# Quick Revision Notes: Active and Passive Voice Welcome, students! As an English Grammar expert, I’ve prepared this concise and exam-focused revision note on **Voice Change**. This topic is crucial for all teacher eligibility and competitive exams. Let’s get started! ## 1. The Basics of Voice Voice indicates whether the subject of a sentence performs the action (Active Voice) or receives the action (Passive Voice). A verb is in the passive voice only when it is **transitive** (i.e., it takes an object). Intransitive verbs (like `sleep`, `run`, `die`) cannot be changed into passive voice. * **Active Voice Formula:** Subject + Verb + Object * **Passive Voice Formula:** Object + Verb (be form) + V3 (past participle) + by + Subject **Short Trick:** The easiest way to remember is the `O-V3-S` rule. The **O**bject from the active sentence becomes the new **S**ubject, the main verb is changed to its `V`**3** form preceded by a `be` verb, and the original **S**ubject becomes the new **O**bject, usually preceded by `by`. ## 2. Tense-wise Conversion Rules ### Simple Present Tense * **Active:** Subject + V1/V5 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **is/am/are** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He writes a letter.` → `A letter is written by him.` --- ### Present Continuous Tense * **Active:** Subject + is/am/are + V4(ing) + Object * **Passive:** Object + **is/am/are + being** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He is writing a letter.` → `A letter is being written by him.` --- ### Present Perfect Tense * **Active:** Subject + has/have + V3 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **has/have + been** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He has written a letter.` → `A letter has been written by him.` --- ### Simple Past Tense * **Active:** Subject + V2 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **was/were** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He wrote a letter.` → `A letter was written by him.` --- ### Past Continuous Tense * **Active:** Subject + was/were + V4(ing) + Object * **Passive:** Object + **was/were + being** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He was writing a letter.` → `A letter was being written by him.` --- ### Past Perfect Tense * **Active:** Subject + had + V3 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **had + been** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He had written a letter.` → `A letter had been written by him.` --- ### Simple Future Tense * **Active:** Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **will/shall + be** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He will write a letter.` → `A letter will be written by him.` --- ### Future Perfect Tense * **Active:** Subject + will/shall + have + V3 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **will/shall + have + been** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He will have written a letter.` → `A letter will have been written by him.` --- **Tenses with No Passive Form:** * Present Perfect Continuous * Past Perfect Continuous * Future Continuous * Future Perfect Continuous **Tenses with No Passive Form:** * Present Perfect Continuous * Past Perfect Continuous * Future Continuous * Future Perfect Continuous ## 3. Important Concepts and Exam-Specific Tricks This section covers the tricky, commonly asked questions in competitive exams. ### 3.1. Voice Change of Imperative Sentences These are sentences that express a command, request, or advice. * **For Commands:** Use the `Let` structure. * **Active:** `Shut the door.` * **Passive:** `Let the door be shut.` * **For Advice/Request:** Use `You are advised/requested/ordered`. * **Active:** `Help the poor.` * **Passive:** `You are advised to help the poor.` * **Active:** `Please give me a book.` * **Passive:** `You are requested to give me a book.` ### 3.2. Voice Change with Modal Verbs Modals (`can`, `could`, `may`, `might`, `must`, `should`, `would`) follow a simple rule. * **Active:** S + Modal + V1 + O * **Passive:** O + Modal + **be** + V3 + by + S * **Example:** `You should respect your elders.` → `Your elders should be respected.` (The `by you` is often omitted as the subject is generic.) ### 3.3. Verbs that use Prepositions other than `by` Some verbs take different prepositions in the passive voice. * `know` → `known to` * **Active:** `Everyone knows him.` * **Passive:** `He is known to everyone.` * `surprise`, `annoy`, `shock`, `astonish` → `surprised at`, `annoyed at`, `shocked at` * **Active:** `His behavior shocked me.` * **Passive:** `I was shocked at his behavior.` * `please`, `impress`, `disgust`, `charm` → `pleased with`, `impressed with`, `disgusted with` * **Active:** `Her performance impressed us.` * **Passive:** `We were impressed with her performance.` * `contain`, `interest` → `contained in`, `interested in` * **Active:** `This box contains toys.` * **Passive:** `Toys are contained in this box.` ### 3.4. Omission of the Agent (`by + subject`) The `by + subject` part is often omitted when the subject in the active voice is vague (`someone`, `people`, `they`, `we`) or obvious (`the police`, `the doctor`, `the students`). * **Active:** `The police arrested the thief.` * **Passive:** `The thief was arrested.` --- ## 4. 20 Objective Questions & Answers **1. Q:** The teacher praised the student. (Change to Passive) **A:** The student was praised by the teacher. **2. Q:** Who wrote this book? (Change to Passive) **A:** By whom was this book written? **3. Q:** What is being cooked by her? (Change to Active) **A:** What is she cooking? **4. Q:** You must help him. (Change to Passive) **A:** He must be helped by you. **5. Q:** The box contained many items. (Change to Passive) **A:** Many items were contained in the box. **6. Q:** The storm has destroyed the crops. (Change to Passive) **A:** The crops have been destroyed by the storm. **7. Q:** The news shocked us. (Change to Passive) **A:** We were shocked at the news. **8. Q:** Let the report be typed. (Change to Active) **A:** Type the report. **9. Q:** They will have completed the project. (Change to Passive) **A:** The project will have been completed by them. **10. Q:** The boy laughed at the beggar. (Change to Passive) **A:** The beggar was laughed at by the boy. **11. Q:** The students are playing football. (Change to Passive) **A:** Football is being played by the students. **12. Q:** I know him. (Change to Passive) **A:** He is known to me. **13. Q:** Our team has won the match. (Change to Passive) **A:** The match has been won by our team. **14. Q:** The guard opened the gate. (Change to Passive) **A:** The gate was opened by the guard. **15. Q:** People speak English all over the world. (Change to Passive) **A:** English is spoken all over the world. **16. Q:** He was advised to work hard. (Change to Active) **A:** You are advised to work hard. **17. Q:** The teacher will give us a test. (Change to Passive) **A:** A test will be given to us by the teacher. **18. Q:** My father impressed me with his knowledge. (Change to Passive) **A:** I was impressed with my father's knowledge. **19. Q:** The mechanic is repairing the car. (Change to Passive) **A:** The car is being repaired by the mechanic. **20. Q:** Do not make a noise. (Change to Passive) **A:** You are ordered not to make a noise. --- *Last updated: 19/8/2025*
# Quick Revision Notes: Active and Passive Voice Welcome, students! As an English Grammar expert, I’ve prepared this concise and exam-focused revision note on **Voice Change**. This topic is crucial for all teacher eligibility and competitive exams. Let’s get started! ## 1. The Basics of Voice Voice indicates whether the subject of a sentence performs the action (Active Voice) or receives the action (Passive Voice). A verb is in the passive voice only when it is **transitive** (i.e., it takes an object). Intransitive verbs (like `sleep`, `run`, `die`) cannot be changed into passive voice. * **Active Voice Formula:** Subject + Verb + Object * **Passive Voice Formula:** Object + Verb (be form) + V3 (past participle) + by + Subject **Short Trick:** The easiest way to remember is the `O-V3-S` rule. The **O**bject from the active sentence becomes the new **S**ubject, the main verb is changed to its `V`**3** form preceded by a `be` verb, and the original **S**ubject becomes the new **O**bject, usually preceded by `by`. ## 2. Tense-wise Conversion Rules ### Simple Present Tense * **Active:** Subject + V1/V5 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **is/am/are** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He writes a letter.` → `A letter is written by him.` --- ### Present Continuous Tense * **Active:** Subject + is/am/are + V4(ing) + Object * **Passive:** Object + **is/am/are + being** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He is writing a letter.` → `A letter is being written by him.` --- ### Present Perfect Tense * **Active:** Subject + has/have + V3 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **has/have + been** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He has written a letter.` → `A letter has been written by him.` --- ### Simple Past Tense * **Active:** Subject + V2 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **was/were** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He wrote a letter.` → `A letter was written by him.` --- ### Past Continuous Tense * **Active:** Subject + was/were + V4(ing) + Object * **Passive:** Object + **was/were + being** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He was writing a letter.` → `A letter was being written by him.` --- ### Past Perfect Tense * **Active:** Subject + had + V3 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **had + been** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He had written a letter.` → `A letter had been written by him.` --- ### Simple Future Tense * **Active:** Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **will/shall + be** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He will write a letter.` → `A letter will be written by him.` --- ### Future Perfect Tense * **Active:** Subject + will/shall + have + V3 + Object * **Passive:** Object + **will/shall + have + been** + V3 + by + Subject * **Example:** `He will have written a letter.` → `A letter will have been written by him.` --- **Tenses with No Passive Form:** * Present Perfect Continuous * Past Perfect Continuous * Future Continuous * Future Perfect Continuous **Tenses with No Passive Form:** * Present Perfect Continuous * Past Perfect Continuous * Future Continuous * Future Perfect Continuous ## 3. Important Concepts and Exam-Specific Tricks This section covers the tricky, commonly asked questions in competitive exams. ### 3.1. Voice Change of Imperative Sentences These are sentences that express a command, request, or advice. * **For Commands:** Use the `Let` structure. * **Active:** `Shut the door.` * **Passive:** `Let the door be shut.` * **For Advice/Request:** Use `You are advised/requested/ordered`. * **Active:** `Help the poor.` * **Passive:** `You are advised to help the poor.` * **Active:** `Please give me a book.` * **Passive:** `You are requested to give me a book.` ### 3.2. Voice Change with Modal Verbs Modals (`can`, `could`, `may`, `might`, `must`, `should`, `would`) follow a simple rule. * **Active:** S + Modal + V1 + O * **Passive:** O + Modal + **be** + V3 + by + S * **Example:** `You should respect your elders.` → `Your elders should be respected.` (The `by you` is often omitted as the subject is generic.) ### 3.3. Verbs that use Prepositions other than `by` Some verbs take different prepositions in the passive voice. * `know` → `known to` * **Active:** `Everyone knows him.` * **Passive:** `He is known to everyone.` * `surprise`, `annoy`, `shock`, `astonish` → `surprised at`, `annoyed at`, `shocked at` * **Active:** `His behavior shocked me.` * **Passive:** `I was shocked at his behavior.` * `please`, `impress`, `disgust`, `charm` → `pleased with`, `impressed with`, `disgusted with` * **Active:** `Her performance impressed us.` * **Passive:** `We were impressed with her performance.` * `contain`, `interest` → `contained in`, `interested in` * **Active:** `This box contains toys.` * **Passive:** `Toys are contained in this box.` ### 3.4. Omission of the Agent (`by + subject`) The `by + subject` part is often omitted when the subject in the active voice is vague (`someone`, `people`, `they`, `we`) or obvious (`the police`, `the doctor`, `the students`). * **Active:** `The police arrested the thief.` * **Passive:** `The thief was arrested.` --- ## 4. 20 Objective Questions & Answers **1. Q:** The teacher praised the student. (Change to Passive) **A:** The student was praised by the teacher. **2. Q:** Who wrote this book? (Change to Passive) **A:** By whom was this book written? **3. Q:** What is being cooked by her? (Change to Active) **A:** What is she cooking? **4. Q:** You must help him. (Change to Passive) **A:** He must be helped by you. **5. Q:** The box contained many items. (Change to Passive) **A:** Many items were contained in the box. **6. Q:** The storm has destroyed the crops. (Change to Passive) **A:** The crops have been destroyed by the storm. **7. Q:** The news shocked us. (Change to Passive) **A:** We were shocked at the news. **8. Q:** Let the report be typed. (Change to Active) **A:** Type the report. **9. Q:** They will have completed the project. (Change to Passive) **A:** The project will have been completed by them. **10. Q:** The boy laughed at the beggar. (Change to Passive) **A:** The beggar was laughed at by the boy. **11. Q:** The students are playing football. (Change to Passive) **A:** Football is being played by the students. **12. Q:** I know him. (Change to Passive) **A:** He is known to me. **13. Q:** Our team has won the match. (Change to Passive) **A:** The match has been won by our team. **14. Q:** The guard opened the gate. (Change to Passive) **A:** The gate was opened by the guard. **15. Q:** People speak English all over the world. (Change to Passive) **A:** English is spoken all over the world. **16. Q:** He was advised to work hard. (Change to Active) **A:** You are advised to work hard. **17. Q:** The teacher will give us a test. (Change to Passive) **A:** A test will be given to us by the teacher. **18. Q:** My father impressed me with his knowledge. (Change to Passive) **A:** I was impressed with my father's knowledge. **19. Q:** The mechanic is repairing the car. (Change to Passive) **A:** The car is being repaired by the mechanic. **20. Q:** Do not make a noise. (Change to Passive) **A:** You are ordered not to make a noise. --- *Last updated: 19/8/2025*