Active and Passive Voice

Voice is the term used to describe whether a verb is active or passive.

❖When the subject of the verb is doing the action, we say the verb is
active.
They will use the Poverty Alleviation Fund to support compensation.
Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.
Anjali can type this letter.
❖ When the position of subject and object is changed and the object
becomes the subject, we say the verb is passive.
The Poverty Alleviation Fund will be used to support compensation.
Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
This letter can be typed by Anjali.
❖ The subjects like ‘people, somebody, nobody, everybody, someone, no one,
etc.’ are not mentioned after ‘by’ preposition.
Somebody wrote this letter last month. (Active)
➢ This letter was written last month. (Passive)
People worship God in every country. (Active)
➢ God is worshipped in every country. (Passive)
Nobody can climb this mountain so easily. (Active)
➢ This mountain cannot be climbed so easily. (Passive)
❖ Generally the object with ‘a/an/any’ in the negative sentence changes to ‘no’.
He didn’t speak a word.
➢ No word was spoken by him.
Nobody mentioned anything to me about it.
➢ Nothing was mentioned to me about it.
Impersonal Passive
1. Change the following sentences into passive voice. Follow the example.
Example: Prakash is to buy a new cycle.
➢ A new cycle is to be bought by Prakash.
1. He has to sell it.
➢ It has to be sold by him.
2. We are to help him.
➢ He is to be helped (by us).
3. I had to help him.
➢ He had to be helped by me.
4. Janhavi has to help him.
➢ He has to be helped by Janhavi.
5. I look after him.
➢ He is looked after by me.
2. Change the following sentences into passive voice. Follow the example.
Example: Has he broken his leg in the accident?
➢ Has his leg been broken (by him) in the accident?
1. Are you helping us?
➢ Are we being helped by you?
2. Can he solve this problem?
➢ Can this problem be solved by him?
3. Will they buy us anything?
➢ Will anything be bought for us?
4. Did she despise her stepdaughter?
➢ Was her stepdaughter despised by her?
5. Has she drawn this picture?
➢ Has this picture been drawn by her?
3. Change the following sentences into passive voice. Follow the example.
Example: When will our examination finish?
➢ When will our examination be finished?
1. Who broke this mirror?
➢ By whom was this mirror broken?
2. Who insulted you?
➢ By whom were you insulted?
3. How can you finish it?
➢ How can it be finished by you?
4. What did she eat?
➢ What was eaten by her?
5. Why did they offer him a job?
➢ Why was he offered a job?
❖ Change the voice of the following sentences.
1. He usually buys the tickets.
➢The tickets are usually bought by him.
2. We booked the flights.
➢The flights were booked by us.
3. He opened the bottle easily.
➢The bottle was opened easily.
4. She cleans my shoes.
➢My shoes are cleaned by her.
5. They arrested the burglars.
➢The burglars were arrested.
6. He wrote the note.
➢ The note was written by him.
7. They washed the car.
➢ The car was washed (by them).
8. She found the key.
➢ The key was found by her.
9. He sold his coin collection.
➢ His coin collection was sold by him.
10. We started a new system.
➢ A new system was started by us.
11. Someone stole his car.
➢ His car was stolen.
12. They used the towels.
➢ The towels were used (by them).
13. We turned on the TV.
➢ The TV was turned on by us.
14. She served tea at 4.
➢ Tea was served by her at 4.
15. The rain flooded the camp.
➢ The camp was flooded by the rain.
❖Change the voice as mentioned in the brackets.
1. The Prime Minister was given a warm send off. (Active Voice)
➢People gave a warm send off to the Prime Minister.
2. A strong wind blew off his hat. (Passive Voice)
➢His hat was blown off by a strong wind.
3. I have sharpened the knives. (Passive Voice)
➢ The knives have been sharpened by me.
4. I made a bad mistake. (Passive Voice)
➢ A bad mistake was made by me.
5. He has to help us. (Passive Voice)
➢ We have to be helped by him.
6. Nobody can do it. (Passive Voice)
➢ It cannot be done.
7. I and you can do it. (Passive Voice)
➢ It can be done by us/ you and me.
8. They are destroying jungle.( Passive Voice)
➢ The jungle is being destroyed by them.
9. Nobody cared for him. (Active Voice)
➢ He was not cared for.
10. What do you keep in your pocket? (Passive)
➢ What is kept in your pocket?
11. My pen was broken. (Active)
➢ Someone broke my pen.
Change the following sentences into passive voice.
1. They expect better news.
➢ Better news is expected.
2. My father gives me chocolates.
➢ Chocolates are given to me by my father.
3. A dog saved him.
➢ He was saved by a dog.
4. Somebody knocked me from the backside.
➢ I was knocked from the backside.
5. He had invited me in the party.
➢ I had been invited in the party by him.
6. He was doing his homework.
➢ His homework was being done by him.
7. One can’t move mountains.
➢ Mountains can’t be moved.
8. Please leave her alone.
➢ You are requested to leave her alone.
9. The flood in the river swept ten people away.
➢ Ten people were swept away by the flood in the river.
10. National parks attract tourists.
➢ Tourists are attracted to national parks.
1) Manisha painted her room. (Passive)
➢ Her room was painted by Manisha.
2) My sister has given me this book. (Passive)
➢ This book has been given to me by my sister.
3) Columbus discovered America. (Passive)
➢ America was discovered by Columbus.
4) Beautiful giraffes roam the Savannah. (Passive)
➢ The Savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes.
5) Harry ate six shrimps at dinner. (Passive)
➢ At dinner, six shrimps were eaten by Harry.
6) Suman changed the flat tire.
➢ The flat tire was changed by Suman.
7) We are going to watch a movie tonight.
➢ A movie is going to be watched by us tonight.
8) I ran the obstacle course in record time.
➢ The obstacle course was run by me in record time.
9) The crew paved the entire stretch of highway.
➢ The entire stretch of highway was paved by the crew.
10) Mom read the novel in one day.
➢ The novel was read by Mom in one day.
 Simple Present Tense
1. Seema studies English.
➢English is studied by Seema.
2. He sells meat.
➢Meat is sold by him.
3. Rabi helps me.
➢I am helped by Ravi.
4. Sita loves Sabitri.
➢Sabitri is loved by Sita.
5. I see a dark cloud.
➢A dark cloud is seen by me.
6. The man cuts down the tree.
➢ The tree is cut down by the man.
7. Sheela opens the door.
➢ The door is opened by Sheela.
8. Everyone loves him.
➢ He is loved.
9. I write a letter.
➢ A letter is written by me.
10. They call me everyday.
➢ I am called everyday.
 Present Continuous Tense
1. The mason is building the wall.
➢ The wall is being built by the mason.
2. Some boys are helping the wounded man.
➢ The wounded man is being helped by some boys.
3. They are playing football.
➢ Football is being played.
4. He is teaching us English.
➢ English is being taught to us by him.
5. She is singing a song.
➢ A song is being sung by her.
6. I am reading a book.
➢ A book is being read by me.
7. You are writing a letter.
➢ A letter is being written by you.
8. They are painting the house.
➢ The house is being painted.
9. The boy is climbing the cliff.
➢ The cliff is being climbed by the boy.
10. Sirja is buying a doll.
➢ A doll is being bought by Sirja.
 Present Perfect Tense
1.I have sold my car.
➢ My car has been sold (by me).
2. He has kept me waiting.
➢ I have been kept waiting.
3. His cousin has drawn this picture.
➢ This picture has been drawn by him.
4. They have opened a theatre only last month.
➢ A theatre has been opened only last month.
5. He has just posted the letter.
➢ The letter has just been posted.
6. The cat has drunk all the milk.
➢ All the milk has been drunk by the cat.
7. We have prohibited smoking.
➢ Smoking has been prohibited (by us).
8. The boy has made a kite.
➢ A kite has been made by the boy.
9. The enemies have defeated our armies.
➢ Our armies have been defeated by the enemies.
10. Mr. Lama has heard the news of accident.
➢ The news of the accident has been heard by Mr. Lama.
 Simple Past Tense
1. The cat killed the mouse.
➢ The mouse was killed by the cat.
2. They compelled the enemy to surrender.
➢ The enemy was compelled to surrender.
3. The boy made a kite.
➢ A kite was made by the boy.
4. The cat drank all the milk.
➢ All the milk was drunk by the cat.
5. His teacher praised him.
➢ He was praised by his teacher.
6. The boy caught the ball.
➢ The ball was caught by the boy.
7. The policeman caught the thief.
➢ The thief was caught by the policeman.
8. Someone threw the ball.
➢ The ball was thrown.
9. I wrote a letter.
➢ A letter was written by me.
10. The boy teased the dog.
➢ The dog was teased by the boy.
11. Tagore wrote many poems.
➢ Many poem were written by Tagore.
12. The master appointed him a monitor.
➢ He was appointed a monitor by the master.
13. He taught me to read Persian.
➢ I was taught to read Persian by him.
14. The curator of the museum showed us ancient coins.
➢ Ancient coins were shown to us by the curator of the museum.
15. Nepal expected to win the match.
➢ The match was expected to be won by Nepal.
16. They pulled down the old house.
➢ The old house was pulled down.
17. I opened the door.
➢ The door was opened by me.
18. I bought the baby a doll.
➢ A doll was bought for the baby by me.
19. The people made him president.
➢ He was made president.
20. The governor gave him a reward.
➢ A reward was given to him by the governor.
 Past Perfect Tense
1. He had played a losing game.
➢ A losing game had been played by him.
2. The people had welcomed the president.
➢ The president had been welcomed.
3. Earthquake had destroyed the town.
➢ The town had been destroyed by the earthquake.
4. The noise had frightened the horse.
➢ The horse had been frightened by the noise.
5. The fire had damaged the building.
➢ The building had been damaged by the fire.
6. His friends had taken him to the hospital.
➢ He had been taken to the hospital by his friends.
7. They had found him guilty of murder.
➢ He had been found guilty of murder.
8. I had sold my new bicycle.
➢ My new bicycle had been sold by me.
9. He had scored a century.
➢ A century had been scored by him.
10. My father had written a letter.
➢ A letter had been written by my father.
 Active and Passive Voice of Future Tense
Affirmatives
With “will”
Active: S + will + V1 + object
He will build a new house next year.
Passive: S + will + be + V3 + (by + agent)
A new house will be built by him next year.
With “be going to”
Active: S + be + going to + V1 + object
He is going to build a new house next year.
Passive: S + be + going to + be + V3 + (by + agent)
A new house is going to be built by him next year.
Negatives
With “will”
Active: S + will + not + V1 + object
He will not/won`t build a new house next year.
Passive: S + will + not + be + V3 + (by + agent)
A new house will not/won`t be built by him next year.
With “be going to”
Active: S + be + not + going to + V1 + object
He is not going to build a new house before 2017.
Passive: S + be + not + going to + be + V3 + (by + agent)
A new house is not going to be built by him before 2017.
Interrogatives
With “Will”
Active: Will + S + V1 + Object?
Will he build a new house next year?
Passive: Will + S + be + V3 + (by + agent)?
Will a new house be built by him next year?
With “be going to”
Active: Be + S + going to + V1 + object?
Is he going to build a new house next year?
Passive: Be + S + going to + be + V3 + (by + agent)?
Is a new house going to be built by him next year?
Negative interrogatives
With “will”
Active: Will not + S + V1 + object?
Won`t he build a new house next year?
Passive: Will not + S + be + V3 + (by +agent)?
Won`t a new house be built by him next year?
With “be going to”
Active: Be not + S + going to + V1 + object?
Isn`t he going to build a new house next year?
Passive: Be not + S + going to + be + V3 + (by +agent)?
Isn`t a new house going to be built by him next year?
WH/Information questions
With “will”
Active: WH + will + S + V1 + object?
Where will he build a new house next year?
Passive: WH + will + S + be + V3 + (by + agent)?
Where will a new house be built by him next year?
With “be going to”
Active: WH + be + S + going to + v1 + object?
Where is he going to build a new house next year?
Passive: WH + be + S + going to + be + V3 + (by + agent)?
Where is a new house going to be built by him next year?
 Simple Future Tense
1. They will film the monster.
➢ The monster will be filmed.
2. They will feed the chickens.
➢ The chickens will be fed.
3. They will eat lunch at 12 o´clock.
➢ Lunch will be eaten at 12 o´clock.
4. She will put the homework on the table.
➢ The homework will be put on the table.
5. They will replace the old robot.
➢ The old robot will be replaced.
6. Jane will buy a new computer.
➢ A new computer will be bought by Jane.
7. Her friend will install it.
➢ It will be installed by her friend.
8. Millions of people will visit the museum.
➢ The museum will be visited by millions of people.
9. Our boss will sign the contract.
➢ The contract will be signed by our boss.
10. You will not do it.
➢ It will not be done by you.
11. They will not show the new film.
➢ The new film will not be shown.
12. He won't see Sue.
➢ Sue will not be seen by him.
13. They will not ask him.
➢ He will not be asked.
14. Will the company employ a new worker?
➢ Will a new worker be employed by the company?
15. Will the plumber repair the shower?
➢ Will the shower be repaired by the plumber?
16. Adam will help me.
➢ I will be helped by Adam.
17. He will help me with money.
➢ I will be helped by him with money.
18. Jenny will buy a new phone.
➢ A new phone will be bought by Jenny.
19. The baby will break the toy.
➢ The toy will be broken by the baby.
20. Will he cook the food?
➢ Will the food be cooked by him?
21. He will not steal the watch.
➢ The watch will not be stolen by him.
22. Why will he pay the bill?
➢ Why will the bill be paid by him?
23. What will you have for breakfast?
➢ What will be had for breakfast by you?
24. She will not iron her cloth.
➢ Her cloth will not be ironed by her.
25. Jack will not post the letter.
➢ The will not be posted by Jack.
26. Why will she sign these papers?
➢ Why will these papers be signed by her?
27. We will catch the train.
➢ The train will be caught by us.
 Future perfect tense
Active: Subject + will/shall + have + past participle form of the verb +
object
Passive: Object of the active sentence + will/shall + have + been + v3
+ (by + agent)
Active: We shall not have accepted the invitation.
Passive: The invitation shall not have been accepted by us.
Active: She will have finished her work.
Passive: Her work will have been finished by her.
Active: They will have elected him their leader.
Passive: He will have been elected their leader.
 Future Perfect Interrogative
Active: Will she have cooked the food?
Passive: Will the food have been cooked by her?
Active: Will they have received our letter?
Passive: Will our letter have been received by them?
Active: Will they have caught the train?
Passive: Will the train have been caught by them?
Active: Who will have opposed you?
Passive: By whom will you have been opposed?
 Future perfect tense
1. She will have read this book.
➢ This book will have been read by her.
2. We shall have done our home-task.
➢ Our home-task will have been done by us.
3. She will not have abused me.
➢ I will not have been abused by her.
4. He will not have taken the test.
➢ The test will not have been taken by him.
5. You will not have learnt the lesson.
➢ The lesson will not have been learnt by you.
6. He will have sold his house.
➢ His house will have been sold by him.
7. Will he have paid the bill?
➢ Will the bill have been paid by him?
8. Who will have broken the chair?
➢ By whom will the chair have been broken?
9. He will have milked the cow.
➢ The cow will have been milked by him.
10. Ruth will have spent all the money.
➢ All the money will have been spent by Ruth.
1. The car is going to be washed.
➢ They are going to wash the car. Or Someone/Somebody is going to
wash the car.
2. They may have played football.
➢ Football may have been played by them.
3. We believed that she was a nurse.
➢ It was believed that she was a nurse. Or She was believed to be a
nurse.
4. People said that he was a good boy.
➢ It was said that he was a good boy. Or He was said to be a good boy.
5. Cars pollute the environment.
➢ The environment is polluted by cars.
6. Ram got the barber to cut his hair.
➢ Ram got his hair cut.
7. She made him clean the house.
➢ He was made to clean the house.
8. He wants someone to wash his clothes.
➢ He wants his clothes to be washed.
9. Were you calling me?
➢ Was I being called by you?
10. Am I loved by them?
➢ Do they love me?
11. A song was being sung by Rita.
➢ Rita was singing a song.
12. He had been taken to the hospital by his friends.
➢ His friends had taken him to the hospital.
13. They can be beaten by us.
➢ We can beat them.
14. Our work pleases her.
➢ She is pleased with our work.
15. Ancient people thought that the stars would fall on them.
➢ It was thought that the stars would fall on them (the ancient people).
1. Manisha painted her room.
➢ Her room was painted by Manisha.
2. My sister has given me this book.
➢ This book has been given to me by my sister. / I have been
given this book by my sister.
3. He sold many oranges.
➢ Many oranges were sold by him.
4. Columbus discovered America.
➢ America was discovered by Columbus.
5. Bina has written a letter.
➢ A letter has been written by Bina.
6. Don’t tell a lie.
➢ Let a lie not be told. / A lie should not be told.
7. Nobody is writing this letter.
➢ This letter is not being written.
8. They sell fish here.
➢ Fish are sold here.
9. The cupboard was made by the carpenter.
➢ The carpenter made the cupboard.
10. They were playing cricket.
➢ Cricket was being played (by them).
11. Himal is washing his clothes.
➢ His clothes are being washed by Himal.
12. The cattle are being fed by the farmers.
➢ The farmers are feeding the cattle.
13. The girl watched a movie.
➢ A movie was watched by the girl.
14. One should keep their promises.
➢ Their promises should be kept.
15. Someone broke my pen.
➢ My pen was broken.
16. People speak English all over the world.
➢ English is spoken all over the world.
17. Nobody did the work.
➢ The work was not done.
18. L.P. Devkota wrote many poems.
➢ Many poems were written by L.P. Devkota.
19. My radio has been stolen.
➢ Someone has stolen my radio.
20. People are making a temple in the city.
➢ A temple is being made in the city.
21. My book was stolen.
➢ Someone stole my book.
22. Trees have been planted around the temple by children.
➢ Children have planted trees around the temple.
23. I have seen your parents.
➢ Your parents have been seen by me.
24. They have not been helped.
➢ Nobody has helped them.
25. The thief is following us.
➢ We are being followed by the thief.
26. Flies carry many diseases.
➢ Many diseases are carried by flies.
27. An essay was written by Swastika.
➢ Swastika wrote an essay.
28. A boy killed the tiger.
➢ The tiger was killed by a boy.
29. English was spoken all over the world.
➢ People spoke English all over the world.
30. Australia was discovered by James Cook.
➢ James Cook discovered Australia.
31. Devkota didn’t write Gauri.
➢ Gauri wasn’t written by Devkota.
32. Someone has stolen two of my hens.
➢ Two of my hens have been stolen.
33.The students are cleaning the school area.
➢ The school area is being cleaned by the students.
34. Did you call me?
➢ Was I called by you?
35. I love somebody helping me.
➢ I love being helped.
36. Nobody heard the music.
➢ The music was not heard.
37. People think that she is a nurse.
➢ It is thought that she is a nurse. / She is thought to be a
nurse.
38. The glass was broken yesterday.
➢ Someone/Somebody/They broke the glass yesterday.
39. Da Vinci painted Mona Lisa.
➢ Mona Lisa was painted by Da Vinci.
40. Ram speaks English.
➢ English is spoken by Ram.
41. Food is being prepared by my sister.
➢ My sister is preparing food.
42. Devkota wrote Muna Madan.
➢ Muna Madan was written by Devkota.
43. Shambhu has written a poem.
➢ A poem has been written by Shambhu.
44. They eat rice.
➢ Rice is eaten (by them).
45. They called the boy.
➢ The boy was called (by them).
46. Did she cook the dinner?
➢ Was the dinner cooked by her?
47. Did they confirm the date?
➢ Was the date confirmed?
48. Who was the letter written by? / By whom was the letter
written?
➢ Who wrote the letter?
49. Nobody answered my questions.
➢ My questions were not answered.
50. Nobody will have answered my question.
➢ My question will not have been answered.
51. Tigers are being killed indiscriminately.
➢ People are killing tigers indiscriminately.
52. They said that I was a good person.
➢ It was said that I was a good person. / I was said to be a good
person.
53. Could you help me?
➢ Could I be helped by you?
54. Could you have helped me?
➢ Could I have been helped by you?
55. Didn’t you take my pens?
➢ Weren’t my pens taken by you?
56. Will you have completed the task?
➢ Will the task have been completed by you?
57. Please come here.
➢ You are requested to come here.
58. Please don’t smoke here.
➢ You are requested not to smoke here.
59. Bring Ram to me.
➢ Let Ram be brought to me.
60. Let Sita drive the car.
➢ Let the car be driven by Sita.
61. Don’t bring the dog here.
➢ Let the dog not be brought here.
62. May you defeat your opponents.
➢ May your opponents be defeated.
63. May God love Gita.
➢ May Gita be loved.
64. He didn’t write a word.
➢ No word was written by her.
65. It was said that Einstein was a genius.
➢ People said that Einstein was genius.
66. Was enough sugar given to you? / Were you given enough
sugar?
➢ Did they give you enough sugar?
67. He is going to sell his property next year.
➢ His property is going to be sold next year.
68. One can’t move mountains.
➢ Mountains can’t be moved.
69. Is it known to you?
➢ Do you know it?
70. Did anyone know it?
➢ Was it known?