ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

Determine if the sentence is written in Active Voice or if it is

written in Passive Voice.

1- He stole a lot of money from bank.

2- The house was built in 1980.
3- My grandfather built the house in 1980.
4- I made a mistake.
5- Mistakes were made.
6- The cake was eaten.
When the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb,
the verb is in the active voice.
For example
Tyra ate the vanilla pudding.

When the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb,
the verb is in the passive voice.
For example
The vanilla pudding was eaten by Tyra.

The passive form of a verb consists of a form of the verb to be plus the
past participle of the main verb.
Active voice is more simpler, concise and more vigorous. It is considered
better for regular writing. For example
I made a mistake.
We will turn off your electricity.

Passive voice is usually used by newspapers, scientific reports, government

and business people; when avoiding responsibility or when performer of an
action is unknown or is less important than the receiver of the action. For
example
A mistake was made.
Your electricity will be turned off.
Making sentences Active
Change the passive voice to active voice in the following sentences.
1- The motorcycle was ridden by John.

2- A brownie is being baked by Jess.

3- Thieves have been arrested by the police.

Making sentences Passive

Change the active voice to passive voice in the following sentences.
1- We won the game.

2- She will deliver the letter.

3- They are painting the walls.

Rules to remember

• Identify Subject, Verb and Object in the sentence

• Convert the Object into Subject in passive sentence
• Verb is always in Past Participle/third form in passive sentences
• Use of the preposition ‘by’
• Observe the verb tense in the active sentence
• Same tense with a helping verb/ ‘be’
• There is no perfect continuous in passive voice/ sentence
• Questions are retained as questions
Who is doing the dishes?
By whom are the dishes being done?

Why have you called me here?

Why have I been called here by you?