter written by you?

 When

the subject is unknown or vague, it

remains unexpressed in the passive voice.
The agent with by is not needed.
E.g: They made him general.
He was made general.

 Exceptions

Sometimes some transitive verbs does not

change into passive form, but give the
passive sense as
E.g: Sugar tastes sweet.
Sugar is sweet when it is tasted.

 When

we change the passive voice to active

voice

subject of the passive voice will become the

object of the active voice and the object of the
passive voice will become the subject of the
active voice.

the preposition by will be left out.

when there is no agent/object in the

passive voice, an appropriate anticipatory
subject, like somebody, someone, we, they,
etc. can be used in active voice.
E.g: A magic trick will be shown by Raju.
Raju will show a magic trick.
My pocket has been picked.
Someone has picked my pocket.