Course: English I

Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir

ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE

Introduction

Voice: Voice is the form a transitive verb takes to indicate whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the
action.
Types of Voices
There are two types of voices
1. Active voice
2. Passive voice

Rules of Active and Passive Voice:

To make passive voice, first of all, you have to use the following rules.
1. First of all, find a subject, object and the main verb. It means find SVO.
2. Change the object into the subject. If we have a pronoun of object case convert that by following rules

Objective Case Subjective Case Objective Case Subjective Case

me I us We
you You Whom Who
her She him He
them They it It
3. Change the subject into object and use ‘by’ before the object. If the subject has a pronoun of a nominative/
subjective case then convert by the following rules.
Subjective Case Objective Case Subjective Case Objective Case
I by me We by us
You by you Who by Whom
She by her He by him
They by them It by it
4. Use the suitable helping verb/auxiliary verb according to the tense. If helping verb is given, use the verb as
it is. But note that the helping verb used should be according to the object.
5. Convert the first and second form of the verb into past participle (3rd form of the verb).
• Active voice: In active sentences, the subject is active or the subject performs the actions.

For example: The cow (Subject) is eating (Verb) grass (Object).—Active Voice

• Passive voice: In passive sentences, the subject is no longer active or the subject is acted upon by the verb.

For example Grass (Subject) is being eaten (Verb) by the cow (Object).—Passive Voice
 Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir

Present (Is/am/are)
Past (Was/ Were)
Future (Will be/ Shall be)

Indefinite:
Object+ _____________ + 3rd Form of Verb+ By+ Subject
Present (Is/ am/ are)
Past (Was/ Were)

Continuous:
Object+ _________+ Being + 3rd Form of Verb+ By+ Subject
Present (Has/ Have)
Past (Had)
Future (Will have/ Shall have)

Perfect:
Object+ _________+ Been + 3rd Form of Verb+ By+ Subject

Imperative/ Order Sentences:

Let + Object + be + 3rd Form of Verb

Negative Sentences:

Let + Object + Not + Be + 3rd Form of Verb

• The sentences of following tenses cannot be converted into Passive voice

1. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
2. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
3. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
4. Future Continuous Tense
• Sentences, having intransitive verb, cannot be converted into passive voice.
 Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir

ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE

PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

Affirmative Sentence Negative Sentence Interrogative Sentences

Uses:
Helping Verb: is, am, are Uses: Add "not" with the helping verb Uses: Helping verb comes at the
Is _______ If the object is singular (He, beginning.
She, It).
Am______ If the object is "I"
Are______ If the object is plural (We,
They, You).

Formation Active: Subject+ 1st form
of verb+ object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + helping
verb (is/am/are) + 3rd form of verb+ by+
subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: I read the Book.
Passive: The book is read by me.
Active: Mary washes the clothes every
Morning.
Passive: The clothes are washed by
Marry every Morning.
Active: We buy books.
Passive: Books are bought by us.
Formation for Active Voice: Subject+
do/does + not + 1st form of verb+ object +
(.)
Formation for Passive Voice: Object+
helping verb (is/am/are) + not + 3rd form
of verb+ by+ subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: I do not read the book.
Passive: The book is not read by me.
Active: Mary does not wash the clothes
every Morning.
Passive: The clothes are not washed by
Mary every Morning.
Active: We do not buy books.
Passive: Books are not bought by us.
Formation of Active: Do/Does +
subject + 1st form of verb+ object+
(?)
Formation of Passive: Helping
verb+ object+ 3rd form of verb+
by+ subject + (?)
Examples:
Active: Do I read the book?
Passive: Is the book read by me?
Active: Does Mary wash the
clothes every Morning?
Passive: Are the clothes washed
by Mary every morning
Active: Do we buy books?
Passive: Are books bought by us?

ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative Sentence Negative Sentence Interrogative Sentences

Uses:
Helping Verb: is, am, are + being Uses: Add "not" with the Uses: Helping verb comes at the beginning.
Is being _______ If the object is helping verb
singular (He, she, It).
Am being ______ If the object is "I"
Are being ______ If the object is plural
(We, They, You).
• Add Gerund "-ing" with the verb in
active formation.
Formation Active: Formation for Active Voice: Formation of Active:
Subject+ helping verb (is/am/are) + ing Subject+ helping verb Helping verb (is/am/are) + subject + ing +
+ object + (.) (is/am/are) + not+ ing + object object+ (?)
+ (.)

Formation Passive:
Object + helping verb (is/am/are) +
being+ 3rd form of verb + by+ subject +
(.)
Examples:
Active:
He is writing a letter.
Passive: A letter is being written by
him.
Active: I am reading a book.
Passive: A book is being read by me.
Active:
She is learning a poem.
Passive: A poem is being learned by
her.
Affirmative Sentences
Uses:
Helping Verb: Has been, Have been
Has been _______I, We
Have been ______He, She, It, They
Formation Active: Subject + has/have +
past participle (3rd form of verb) + object
+ (.)
Formation Passive: Object + helping
verb (has been/ have been) + 3rd form of
verb+ by+ subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: I have written a story.
Passive: A story has been written by me.
Active: They have built a house.
Passive: A house has been built by them.
Active: He has broken my window.
Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir
Formation for Passive Voice: Formation of Passive:
Object+ helping verb Helping verb (is/am/are) + object+ 3rd form of
(is/am/are) + not+ being + 3rd verb+ by+ subject+ (?)
form of verb+ by+ subject + (.)
Examples: Examples:
Active: He is not writing a Active: Is he writing a letter?
letter.
Passive: A letter is not being Passive: Is a letter being written by him?
written by him.
Active: I am not reading a Active: Am i reading a book?
book.
Passive: A book is not being Passive: Is the book read by me?
read by me.
Active: She is not learning a Active: Is she learning a poem?
poem.
Passive: A poem is not being Passive: Is a poem being learned by her?
learned by her.
ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Negative Sentence Interrogative Sentences
Uses: Add "not" with the Uses: Helping verb comes at the beginning
helping verb
Formation Active: Subject + Formation Active: Has/have + Subject + past
has/have + not+ past participle participle (3rd form of verb) + object + (?)
(3rd form of verb) + object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + Formation Passive: Has/ Have+ object + been +
helping verb (has not been/ 3rd form of verb+ by+ subject + (?)
have not been) + 3rd form of
verb+ by+ subject + (.)
Examples: Examples:
Active: I have not written a Active: Have I written a story?
story.
Passive: A story has not been Passive: Has a story been written by me?
written by me.
Active: They have not built a Active: Have they built a house?
house.
Passive: A house has not been Passive: Has a house been built by them?
built by them.
Active: He has not broken my Active: Has he broken my window?
window.

Passive: My window has been broken by
him.
Affirmative Sentences
Uses:
Helping Verb: Was, Were
• Was _______ If the object is
singular (He, She, It, I).
• Were ______ If the object is
plural (We, They, You).
Formation Active: Subject+ 2nd form of
verb+ object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + helping
verb (was/were) + 3rd form of verb+ by
+ subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: She cooked food.
Passive: Food was cooked by her.
Active: He opened the door.
Passive: The door was opened by him.
Active: I lost my purse.
Passive: My purse was lost by me.
ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE
Affirmative Sentences
Uses:
• Helping Verb: Was , Were +
being
Was being_______ If the object is
singular (He, She, It, I).
Were being ______ If the object is
plural (We, They, You).
Passive: My window has not
been broken by him.
ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE
PAST INDEFINITE TENSE
Negative Sentences
Uses: Add "not" with the helping
verb
Formation for Active Voice:
Subject+ did + not+ 1st form of
verb+ object + (.)
Formation for Passive Voice:
Object+ helping verb (was/were)
+ not+ 3rd form of verb+ by+
subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: She did not cook food.
Passive: Food was not cooked by
her.
Active: He did not open the door.
Passive: The door was not
opened by him.
Active: I did not lose my purse.
Passive: My purse was not lost
by me.
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Negative
Uses: Add "not" with the helping
verb
Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir
Passive: Has my window been broken by him?
Interrogative Sentences
Uses: Helping verb comes at the beginning.
Formation of Active: Do/Does + subject + 1st
form of verb+ object+ (?)
Formation of Passive: Helping verb+ object+
3rd form of verb+ by+ subject+ (?)
Examples:
Active: Did she cook food?
Passive: Was food cooked by her?
Active: Did he open the door?
Passive: Was the door opened by him?
Active: Did I lose my purse?
. Passive: Was my purse lost by me?
Interrogative:
Uses: Helping verb comes at the beginning.

• Add Gerund "-ing" with the verb
in active formation.
Formation Active: Subject+ was/were
+ ing + object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + helping
verb (was/were) + being + 3rd form of
verb+ by + subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: She was drinking milk.
Passive: Milk was being drunk by her.
Active: He was doing his duty.
Passive: His duty was being done by
him.
Active: They were making a noise.
Passive: A noise was being made by
them.
ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE
Affirmative Sentences
Uses:
• Helping Verb: Had been
Had been _______I, We, He,
She, It, They
Formation Active: Subject + had+ past
participle (3rd form of verb) + object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + helping
verb (had been) + 3rd form of verb+ by+
subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: I had served the food.
Passive: The food had been served by
me.
Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir
Formation Active: Subject+ Formation Active: Helping verb+ subject + 1st
helping verb + not+ 1st form of form of verb+ ing + object|+ (?)
verb+ ing + object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + Formation Passive: Helping verb + object +
helping verb + not+ being+ 3rd being + 3rd form of verb + by+ subject+ (?)
form of verb +by+ subject + (.)
Examples: Examples:
Active: She was not drinking Active: Was she drinking milk?
milk.
Passive: Milk was not being Passive: Was milk being drunk by her?
drunk by her.
Active: He was not doing his Active: Was he doing his duty?
duty.
Passive: His duty was not being Passive: Was his duty being done by him?
done by him.
Active: They were not making a Active: Were they making noise?
noise.
Passive: A noise was not being Passive: Was a noise being made by them?
made by them
PAST PERFECT TENSE
Negative Sentence Interrogative Sentence
Uses: Add "not" with the helping Uses: Helping verb comes at the beginning.
verb
Formation Active: Subject + had+ Formation Active: Had+ Subject + past
not+ past participle (3rd form of participle (3rd form of verb) + object + (?)
verb) + object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + Formation Passive: Had+ Object + been +
helping verb (had not been) + 3rd 3rd form of verb+ by+ subject + (?)
form of verb+ by+ subject + (.)
Examples: Examples:
Active: I had not served the food. Active: Had I served the food?
Passive: The food had not been Passive: Had the food been served by me?
served by me.

Active: We had revised our lesson.
Passive: Our lesson had been revised by
us.
Active: A dog had bitten you.
Passive: You had been bitten by a dog.
ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE
FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE
Affirmative Sentences
Uses:
Helping Verb: Will be, Shall be
Shall be _______I, We
Will be_______ He, she, It, They
Formation Active: Subject+ will/shall+
1st form of verb+ object + (.)
Formation Passive: Object + helping
verb (Will be/Shall be) + 3rd form of
verb+ by+ subject + (.)
Examples:
Active: My uncle will buy a horse.
Passive: A horse will be bought by
uncle.
Active: He will tell a lie.
Passive: A lie will be told by him.
Active: They will make chairs.
Passive: Chairs will be made by them.
ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE
Affirmative Sentences
Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir
Active: We had not revised our
lesson.
Passive: Our lesson had not been
revised by us.
Active: A dog had not bitten you.
Passive: You had not been bitten by
a dog.
Negative Sentences
Uses: Add "not" with the helping
verb
Shall not be ___I, we
will not be ___ he, she, it, they
Formation of Active: Subject+ will/
shall+ not+ 1st form of verb + object
+ (.)
Formation of Passive: Object+
helping verb (shall not be/ will not
be) + 3rd form of verb + by+ subject
+ (.)
Examples
Active: My uncle will not buy a
horse.
Passive: A horse will not be bought
by uncle.
Active: He will not tell a lie.
Passive: A lie will not be told by
him.
Active: They will not make chairs.
Passive: Chairs will not be made by
them.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
Negative Sentence
Active: Had we revised our lesson?
Passive: Had our lesson been revised by
us?
Active: Had a dog bitten you?
Passive: Had you been bitten by a dog?
Interrogative Sentences
Uses: Helping verb comes at the
beginning.
Formation of Active: Will/ Shall+
subject+ 1st form of verb + object+ (?)
Formation of Passive: Helping verb
(shall/ will) + object+ be+ 3rd form of verb
+ by+ subject + (?)
Examples
Active: Will my uncle buy a horse?
Passive: Will a horse be bought by uncle?
Active: Will he tell a lie?
Passive: Will a lie be told by him?
Active: Will they make chairs?
Passive: Will chairs be made by them?
Interrogative Sentence
 Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir

Uses: Uses: Add "not" with the helping Uses: Helping verb comes at the beginning.
• Helping Verb: Will have verb
been / Shall have been

Shall have been _______ I, We,

Will have been________ He, she,
It, They

Formation Active: Subject + Will/ Formation Active: Subject + Will/ Formation Active: Subject + Will/ shall
shall +have + past participle (3rd Shall +have + not+ past participle +have + not+ past participle (3rd form of the
form of verb) + object + (.) (3rd form of the verb) + object verb) + object

Formation Passive: Subject + Will/ Formation Passive: Subject + Will/ Formation Passive: Subject + Will/ shall
SHALL +have+ been + past Shall +have+ not+ been + past +have+ not+ been + past participle (3rd
participle (3rd form of verb) + object participle (3rd form of the verb) + form of the verb) + object
+ (.) object

Examples: Examples: Examples:

Active: He will have returned the
book.
Passive: The book will have been
returned by him.
Active: I shall have helped you.
Passive: You will have been helped
by me.
Active: He will have called me.
Passive: I shall have been called by
him.
Active: He will not have returned
the book
Passive: The book will not have
been returned by him.
Active: I shall not have helped you.
Passive: You will not have been
helped by me
Active: He will not have called me.
Passive: I shall not have been
called by .him.
Active: Will he have returned the book
Passive: Will the book have been returned
by him?
Active: Shall I have helped you?
Passive: Will you have been helped by me?
Active: Will he have called me?
Passive: Shall I have been called by him?

ACTIVE VOICE/ PASSIVE VOICE

IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

An imperative sentence is changed from active to passive voice according to the

message contained in the sentence. For this purpose words used are as follows:

If ¡t contains an order or a command: – You are ordered to or You are commanded to

If it contains a request: – You are requested to
If it contains advice: – You are advised to
If it contains a negative order: – You are forbidden to
If it contains ‘Let us’: – It is suggested that we should or It is proposed that we should
It is time to (verb first form) – It is time for (object) to be (verb third form)

Affirmative Sentences Negative Sentences: Emphasis

 Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir

An imperative sentence in the passive When the active voice is in the We can begin the passive sentence
voice has the following form: Let + negative, the passive voice takes the with you if we want to put emphasis on
object + be +3rd Form of Verb form: Let + object + not + be + 3rd the person addressed to.
Form of Verb.

Examples Examples Examples

Active: Carry it home Active: Do not beat the dog. Active: Help me.
Passive: Let it be carried home. Passive: Let the dog not be beaten. Passive: Let me be helped.

Passive: You are requested to help me.

Active: Open the door. Active: Do it at once. Active: Learn the poem.
Passive: Let the door be opened. Passive: Let it be done at once Passive: Let the poem be learned.

Passive: You are asked to learn the poem.

Note that the passive form has to begin with you when the object of the active verb is not mentioned.
Active: Work hard.
Here the active verb does not have an object. Therefore the passive form should begin with you.
Passive: You are advised to work hard.
Active: Get out.
Passive: You are ordered to get out.

Model Verbs: Can. May, Might, Should etc

Examples:

Can They can question him for six hours. He can be questioned for six hours.
Could It could have badly hurt you. You could have been badly hurt.
Way The papers say they may release him. The papers say he may be released.
Might Somebody might buy it. It might be bought.
Must Passengers must wear seat belts. Seat belts must be worn.
Should You should have told me. I should have been told.
Ought to They ought to forgive him. He ought to be forgiven.

Passive Voice in Interrogative Sentences

• The question words when, why, where, how and what do not change their
position at the beginning of the sentence when the active voice is changed
into the passive voice.
• Note that who changes to by whom and whom into who.

Examples
 Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir

1. What did he say? (Active Voice)

What was said by him? (Passive Voice)
2. Whom did you invite? (Active Voice)
Who was invited by you? (Passive Voice)
3. Who wrote this book? (Active Voice)
By whom was this book written? (Passive Voice)

Gerund I insisted on them paying me. I insisted on being paid.

Going to Is he going to sing Thriller at the party? Is Thriller going to be sung at the party?
Used to Ram used to take care of everything. Everything used to be taken care of by Ram.

Q. Change the active sentences to passive and passive sentences to active.

1. The thieves have been arrested by the police.
The police have arrested the thieves.
2. The marvelous performance delivered by the children enthralled us.
We were enthralled by the marvelous performance delivered by the children.
3. He has been invited to their party.
They have invited him to their party.
4. We have shipped your order.
Your order has been shipped by us.
5. The girl recited the poem beautifully.
The poem was beautifully recited by the girl.
6. The guests enjoyed the party.
The party was enjoyed by the guests.
7. The child impressed everyone with his polite manners.
Everyone was impressed with the polite manners of the child.
8. A girl from Chennai won the first prize.
The first prize was won by a girl from Chennai.
9. The readers like the latest book of the writer.
The latest book of the writer is liked by the readers.
10. They are painting the walls.
The walls are being painted by them.
11. The car has been fixed by the mechanic.
The car mechanic has fixed the car.
12. She accepted their invitation with pleasure.
Their invitation was accepted (by her) with pleasure.
13. Harry ate six shrimp at dinner.
At dinner, six shrimp were eaten by Harry.
14. Beautiful giraffes roam the savannah.
The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes.
15. Sue changed the flat tyre.
The flat tyre was changed by Sue.
16. We are going to watch a movie tonight.
 Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir

A movie is going to be watched by us tonight.

17. I ran the obstacle course in record time.
The obstacle course was run by me in record time.
18. The crew paved the entire stretch of highway.
The entire stretch of highway was paved by the crew.
19. Mom read the novel in one day.
The novel was read by Mom in one day.
20. I will clean the house every Saturday.
The house will be cleaned by me every Saturday.
21. Tom painted the entire house.
The entire house was painted by Tom.
22. The teacher always answers the students' questions.
The students' questions are always answered by the teacher.
23. The choir really enjoys that piece.
That piece is really enjoyed by the choir.
24. A forest fire destroyed the whole suburb.
The whole suburb was destroyed by a forest fire.
25. The two kings are signing the treaty.
The treaty is being signed by the two kings.
26. The cleaning crew vacuums and dusts the office every night.
Every night, the office is vacuumed and dusted by the cleaning crew.
27. Larry generously donated money to the homeless shelter.
Money was generously donated to the homeless shelter by Larry.
28. The wedding planner is making all the reservations.
All the reservations are being made by the wedding planner.
29. Susan will bake two dozen cupcakes for the bake sale.
Two dozen cookies will be baked by Susan for the bake sale.
30. The science class viewed the comet.
The comet was viewed by the science class.
31. The director will give you instructions.
Instructions will be given to you by the director.
32. Thousands of tourists visit the Grand Canyon every year.
The Grand Canyon is visited by thousands of tourists every year.
33. The homeowners remodeled the house to help it sell.
The house was remodeled by the homeowners to help it sell.
34. The saltwater corroded the metal beams.
The metal beams were corroded by the saltwater.
35. The kangaroo carried her baby in her pouch.
The baby was carried by the kangaroo in her pouch.
Course: English I
Course Instructor: Ms. Hafsa Qadir