Rules of Active and Passive Voice

                        Active and Passive Voice 

Assertive Sentences (Statements)

Rule (Active → Passive):

Active →Subject + verb + object 

Passive → Object + appropriate form of “be” + past participle (V3) + (by + subject)

Tense-wise “Be” Form:

Tense	Active Voice Verb	Passive Voice (Be + V3)
Present Simple	writes	is/am/are written
Present Continuous	is writing	is being written
Past Simple	wrote	was/were written
Past Continuous	was writing	was being written
Present Perfect	has written	has been written
Past Perfect	had written	had been written
Future Simple	will write	will be written
Future Perfect	will have written	will have been written
Modal (can/may/etc.)	can write	can be written

Examples:

• Active: She writes a letter.
  Passive: A letter is written by her.
• Active: They are watching a movie.
  Passive: A movie is being watched by them.
• Active: He has completed the project.
  Passive: The project has been completed by him.
• Active: We will submit the report.
  Passive: The report will be submitted by us.

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2. Imperative Sentences (Commands, Requests, Advice, etc.)

Rule:

• Command/Advice:
  Verb + object → Let + object + be + past participle (V3)
• Request:
  Please + verb + object → You are requested to + base verb

Examples:

• Active (command): Close the door.
  Passive: Let the door be closed.
• Active (negative command): Do not open the window.
  Passive: Let the window not be opened.
• Active (request): Please help me.
  Passive: You are requested to help me.
• Active (advice): Follow the instructions.
  Passive: Let the instructions be followed.

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3. Interrogative Sentences

A. Yes/No Questions

Rule:

Helping Verb + Subject + verb + object?
→ Be/Modal + object + past participle + by + subject?

Examples:

• Active: Do you eat rice?
  Passive: Is rice eaten by you?
• Active: Did she finish the work?
  Passive: Was the work finished by her?
• Active: Has he cleaned the room?
  Passive: Has the room been cleaned by him?
• Active: Can they solve the puzzle?
  Passive: Can the puzzle be solved by them?

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B. WH-Questions (Who, What, Where, Why, etc.)

There are two cases:

(i) If "Who" is the subject in the active voice:

• Replace "Who" with "By whom" in passive voice.

Examples:

• Active: Who wrote this book?
  Passive: By whom was this book written?
• Active: Who is teaching the class?
  Passive: By whom is the class being taught?

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 (ii) If the WH-word is object or other part, keep it in front.

Examples:

• Active: What did you eat?
  Passive: What was eaten by you?
• Active: Which books do you read?
  Passive: Which books are read by you?
• Active: Why did he break the window?
  Passive: Why was the window broken by him?
• Active: Where did you keep the file?
  Passive: Where was the file kept by you?

 

Summary Table

Sentence Type	Active Example	Passive Example
Assertive	She reads a novel.	A novel is read by her.
Imperative (Command)	Shut the door.	Let the door be shut.
Imperative (Request)	Please send the mail.	You are requested to send the mail.
Yes/No Question	Did he complete the task?	Was the task completed by him?
WH-Q (Subject)	Who wrote this poem?	By whom was this poem written?
WH-Q (Object)	What did she cook?	What was cooked by her?