Active Voice and Passive Voice

Active Passive
The active voice shows that the subject does The passive voice shows that something is done to
something. the subject.
[thing receiving the action] + [be] + [past participle]
+ [by] + [thing doing the action]
**[by] + [thing doing the action] (optional)
Example: Example:
 Ali carried a bag.  A bag was carried by Ali.
 The policeman helped the old women.  The old woman was helped by the policeman.
 The car hit a lamp post.  A lamp post was hit by the car.
 Mother cooks our meals.  Our meals are cooked by mother.

Tense Active Voice Passive Voice ([by] is optional)

Simple Present  I show the object.
 We do not show the object.
Present Continuous  I am showing the object.
Present Perfect  They have shown the object.
Simple Past  I showed the object.
 He did not show the object.
Past Continuous  They were showing the object.
Past Perfect  We had shown the object.
Simple Future  She will show the object.
Model Auxiliary  I would show the object.
 He might have shown the
object.
 The object is shown (by me).
 The object is not shown (by me).
 The object is being shown (by me).
 The object has been shown (by me).
 The object was shown (by me).
 The object was not shown (by him).
 The object was being shown (by them).
 The object had been shown (by us).
 The object will be shown (by her).
 The object would be shown (by me).
 The object might have been shown (by
him)

Exercise 1: Underline the correct answer.

e.g. English (speaks/ spoken/ is spoken) in Malaysia.

1. This book (written/ was written) by Rashid.

2. I (studied/ was studied) English for three years.
3. He (was driving/ was drive) too fast.
4. We (spent/ was spent) too much money on clothes.
5. The door (opened/ was opened) by Mary.

Exercise 2: Change the following sentences into the passive form. Use the verbs in brackets.
e.g. Ali counted the books. (were counted)

The books were counted by Ali.

1. Jo paid the bill last week. (was paid)

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2. Mrs Lee teaches your class on Monday. (is taught)
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3. Many people in Malaysia speak English. (is spoken)
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4. Her mother pays the bus fare. (is paid)
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5. The strong wind broke the window. (was broken)
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Exercise 3: identify the verbs in these sentences. Say whether they are in the active or in the passive
voice.

e.g. The old man was helped by a passer-by.

was helped: passive voice

The cat killed the mouse.

killed: active voice

1. I see dark clouds.

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2. The eagle killed a rabbit.
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3. The dog chased the rat.
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4. The building was bombed.
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5. The cat ate the whole fish.
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6. A lot of money was lost.
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7. The field is ploughed.
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8. We caught the burglar.
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9. The prisoner was handcuffed.
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10. He was praised for his work.
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Exercise 4: Change the sentences from the active voice to the passive voice.

e.g. The hunter trapped a mousedeer.

A mousedeer was trapped by the hunter.

1. Zubir opened the door.

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2. Beck threw the ball.
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3. Tiger Woods won the tournament.
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4. The ball hit a spectator.
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5. Hazi scored fifty runs.
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6. The police arrested her.
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7. The school rewarded him.
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8. The doctors operated on the twins.
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9. They attacked the country.
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10. He discovered electricity.
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