Active Voice
The subject does the action.
Example
Ravi wrote a letter.
Passive Voice
The subject receives the action.
Example
A letter was written by Ravi.
STEP 1 – IDENTIFY SUBJECT, VERB AND OBJECT
First find the subject, verb and object in the active sentence.
Pattern
Subject + Verb + Object
Example
She wrote a poem.
Subject – She
Verb – wrote
Object – a poem
STEP 2 – MAKE THE OBJECT THE SUBJECT
In passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject.
Example
Active
She wrote a poem.
Passive
A poem was written by her.
Object (a poem) becomes the new subject.
STEP 3 – USE THE CORRECT “BE FORM” + V3
In passive voice the verb changes into
Be form + Past Participle (V3)
Common Be Forms
am, is, are, was , were, be, been, being,..
Example
Active
The boy kicked the ball.
Passive
The ball was kicked by the boy.
Be form → was
V3 → kicked
Another example
Active
She is writing a letter.
Passive
A letter is being written by her.
STEP 4 – ADD “BY + DOER”
The subject of the active sentence becomes the doer after “by”.
Example
Active
The teacher explained the lesson.
Passive
The lesson was explained by the teacher.
Subject (teacher) becomes object after by.
STEP 5 – CHECK THE TENSE
The tense of the sentence must remain the same.
Example
Active (Present)
She writes a letter.
Passive
A letter is written by her.
EXAMPLES IN DIFFERENT TENSES
Simple Present
Active
She writes a letter.
Passive
A letter is written by her.
Simple Past
Active
She wrote a letter.
Passive
A letter was written by her.
Present Continuous
Active
She is writing a letter.
Passive
A letter is being written by her.
Present Perfect
Active
She has written a letter.
Passive
A letter has been written by her.
Simple Future
Active
She will write a letter.
Passive
A letter will be written by her.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Sometimes “by + doer” is not necessary.
Example
Active
Someone stole my bike.
Passive
My bike was stolen.
EASY EXAMPLES
Active:
She writes a letter.
Passive:
A letter is written by her.
Active:
The boy kicked the ball.
Passive:
The ball was kicked by the boy.
Active:
They clean the room.
Passive:
The room is cleaned by them.
Active:
The teacher explained the lesson.
Passive:
The lesson was explained by the teacher.
Active:
She is reading a book.
Passive:
A book is being read by her.
MODERATE EXAMPLES
Active:
They have completed the work.
Passive:
The work has been completed by them.
Active:
The police arrested the thief.
Passive:
The thief was arrested by the police.
Active:
He will finish the project.
Passive:
The project will be finished by him.
Active:
Someone stole my bike.
Passive:
My bike was stolen.
Active:
The manager is checking the reports.
Passive:
The reports are being checked by the manager.
HARD EXAMPLES
Active:
People speak English all over the world.
Passive:
English is spoken all over the world.
Active:
The committee has approved the proposal.
Passive:
The proposal has been approved by the committee.
Active:
They are building a new bridge in the city.
Passive:
A new bridge is being built in the city.
Active:
The students had completed the assignment.
Passive:
The assignment had been completed by the students.
Active:
The government will announce the results tomorrow.
Passive:
The results will be announced by the government tomorrow.
Active → Passive (Be Form Changes)
| Active Verb Form | Passive Form |
| am / is / are | am / is / are + V3 |
| was / were | was / were + V3 |
| is writing | is being written |
| are playing | are being played |
| was doing | was being done |
| were watching | were being watched |
| has | has been |
| have | have been |
| had | had been |
| has written | has been written |
| have completed | have been completed |
| had finished | had been finished |
| will | will be |
| can | can be |
| must | must be |
| will complete | will be completed |
| can solve | can be solved |