Voice ( Active and Passive )

 

Definition of Voice

Voice refers to the form of a verb that shows whether the subject of the sentence is doing the action or receiving the action.

There are two types of voice:

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1. Active Voice:

• In active voice, the subject does the action.
• The focus is on the doer of the action.

Structure:
Subject + Verb + Object

Example:

• Ram wrote a letter.
  → ("Ram" is the subject doing the action)

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2. Passive Voice:

• In passive voice, the subject receives the action.
• The focus is on the receiver of the action, not the doer.

Structure:
Object + form of "be" + past participle + (by + subject)

Example:

• A letter was written by Ram.
  → ("A letter" is the subject receiving the action)

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More Examples

Active Voice	Passive Voice
She sings a song.	A song is sung by her.
They are watching a movie.	A movie is being watched by them.
He has completed the work.	The work has been completed by him.
The teacher punished the boy.	The boy was punished by the teacher.

 

the basic to advanced rules of voice (active and passive) in English grammar:

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Basic Rules of Voice

1. Identify Subject, Verb, and Object

Before changing the voice, find:

·         Subject (doer of the action)

·         Verb (action)

·         Object (receiver of the action)

Example:

·         Active: The boy (subject) kicks (verb) the ball (object).

·         Passive: The ball is kicked by the boy.

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2. Object of the Active Voice Becomes Subject in Passive

Active: She writes a letter.
Passive: A letter is written by her.

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3. Use Proper "Be" Verb According to Tense

Change the main verb to the past participle (V3) form and add the correct form of "be" verb:

Active Form	Passive Form
do/does + V1	is/am/are + V3
is/am/are + V1+ing	is/am/are being + V3
has/have + V3	has/have been + V3
did + V1	was/were + V3
was/were + V1+ing	was/were being + V3
had + V3	had been + V3
will/shall + V1	will/shall be + V3
modals (can/may/etc.)	modal + be + V3

 

With examples

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Simple Present	She writes a letter.	A letter is written by her.
Present Continuous	She is writing a letter.	A letter is being written by her.
Present Perfect	She has written a letter.	A letter has been written by her.
Simple Past	She wrote a letter.	A letter was written by her.
Past Continuous	She was writing a letter.	A letter was being written by her.
Past Perfect	She had written a letter.	A letter had been written by her.
Simple Future	She will write a letter.	A letter will be written by her.
Future Perfect	She will have written a letter.	A letter will have been written by her.

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Active to Passive Voice Conversion with "Be" Verb Forms with structures

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice	Structure (Passive)
Simple Present	She writes a letter.	A letter is written by her.	is/am/are + V3
Present Continuous	She is writing a letter.	A letter is being written by her.	is/am/are + being + V3
Present Perfect	She has written a letter.	A letter has been written by her.	has/have + been + V3
Simple Past	She wrote a letter.	A letter was written by her.	was/were + V3
Past Continuous	She was writing a letter.	A letter was being written by her.	was/were + being + V3
Past Perfect	She had written a letter.	A letter had been written by her.	had been + V3
Simple Future	She will write a letter.	A letter will be written by her.	will/shall + be + V3
Future Perfect	She will have written a letter.	A letter will have been written by her.	will/shall have been + V3

 

Intermediate Rules

4. Use "By + agent" Only When Necessary

·         Omit "by + subject" if the doer is unknown or unimportant.
Example:

o    Passive: The window was broken. (No need to say "by someone".)

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5. Modals + Be + Past Participle

Active: You must complete the task.
Passive: The task must be completed.

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6. Imperative Sentences

·         Active: Open the door.

·         Passive: Let the door be opened.

·         Active (negative): Do not waste time.

·         Passive: Let not time be wasted.

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Advanced Rules

7. Interrogative Sentences

·         Active: Did she complete the work?

·         Passive: Was the work completed by her?

·         Active: Has he cleaned the room?

·         Passive: Has the room been cleaned by him?

·         With “wh” words:
Active: Who wrote this book?
Passive: By whom was this book written?

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8. Sentences with Two Objects

Choose either object as the subject in passive voice:

Active: She gave him (indirect) a book (direct).
Passive 1: He was given a book by her.
Passive 2: A book was given to him by her.

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9. Infinitives

Active: I want to help him.
Passive: I want him to be helped.

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10. Gerund Forms

Active: I enjoy playing football.
Passive: I enjoy football being played.