Focus: Active and Passive Voice

Date:

What is Voice?

The voice of a verb tells whether the subject of the sentence performs or

receives the action.
Active: Birds build nests.
Passive: Nests are built by birds.

 Types of Voice:

Active Voice: the subject performs the action expressed by the verb.
Usage: when more clarity and straightforward relation is required between verb
and subject.
Passive Voice: the subject receives the action expressed by the verb.
Usage: when the action is the focus, not the subject or when the doer is
unknown.

Rules of Conversion from Active to Passive Voice:

1.     Identify the subject, the verb and the object: S+V+O

2.     Change the object into subject
3.     Put the suitable helping verb or auxiliary verb
4.     Change the verb into past participle of the verb
5.     Add the preposition "by“
6.     Change the subject into object

Example:
Active Voice: Sameer wrote a letter. (Subject) + (verb) + (object).
Passive Voice: A letter was written by Sameer. (Object) + (auxiliary verb) +
(past participle) + (by subject).

 Simple Present Tense:

Active Voice: She writes a letter.
Passive Voice: A letter is written by her.
Rule: Object + is, am, are + V3 past participle

 Simple Past Tense:

Active Voice: He did not buy a book.
Passive Voice: A book was not bought by him.
Rule: Object + was\were+ V3 past participle

 Simple Future Tense:

Active Voice: She will write a poem.
Passive Voice: A poem will be written by her.
Rule: Object + will+ be+ V3

Exercise 1: Rewrite the following changing the active sentences to passive and
passive sentences to active.

1. The marvelous performance enthralled us.

_________________________________________________________________________.

2. The girl recited the poem beautifully.

_________________________________________________________________________.

3. The guests enjoyed the party.

_________________________________________________________________________.
4. A girl from Spain will win the first prize.

_________________________________________________________________________.

5. The readers like the latest book of the writer.

_________________________________________________________________________.

6. She accepted their invitation with pleasure.

_________________________________________________________________________.

7. The teacher explains the rules.

________________________________________________________________________.

8. The mechanic will fix the car.

_________________________________________________________________________.

9. The doctor will check my little brother.

_________________________________________________________________________.

10. My brother plays the guitar every day.

_________________________________________________________________________.

11. My mother cleans the house once a week.

_________________________________________________________________________.

12. The officer does not punish his juniors.

_________________________________________________________________________.

13. Our team won the match.

_________________________________________________________________________.

14. Jenny will sing a song.

________________________________________________________________________.

Exercise 2: Are the following sentences active or passive?

1. She gathers flowers.

2. The poor is helped by Jack.
3. You do not keep your word.
4. When is your breakfast eaten?
5. Do you eat meat?
6. Why are lies told by him?
7. Whom do you want?
8. They expect good news.
9. Children like toys and dolls.
10.How do you wash your clothes?
11.Where does she keep money?
12.Which pen is chosen by you?
13.Who teaches you?
14.This officer does not punish his juniors.
15.A lesson is learnt by me.
16.Letters are delivered by the postman.
17.Our team wins the match.
18.Tom reads the novel in one day.
19.Jenny sings a song.