Active

1. ACTIVE & PASSIVE VOICE
Understanding Active and
Passive Voice
By:
SIR ABDUL HAMEED KALOI

2. What is voice?
• A form or set of forms of a verb showing
the relation of the subject to the action.
• Note: vice means moral fault or
weakness.
• As a prefix it means a title as Vice
Principal, Vice captain etc=et cetera.

3. Verbs and Voice
• Voice is the form a verb takes to
indicate whether the subject of the
verb performs or receives the
action.
• There are two types of voice:
active voice and passive voice.

4. Active Voice
• Active voice verbs are used when the subject
is acting in a sentence.
Doer + Action + Receiver of action
• Example:
– Sir Imran teaches Physics .
• “Teach” is an active verb because it allows the
subject to undertake an action.

5. Passive Voice
• “Passive voice” verbs are used when the subject
is being acted upon in a sentence.
Example:
– Physics is taught by Sir Imran.
• “Is taught” are considered passive because they
indicate that the subject (Physics) is receiving
an action.

6. So What?
• Although both constructions are grammatically
correct, the active voice is usually more effective in
academic and business writing because it is simpler
and more direct.
• The passive construction is effective only when the
doer of the action is unknown.
Examples:
– The house was built.
– The ball was hit.
– Smoking is prohibited .

7. Subject Pronoun change into Object as
He into him
She into her
They into them
We into us
I into me
You into you
It into it
Name remains same.
Any Questions???

8. The Simple Present Tense
When the active verb is in the simple
present tense
Active verb: write/writes
Passive verb: is/am/are written
• He writes a letter. (Active)
• A letter is written by him. (Passive)

9. The Present Continuous Tense
When the active verb is in the present
continuous tense
Active verb: is/am/are writing
Passive verb: is/am/are being written
• He is writing a letter. (Active)
• A letter is being written by him. (Passive)

10. The Present Perfect Tense
When the active verb is in the present
perfect tense
Active verb: has/have written
Passive verb: has/have been written
• He has written a letter. (Active)
• A letter has been written by him. (Passive)

11. The Simple Past Tense
When the active verb is in the
simple past tense
Active verb: wrote
Passive verb: was/were written
• He wrote a letter. (Active)
• A letter was written by him. (Passive)

12. The Past Continuous Tense
When the active verb is in the past
continuous tense
Active: was/were writing
Passive: was/were being written
• He was writing a letter. (Active)
• A letter was being written by him. (Passive)

13. The Past Perfect Tense
When the active verb is in
the past perfect tense
Active verb: had written
Passive verb: had been written
• He had written a letter. (Active)
• A letter had been written by him. (Passive)

14. The Simple Future Tense
When the active verb is in the simple
future tense
Active verb: will/shall write
Passive verb: will/shall be written
• He will write a letter. (Active)
• A letter will be written by him. (Passive)

15. The Future Perfect Tense
When the active verb is in the future
perfect tense
Active verb: will/shall have written
Passive verb: will/shall have been written
• He will have written a letter. (Active)
• A letter will have been written by him.
(Passive)

16. Using Command or Order
Read the book.
Let the book be read.
Structure
Let+obj+be+verb 3rd form
Open the door.
Let the door be opened.
Shut your mouth.
Let your mouth be shut.

17. Model Auxiliary Verbs
can (Active) can+be (Passive)
could (Active) could+be (Passive)
must (Active) must +be (Passive)
should (Active) should+be (Passive)
would (Active) would+be (Passive)
might(Active) might+be (Passive)
He can play a game. (Active)
A game can be played by him. (Passive)

18. Who broke the pen? (Active)
By whom was the pen broken? (Passive)
May you touch the pinnacle of success! (Active)
May the pinnacle of success be touched by you! (Passive)
Please help your friends. (Active)
You are requested to help your friends. (Passive)
Why were you knocking the door? (Active)
Why was the door being knocked by you? (Passive)
How many magazines do they sell every year? (Active)
How many magazines are sold every year? (Passive)

19. Note:
Who changes into by whom in the passive; (by) whom
changes to who in the passive.
Active: Whom did you call?
Passive: Who was called by you?
Active: Who killed the snake?
Passive: By whom was the snake killed?
Active: Why did he punish you?
Passive: Why were you punished by him?

20. Tenses changed into Passive
TENSE TO BE FORMS PAST
PARTICIPLES
EXAMPLES
P
R
E
S
E
N
T
SIMPLE
am
is
are
Past participle
( Verb3rd
form) TThe gates are lockedevery evening.
CONTINUOUS
am
is being
are
Past participle
( Verb3rd
form) The car is being washed now.
PERFECT
have
has been
Past participle
( Verb 3rd
form) The bookhas been written by him.
P
A
S
T
SIMPLE
was
were
Past participle
( Verb 3rd
form) The letters were faxed yesterday.
CONTINUOUS
was
were being
Past participle
( Verb3rd form) The house was being painted when I
came home.
PERFECT
had been Past participle
( Verb3rd form) Everything had been arrangedby him.
F
U
T
U
R
SIMPLE
will be
is / are going to be
Past participle
( Verb3rd
form) The roofwill be repaired soon.
The roofis going to be repaired soon.
PERFECT
will have been Past participle
( Verb 3rd
form)
All the materials will have been
collectedby10 o’clock.

21. Let’s Have a Test!
• I did not answer the question.
• He must make good speeches.
• They are reading books.
• We were playing cricket.
• The teacher will teach English.
• Open the window!
• Why are you watering the flowers?
• I wrote a letter.
• You should oblige your friends.