Active Voice vs Passive Voice: A Guide to When to Use Each Form

Active Voice & Passive Voice
Dr. T. Ramesh Babu.
Assistant Professor ( A),
Department of H&SS,
JNTUA College of Engineering
(Autonomous)Pulivendula.

Active Voice and Passive Voice
 In English grammar, verbs have five properties:
voice, mood, tense, person, and number; here, we are
concerned with voice.
The two grammatical voices are active and passive.

 Voice is form of a verb which shows whether the
subject of the verb acts or is acted upon.
 There are two kind of voices in English:
 i) Active Voice ii) Passive Voice
Active Voice:
 The active voice is that in which an act is done by the
subject . The subject is an agent or the real doer of an
act.

 Passive Voice:
 The Passive Voice is that in which an act is done in
respect of an object. In this voice , the subject who is
the agent, becomes unimportant. It is the object
which becomes the subject, but which in fact is not the
agent.
 Note: The active voice is mostly used in writing
because it gives a direct and more concise meaning.
Passive voice is used sometimes due to the following :
 When we don’t know the agent who did an action.
Eg. The bank was robbed yesterday night.

 Sometimes intentionally to hide the subject of the
sentence.
Eg. The question paper was leaked.
 When passive voice explains better thought of the
sentence.
Eg. Morals and values are taught.
 When passive voice emphasizes the main thought of
the sentence in a better way.
Eg. The culprits will be arrested by the police.

 There are certain rules for expressing a thought in
passive voice or for changing a sentence from active to
passive voice.
 Rule for changing from Active voice to Passive voice:
 1. From the given sentence the object becomes the
subject of the passive voice and the subject of the
active voice becomes the object of the passive voice.
 Eg. Ravi writes a latter. A.V.
Sub. + Verb + Obj.

 A letter is written by Ravi. P.V.
Sub. + be+ V3 + by + Obj.
2.Sometimes passive voice is used with out subject.
Subject of sentence can be omitted in passive voice,
Without subject also it can give enough meaning in
passive voice.
Eg. Mangoes are sold in markets. P.V.

 3. While changing the sentence from A.V. To P.V.
 The auxiliary verbs are used in passive voice as per
tense of the given sentence.
 Be + P.P.( Past Participle or V3) should be used
according to the tense mood and ‘by’ preposition
should be added before the object.
 Eg. She sang songs. A.V.
Sub. + Verb + Obj.
 Songs were sung by her.
Sub. + Be+ P.P.(v3) + by+ Obj.

 4. The word or preposition ‘by’ is not always
mandatory to be used before object in passive voice. In
some cases words like ‘with’, ‘to’ etc., may also be used
before the object and without by also be used in
passive voice.
 Like know(to), surprise (at), annoy (with), Contain
(in), vex( with), please ( with), displease (at), alarm
(at) etc.
 Eg. She knew me. A.V.
 I was known to her. P.V.

 The water filled the bathtub.
 The bathtub was filled with water.
 The following tenses can be changed from A.V to P.V.
 Simple Present Tense
 Simple Past Tense
 Simple Future Tense
 Present Perfect Tense
 Past Perfect Tense
 Future Perfect Tense
 Present Continuous Tense
 Past Continuous Tense.

 Note: There are 12 tenses, out of 8 tenses can be
changed from Active voice to Passive voice .
 The remaining 4 tenses can not be changed because in
one sentence two be forms can not be used.
As:
Future Continuous Tense and } be + being in
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Continuous Tense } been + being
Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Changing the form of the verb
Simple Tenses Active Voice Passive Voice
Simple Present
Tense
Sub+ V1+ Obj.
He eats a mango.
Sub+ is/am/are+ V3+ by + obj.
A mango is eaten by him.
Simple Past Tense Sub+ V2+ Obj.
He ate a mango.
Sub+ was/were+ V3+ by + obj.
A mango was eaten by him.
Simple Future
Tense
Sub+ will/shall + V0+ Obj.
He will eat a mango.
Sub+ be+ V3+ by + obj.
A mango will be eaten by him.

Changing the form of the verb
Perfect Tenses Active Voice Passive Voice
Present Perfect Tense Sub+ have / has +V3+ Obj.
He has eaten a mango.
Sub+ have/has +been+ V3+
by + obj.
A mango has been eaten by
him.
Past Perfect Tense Sub+ had +V3+ Obj.
He had eaten a mango.
Sub+ had +been+ V3+ by +
obj.
A mango had been eaten
by him.
Future Perfect Tense Sub +will/shall+ have +V3+
Obj.
He will have eaten a mango.
Sub+will/shall+have+been
+ V3+ by + obj.
A mango will have been
eaten by him.

Changing the form of the verbContinuous Tenses Active Voice Passive Voice
Present Continuous
Tense
Sub+ is/am/are+V4+ Obj.
He is eating a mango.
Sub+ is/am/are + being+
V3+ by + obj.
A mango is being eaten by
him.
Past Continuous
Tense
Sub+ was/were+V4+ Obj.
He was eating a mango.
Sub+ was/were + being+
V3+ by + obj.
A mango was being eaten
by him.

Simple Present Tense:
Whenever we see the root verb or root verb+ ‘s’ or ‘es’ the verb is said to be
in simple present tense. While changing the simple present tense verb
into passive voice we have to take ‘be’ forms present forms am/is/are
after the subject then we should change the simple present tense verb
into past participle form.
Formula: Subject + is/am/are +past participle (v3) + by + obj.
Active Voice Passive Voice
We eat apples daily. Apples are eaten by us.
Dr. Ramesh teaches us English We are taught English by Dr. Ramesh.
She wishes me good luck. I am wished good luck by her.

 Negative sentences: While changing the present tense negative
sentences of active voice into passive voice “ do not” / “does not”
should be replaced by is not / am not/ are not.
Formula: Sub+ is /am/are +not+ past participle (v3)+ by+ object.
Active voice Passive Voice
I do not like sweets. Sweets are not liked by me.
They do not know me. I am not known to them.
She does not eat apples every day. Apples are not eaten by her everyday .

 Question or Interrogative Sentences: While changing the
present tense questions of active voice to passive voice do/does should
be replaced by is/am/are.
Formula: Is/am/are + v3 + by +obj+?
“wh” questioning word + is/am/are+ sub+ v3 form +by +obj +?
Who teaches you English? By whom are you taught English?
Does she serve food ? Are we served food by her?
Why don’t you understand my point? Why isn’t my point understood by you?

 Simple Past Tense:
Whenever we see the past tense or the second form of the verb is said to
be in simple past tense. While changing the simple past tense verb into
passive voice we have to take ‘be’ forms past forms was /were after the
subject. Then we should change the simple past tense verb into past
participle form.
Formula :: Sub.+ was/were+ past participle (v3) + by +obj.
Rekha wrote me a letter. I was written a letter by Rekha.
He helped me. I was helped by him.
I ate apples. Apples were eaten by me.

 Negative sentences: While changing the past tense negative
sentences of active voice into passive voice “ did not” should be
replaced by was not / were not.
Formula: Sub+ was /were +not+ past participle (v3) + by + obj.
I didn’t like sweets. Sweets were not liked by me.
He didn’t speak the truth. The truth was not spoken by him.
They didn’t know me. I wasn’t known to them.

past tense questions of active voice to passive voice did should be
replaced by was/were.
Formula: was/were + v3 + by +obj+?
“wh” questioning word + was/were+ sub+ v3 form +by +obj +?
Who taught you English? By whom were you taught English?
Did she serve food? Was food served by her?
Who broke the glass? By whom was the glass broken?

 Simple Future Tense:
Whenever we see will/shall/ any modal auxiliary + root verb is said to be
in simple future tense. While changing the simple future tense verb
into passive voice we have to take ‘be’ forms future forms /Vo form ‘be’
after the subject. Then we should change the root verb into past
participle form.
Formula: Sub +will/shall + any modal auxiliary + be+ past participle
(v3) + by + obj.
She will write me a letter. I will be written a letter by her.
We would eat apples. Apples would be eaten by us.
She may admire him. He may be admired by her.

 Negative sentences: While changing the future tense negative
sentences of active voice into passive voice “ will not/shall not/ any
modal auxiliary ” will be repeated again in passive voice sentence and
“be” + past participle should be taken +by +object.
Formula: Sub+ will / shall/ any modal auxiliary+ not +be +past participle
(v3) +by +obj.
I will not like sweets. Sweets will not be liked by me.
He can not speak truth. The truth can not be spoken by him.
She will not eat apples. Apples will not be eaten by her.

future tense questions of active voice to passive voice will/will not/shall
/shall not any modal auxiliary will be repeated again in passive voice
sentence and “be” + V3 should be used.
Formula: will/will not/shall/shall not /any modal auxiliary + not +sub+
be+ v3+by+obj?
“Wh” questioning word +will/will not/shall/shall not /any modal
auxiliary + not+sub+ be+ v3+by+obj?
Who will teach English? By whom will you be taught English?
Can he lift this box? Can this box be lifted by him?
Will she serve food? Will food be served by her?

 Present Perfect Tense: Whenever it is appeared have/has +V3
form of the verb the sentence is said to be in present perfect tense.
While changing the present perfect tense verb into passive voice again
it is to be used have/has only according to the subject then ‘been’ + v3
form to be added.
Formula: Sub +have/has +been +past participle (v3 )+by +object.
She has written a novel. A novel has been written by her.
He has prepared a design. A design has been prepared by him.
They have played cricket. Cricket has been played by them.

 Negative sentences: While changing the present perfect tense
negative sentences of active voice into passive voice have not/has not
should be repeated again in passive voice sentence according to
subject then been + past participle (v3) of the verb form to be used.
Formula: Sub+ have /has + not + been+ Past participle (v3) +by + object.
We have not understood this topic. This topic has not been understood by us.
They have not known me. I have not been known to them.
She has not written a letter. A letter has not been written by her.

present perfect tense questions of active voice to passive voice have/has
should be placed before the subject then been + past participle (v3)
form to be used.
Formula: have/ has + sub + been + past participle (v3) + by +obj + ?
“wh” questioning word +have/ has + sub + been + past participle (v3) + by
+obj + ?
Who has written this novel? By whom has been this novel written?
Has she given you party? Have you been given party by her?
Why have you not understood my
point?
Why has my point not been understood
by you?

 Past Perfect Tense: Whenever it is appeared had +V3 form of the
verb the sentence is said to be in past perfect tense. While changing
the past perfect tense verb into passive voice again it is to be used had
with all subjects then ‘been’ + v3 form to be added.
Formula: Sub +had + been +past participle (v3 )+by +object.
She had written a novel. A novel had been written by her.
He had prepared a design. A design had been prepared by him.
They had played cricket. Cricket had been played by them.

 Negative sentences: While changing the present perfect tense
negative sentences of active voice into passive voice had not should be
repeated again in passive voice sentence then been + past participle
(v3) of the verb form to be used.
Formula: Sub+ had + not + been+ Past participle (v3) +by + object.
We had not understood this topic. This topic had not been understood
by us.
They had not known me. I had not been known to them.
She had not written a letter. A letter had not been written by her.

past perfect tense questions of active voice to passive voice had should
be placed before the subject then been + past participle (v3) form to be
used.
Formula: had+ sub + been + past participle (v3) + by +obj + ?
“wh” questioning word +had + sub + been + past participle (v3) + by +obj + ?
Who had written this novel? By whom had been this novel written?
Had she given you party? Had you been given party by her?
Why had you not understood my point? Why had my point not been understood
by you?

 Future Perfect Tense: Whenever it is appeared will/shall+ have
+V3 form of the verb the sentence is said to be in future perfect tense
verb into passive voice again it is to be used will/shall +have + ‘been’ +
v3 form to be added.
Formula: Sub +will/shall +have + been +past participle (v3 )+by +object.
She will have written a novel. A novel will have been written by her.
We shall have prepared a design. A design will have been prepared by us.
They will have played cricket. Cricket will have been played by them.

 Negative sentences: While changing the future perfect tense
negative sentences of active voice into passive voice will/shall + not+
have should be repeated again in passive voice sentence then been +
past participle (v3) of the verb form to be used.
Formula: Sub+ will/shall + have +not + been+ Past participle (v3) +by +
object.
We shall have not understood this
topic.
This topic will not have been understood
by us.
They will have not known me. I shall not have been known to them.
She will have not written a letter. A letter will not have been written by her.

future perfect tense questions of active voice to passive voice will/shall
should be placed before the subject then have + been + past participle
(v3) form to be used.
Formula: Will/shall +have + sub + been + past participle (v3) + by +obj + ?
“wh” questioning word +will/shall +have + sub + been + (v3) + by +obj + ?
Who will have written this novel? By whom will have been this novel
written ?
Will she have given you party? Will you have been given party by her?
Why will you not have understood my
point?
Why will my point have not been
understood by you?

 Present Continuous Tense: Whenever it is appeared the
subject + is /am/are+ present participle (V4) form of the verb the
sentence is said to be in present continuous tense verb into passive
voice it is to be added is/am/are + being + v3 form to be added.
Formula: Sub +is/am/are + being +past participle (v3 )+by +object.
She is writing a novel. A novel is being written by her.
We are preparing a design. A design is being prepared by us.
They are playing cricket. Cricket is being played by them.

 Negative sentences: While changing the Present continuous
tense negative sentences of active voice into passive voice is/am/are
+not +being + past participle (v3) of the verb form to be used.
Formula: Sub+ is/am/are + not + being+ Past participle (v3) +by + object.
We are not understanding this topic. This topic is not being understood by us.
They are not making kites. Kites are not being made by them.
She is not writing a letter. A letter is not being written by her.

present continuous tense questions of active voice to passive voice
is/am/are +being+ past participle (v3) form to be used.
Formula: Is/am/are+ sub + being+ past participle (v3) + by +obj + ?
“wh” questioning word +is/am/are+ sub + being+ (v3) + by +obj + ?
Who is teaching you English? By whom are you being taught English?
Is she giving you party? Are you being given party by her?
Why are you not being understood
my point?
Why is my point not being understood
by you?

 Past Continuous Tense: Whenever it is appeared the subject +
was/were+ present participle (V4) form of the verb the sentence is said
to be in past continuous tense. While changing the past continuous
tense into passive voice it is to be added was/were + being + v3 form to
be added.
Formula: Sub +was/ were+ being +past participle (v3 )+by +object.
She was writing a novel. A novel was being written by her.
We were preparing a design. A design was being prepared by us.
They were playing cricket. Cricket was being played by them.

 Negative sentences: While changing the Past continuous tense
negative sentences of active voice into passive voice was/were +not
+being + past participle (v3) of the verb form to be used.
Formula: Sub+ was/were + not + being+ Past participle (v3) +by + object.
We were not understanding this topic. This topic was not being understood
by us.
They were not making kites. Kites were not being made by them.
She was not writing a letter. A letter was not being written by her.

past continuous tense questions of active voice to passive voice
was/were +being+ past participle (v3) form to be used.
Formula: Was/were+ sub + being+ past participle (v3) + by +obj + ?
“wh” questioning word +was/were + sub + being+ (v3) + by +obj + ?
Who is teaching you English? By whom are you being taught
English?
Who was teaching you English? By whom were you being taught English?
Was she giving you party? Were you being given party by her?
Why were you not being understood
my point?
Why was my point not being
understood by you?

 Imperative Sentences:
Formula: Let+ subject + be + past participle (v3)
Open the window Let the window be opened
Please help the poor man Let the poor man be helped please
Let him finish the work Let the work be finished by him
Don’t consult doctor Let doctor not to be consulted
Do it now Let it be done now
Type this letter Let this letter be typed
Don’t disturb me Let me not to be disturbed.

Please feel free to ask
queries?
Thank you

Active Voice vs Passive Voice: A Guide to When to Use Each Form

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