Active Passive

*The verb that expresses the action done by the

subject is said to be in the Active Voice.
e.g. Ram helps Sita.
*The verb that expresses what is done to the subject is
said to be in the Passive Voice.
e.g. Sita is helped by Ram.
The following points come to notice as the sentence in
the Active Voice is changed into Passive Voice.
1. The object of the active verb is put in the subject
position.
e.g. Active Voice: He loves me. Passive Voice: I
am loved by him.
( Note: The object “me” becomes the subject “I” in the
passive voice and the subject “he” becomes the object
“him”.)
2. The number of the verb is changed according to the
number and person of the subject.
e.g. She is purchasing vegetables. Vegetables are being
purchased by her.
Note: Here in active voiced sentence with “She”
singular helping verb is used and in passive voiced
 sentence with “Vegetables” plural helping verb is used
3. The subject of the verb in active voice is made an
object of the verb and is introduced with the
preposition ‘by’.
4. While converting sentences from Active to Passive
Voice, we have to be careful about the use of personal
pronouns.
Subject in Active Object in Passive
I by me
You by you
She/He by her/ by him
They by them
It by it
We by us

Now study carefully the table below and note the

changes from the Active Voice to Passive Voice.
PRESENT ACTIVE PASSIVE

simple Subject+V1+s/es+ Subject + is/am/are+ V3+

Object. by+ object.
He writes a letter. A letter is written by
him.
continuous Subject+ Subject+
is/am/are+V1+ing is/am/are+being+V3
+o bject +by+object.
He is writing a A letter is being written
letter. by him.

PAST ACTIVE PASSIVE

simple Subject+V2+object. Subject+
He wrote a letter. was/were+V3+by+obect.
A letter was written
by him.

continuous Subject+ Subject+

was/were+V1+ing+ was/were+being+V3
object. +by+object.
He was writing a A letter was being
letter. written by him.
FUTURE ACTIVE PASSIVE

simple Subject+ Subject+

will/shall+V1+obje will/shall+be+V3+by+
ct. He will write a object.
letter. A letter will be
written by him.
continuous Subject+ No change.
will/shall+be+V1+i
ng
+object.
He will be writing
a
letter.

EXERCISE
Change the sentence from Active Voice to Passive
Voice.
1. Tina eats biscuits every morning.
Biscuits are eaten by Tina every morning.
2. She buys a book.
A book is bought by her.
3. My mother packed the gifts.
The gifts were packed by my mother.
4. All the Indians celebrate Republic Day.
 Republic Day is celebrated by all the Indians.
5. The invigilator gave the question paper.
The question paper was given by the invigilator.
6. I shall consult a doctor.
A doctor will be consulted by me.
7. Sheetal writes novels.
Novels are written by Sheetal.
8. Ramesh borrowed some money.
Some money was borrowed by Ramesh.
9. The teacher will distribute the sweets.
The sweets will be distributed by the teacher.
10. Rahul completes assignments.
Assignments are completed by Rahul.
11. Our team played many matches.
Many matches were played by our team.
12. The head boy will prepare the speech.
The speech will be prepared by the head boy.
13. She is playing the flute.
The flute is being played by her.
14. They were building the house.
The house was being built by them.
15. I am learning English.
English is being learnt by me.