How to Crack Active and Passive Voice in English: Active and Passive Voice questions are an important part of grammar tests in competitive examinations like SSC, Banking, Railway, Defence, and State Government examinations. Numerous aspirants find these questions confusing, but with the right approach and practice, they can be answered fluently.
This composition explains Active and Passive Voice rules, steps to convert sentences, common patterns, and example Questions to help you score better.
What is Active Voice?
A sentence is in Active Voice when the subject acts.
Example:
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Active: The boy writes a letter.
Here, “the boy” is doing the action (writing).
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What is Passive Voice?
A sentence is in Passive Voice when the action is done to the subject.
Example:
-
Passive: A letter is written by the boy.
Here, the focus is on “a letter”, not on who is doing the action.
Basic Rule of Active to Passive Voice
Active Voice Structure:
Subject + Verb + Object
Passive Voice Structure:
Object + Helping Verb + Past Participle (V3) + by + Subject
Steps to Convert Active to Passive Voice
Follow these 5 simple steps:
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Identify the subject, verb, and object
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Make the object of active voice the subject of passive voice
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Use the correct helping verb according to the tense
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Change the main verb into past participle (V3)
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Add “by + subject” (if required)
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Tense-wise Active / Passive Voice Rules
1. Simple Present Tense
Active: Subject + V1 + Object
Passive: Object + is/am/are + V3 + by + Subject
Example:
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Active: She cleans the room.
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Passive: The room is cleaned by her.
2. Simple Past Tense
Active: Subject + V2 + Object
Passive: Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject
Example:
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Active: He wrote a story.
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Passive: A story was written by him
3. Simple Future Tense
Active: Subject + will + V1 + Object
Passive: Object + will be + V3 + by + Subject
Example:
- Active: They will complete the work.
- Passive: The work will be completed by them.
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4. Present Continuous Tense
Active: Subject + is/am/are + V1+ing + Object
Passive: Object + is/am/are being + V3 + by + Subject
Example:
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Active: She is cooking food.
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Passive: Food is being cooked by her.
5. Present Perfect Tense
Active: Subject + has/have + V3 + Object
Passive: Object + has/have been + V3 + by + Subject
Example:
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Active: He has finished the work.
-
Passive: The work has been finished by him.
Example Questions
Q. Choose the most appropriate option to change the voice (active/passive) form of the given sentence.
Priya bought the car last year.
- The car was being bought by Priya last year.
- The car has been bought by Priya last year.
- The car was bought by Priya last year.
- The car had been bought by Priya last year.
Solution:
The given sentence is in the active voice. It is in the simple past tense.
The structures for active/passive voices are:
Active: Subject + verb (IInd form) + object…
Passive: Object + was/were + verb (IIIrd form) + by + subject…
So, with the help of the above structures, we can convert the given sentence into passive voice:The car was bought by Priya last year.
Hence,option Cis the correct answer.
Q. Choose the most appropriate option to change the voice (active/passive) form of the given sentence.
Mary kept her schedule meticulously.
- Mary’s schedule was kept meticulously by her.
- Keeping the schedule meticulously has been done by Mary.
- Mary keeps meticulousness in her schedule.
- Her schedule would be kept meticulously by Mary.
Solution:
The given sentence is in active voice. It is a simple form of past tense.
The structures for active/passive voices are:-
Active: Subject + verb’s second form + object.
Passive: Object + was/were + verb (IIIrd form) + by + subject.
So, based on the above structures, we can convert the given sentence into passive voice :- Mary’s schedule was kept meticulously by her.
Hence,option Ais the correct answer.
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Q. Choose the most appropriate option to change the voice (active/passive) form of the given sentence.
The dog is being fed by us.
- We fed the dog.
- We have had been feeding the dog.
- We are feeding the dog.
- We had been feeding the dog.
Solution:
The given sentence is in the passive voice. It is in the present continuous tense.
The structures for active/passive voices are:-
Active Voice :- Subject + is/are/am + verb (ing) + object.
Passive Voice :- Object + is/are/am + being + verb (IIIrd from) + by + subject.
So, with the help of the above structures, we can convert the given sentence into an active voice:We are feeding the dog.
Hence,option Cis the correct answer.
Q. Choose the most appropriate option to change the voice (active/passive) form of the given sentence.
Onions aren’t eaten by some people.
- Some people don’t eat onions.
- Most people do not eat onions.
- Some people needn’t eat onions.
- People are not eaten by some onions.
Solution:
The given sentence is in passive voice and we need to convert it in active voice.
The structures for passive/active voice for present indefinite negative sentences are :-
Passive: Object + is/are/am + not + verb (IIIrd form) + by + subject.
Active: Subject + do/does + not + verb (Ist form) + object.
Now, with the help of the above structures, we can convert the given passive sentence into active:Some people do not eat onions.
Hence,option Ais the correct answer.
Q. Choose the most appropriate option to change the voice (active/passive) form of the given sentence.
Shaan sings a melodious song.
- Song was sung melodiously by Shaan.
- Shaan was singing melodious song.
- A melodious song is sung by Shaan.
- Melodious song sung by Shaan.
Solution:
The given sentence is in the active voice. It is in the simple present tense.
The structures for active/passive voices are:
Active: Subject + verb (“s“ or “es” with singular noun) + object…
Passive: Object + Is/are/am + verb (IIIrd form) + by + subject…
So, based on the above structures, we can convert the given sentence into the passive voice: A melodious song is sung by Shaan.
Hence, option C is the correct answer.
Active and Passive Voice questions are easy to score if you understand the rules and practice regularly. By relating the tense, using the correct helping verb, and changing the verb into its past participle form, you can break these questions quickly and directly in examinations.