Grammar - Active and Passive Voice
Active and Passive Voice – Complete Explanation
1. What is Voice?
In English grammar, voice shows the relationship between the subject, the verb, and the object in a sentence.
There are two voices:
Active Voice
Passive Voice
2. Active Voice
Definition
In the active voice, the subject performs the action.
Structure
Subject + Verb + Object
Examples
The teacher teaches English.
John wrote a letter.
The cat chased the mouse.
Here, the subject does the action.
3. Passive Voice
Definition
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Structure
Subject + be verb + V3 (Past Participle) + (by + doer)
Examples
English is taught by the teacher.
A letter was written by John.
The mouse was chased by the cat.
Here, the subject receives the action.
4. Comparison Between Active and Passive Voice
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| Subject performs the action. | Subject receives the action. |
| Subject comes first. | Object becomes the subject. |
| Usually shorter and more direct. | Usually longer and more formal. |
Example
Active: The chef cooked the meal.
Passive: The meal was cooked by the chef.
5. Parts of an Active Sentence
Example:
The students completed the project.
Subject = The students
Verb = completed
Object = the project
Passive:
The project was completed by the students.
6. Formula for Changing Active to Passive
Step 1
Find the object.
Step 2
Move the object to the beginning.
Step 3
Use the correct form of be.
Step 4
Use the past participle (V3).
Step 5
Add by + subject if necessary.
Formula
Active
Subject + Verb + Object
Passive
Object + Be Verb + V3 + by + Subject
7. Active and Passive in Different Tenses
A. Present Simple
Active
Subject + V1/V5 + Object
Example
She writes a letter.
Passive
Object + am/is/are + V3
Example
A letter is written by her.
B. Present Continuous
Active
Subject + am/is/are + V4
Example
She is writing a letter.
Passive
Object + am/is/are + being + V3
Example
A letter is being written by her.
C. Present Perfect
Active
Subject + has/have + V3
Example
She has written a letter.
Passive
Object + has/have + been + V3
Example
A letter has been written by her.
D. Past Simple
Active
Subject + V2
Example
She wrote a letter.
Passive
Object + was/were + V3
Example
A letter was written by her.
E. Past Continuous
Active
Subject + was/were + V4
Example
She was writing a letter.
Passive
Object + was/were + being + V3
Example
A letter was being written by her.
F. Past Perfect
Active
Subject + had + V3
Example
She had written a letter.
Passive
Object + had been + V3
Example
A letter had been written by her.
G. Future Simple
Active
Subject + will + V1
Example
She will write a letter.
Passive
Object + will be + V3
Example
A letter will be written by her.
H. Future Perfect
Active
Subject + will have + V3
Example
She will have written a letter.
Passive
Object + will have been + V3
Example
A letter will have been written by her.
8. Passive Voice with Modal Verbs
Formula
Object + Modal + be + V3
Examples
Active
You must obey the rules.
Passive
The rules must be obeyed.
More Examples
Active:
We can solve the problem.
Passive:
The problem can be solved.
9. Tense Conversion Table
| Tense | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | writes | is/am/are + V3 |
| Present Continuous | is writing | is/am/are being + V3 |
| Present Perfect | has written | has/have been + V3 |
| Past Simple | wrote | was/were + V3 |
| Past Continuous | was writing | was/were being + V3 |
| Past Perfect | had written | had been + V3 |
| Future Simple | will write | will be + V3 |
| Future Perfect | will have written | will have been + V3 |
| Modal | can write | can be + V3 |
10. When Do We Use Passive Voice?
Passive voice is used when:
A. The doer is unknown.
My bicycle was stolen.
(We don't know who stole it.)
B. The doer is unimportant.
English is spoken in many countries.
C. We want to emphasize the action.
The bridge was built in 2025.
D. Scientific writing
The experiment was conducted carefully.
E. News reports
Several people were rescued.
11. When Should We Use Active Voice?
Active voice is better when:
The doer is important.
The sentence should be clear and direct.
Everyday conversation.
Story writing.
Example
Active:
The doctor treated the patient.
Passive:
The patient was treated by the doctor.
The active sentence is shorter and clearer.
12. Verbs That Cannot Usually Be Changed into Passive
Only transitive verbs (verbs with an object) can be changed into passive voice.
Examples
Active:
She opened the door.
Passive:
The door was opened.
Intransitive verbs cannot be changed.
Examples
He sleeps.
The baby cried.
Birds fly.
These have no object, so passive voice is impossible.
13. Passive Voice Without "By"
Often, by + doer is omitted.
Example
Active:
Someone stole my wallet.
Passive:
My wallet was stolen.
Not:
My wallet was stolen by someone.
14. Common Errors
Error 1
❌ The homework is do by me.
✅ The homework is done by me.
Error 2
❌ The letter was wrote.
✅ The letter was written.
Error 3
❌ The work has finished.
(Meaning: the work finished itself.)
✅ The work has been finished.
(If someone finished it.)
Error 4
❌ The problem can solved.
✅ The problem can be solved.
Error 5
❌ The book is writing.
✅ The book is being written.
15. Examples of Active and Passive Voice
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| The teacher teaches English. | English is taught by the teacher. |
| John cleaned the room. | The room was cleaned by John. |
| She is washing the clothes. | The clothes are being washed by her. |
| They have completed the project. | The project has been completed by them. |
| The police arrested the thief. | The thief was arrested by the police. |
| We will build a new school. | A new school will be built by us. |
| You should obey the rules. | The rules should be obeyed. |
| The chef cooked the meal. | The meal was cooked by the chef. |
| The students solved the problem. | The problem was solved by the students. |
| Someone broke the window. | The window was broken. |
16. Steps to Change Active to Passive
Example
Active:
The boy kicked the ball.
Step 1
Find the object.
the ball
Step 2
Move it to the beginning.
The ball
Step 3
Choose the correct be verb.
was
Step 4
Use V3.
kicked
Step 5
Add by + subject.
by the boy
Result:
The ball was kicked by the boy.
17. Practice
Change the following into passive voice.
The teacher explains the lesson.
Answer: The lesson is explained by the teacher.
They built a bridge.
Answer: A bridge was built by them.
She has finished the homework.
Answer: The homework has been finished by her.
We will plant trees.
Answer: Trees will be planted by us.
The police caught the thief.
Answer: The thief was caught by the police.
18. Memory Tips
Active Voice → Subject does the action.
The girl writes a letter.
Passive Voice → Subject receives the action.
A letter is written by the girl.
Passive Formula
Object + Be Verb + V3 (+ by + Subject)
Only transitive verbs (verbs with an object) can be changed into the passive voice.
19. Summary Table
| Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Doer of the action | Receiver of the action |
| Structure | Subject + Verb + Object | Object + Be + V3 (+ by + Subject) |
| Style | Direct, clear, natural | Formal, objective, emphasizes the action |
| Common Use | Conversation, stories, everyday writing | Reports, scientific writing, news, formal documents |
Easy Definition to Remember
Active voice is a sentence in which the subject performs the action.
Subject + Verb + Object
The student writes the answer.
Passive voice is a sentence in which the subject receives the action.
Object + Be Verb + Past Participle (V3) + (by + Subject)
The answer is written by the student.
Key Rule: Only transitive verbs (verbs that have an object) can be changed from active voice to passive voice. Mastering both voices helps you write in a style that is appropriate for everyday communication as well as formal, academic, and professional contexts.
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