GRAMMAR
ACTIVE
&
PASSIVE
VOICE
OBJECTIVES:
1
To reinforce rules of conversion
2
To learn transformation of voice
3
To enhance the application skills
2
Voice: A form of a verb which shows whether the Subject
does something or something has been done to it
Subject
Verb
Object
Navin cooked the food.
Subject
Verb
Active voice
Object
The food was cooked by Navin.
Passive voice
Both the sentences express the same meaning.
3
MORE EXAMPLES:
S
V
O
1. The referee ordered a re-match.
V
S
Active
O
A re-match was ordered by the referee.
S
V
O
Active
2. Shireen bought a house.
S
O
V
A house was bought by Shireen.
V
S
V
Passive
O
3. The noise frightened him.
S
Passive
Active
O
He was frightened by the noise.
Passive
4
Let’s practise !!!
Identify whether the sentence is in the active or in the passive voice:
Active Voice
1
He is observing us closely.
2
A letter was written by him. Passive Voice
3
English is spoken all over the world.
4
I give her a present every year.
Active Voice
5
The plane is boarded by the family.
Passive Voice
6
Isaac threw a ball at the window.
Passive Voice
Active Voice
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DECLARATIVE SENTENCES
He plays the sitar.
Active
2. Preposition
‘by’ is added
before the
object.
1. The position
of the subject
& the object
interchanges.
played by him.
The sitar is played
4. Active verbs
followed by a
preposition
retain the
preposition.
Active sentence
Passive
3. The number of
the verb changes –
number & person
of the subject
Passive sentence
Someone broke into the pet shop.
The pet shop was broken into.
They looked for the baby.
The baby was looked for.
Someone shouts at the man.
The man is shouted at.
They listen to the music.
Music is listened to.
6
ACTIVE TO PASSIVE:
CHANGE IN VERBDIFFERENT TENSES
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1. PRESENT TENSE
1
The verb in the
passive voice will
be in past
participle.
TENSE
ACTIVE VOICE
PASSIVE VOICE
Simple Present
He draws a picture.
A picture is drawn by him.
Present Continuous
He is drawing a picture.
A picture is being drawn by him.
Present Perfect
He has drawn a picture.
A picture has been drawn by him.
Present Perfect Continuous
He has been drawing a picture.
-
Let’s practise:
1. He writes a letter.
A letter is written by him.
2. They sell books.
Books are sold by them.
3. She is singing a song.
A song is being sung by her.
4. You are disturbing me.
I am being disturbed by you.
5. I have made some cakes. Some cakes have been made by me.
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2. PAST TENSE
2
TENSE
ACTIVE VOICE
PASSIVE VOICE
Simple Past
He drew a picture.
A picture was drawn by him.
Past Continuous
He was drawing a picture.
A picture was being drawn by him.
Past Perfect
He had drawn a picture.
A picture had been drawn by him.
Past Perfect Continuous
He has been drawing a picture.
-
Let’s practise:
1. He bought a car.
A car was bought by him.
2. She decorated walls.
Walls were decorated by her.
3. Boys were singing songs.
Songs were being sung by boys.
4. They had not won the game. The game had not been won by them.
5. He laughed at the joke.
The joke was laughed at by him.
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3. FUTURE TENSE
3
TENSE
ACTIVE VOICE
PASSIVE VOICE
Simple Future
He will draw a picture.
A picture will be drawn by him.
Future Continuous
He will be drawing a picture.
Future Perfect
He will have drawn a picture.
Future Perfect Continuous
He will have been drawing a
picture.
A picture will have been drawn by him.
-
Let’s practise:
1. She will write a poem.
2. You will receive the letter.
A poem will be written by her.
The letter will be received by you.
3. They will arrange for the money. The money will be arranged for by them.
4. He will have received the letter.
The letter will have been received by him.
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1
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Put the verb in the brackets in a suitable passive form :
1
Snow White ____________by her stepmother. (poison)
was poisoned
2
The illegal immigrants ____________ to the police station. (taken)
are taken, were taken, have been taken, are being taken,
were being taken, had been taken, will be taken
3
The school play ____________ by me last year. (produce)
was produced, had been produced
4
As per our arrangement, he ____________ once he finishes the job. (pay)
will be paid
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2
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Choose the correct alternative to change the given
sentence into passive voice:
1
Her manners pleased us.
A. We are pleased on her manners.
B. We were pleased by her manners.
C. We were pleased with her manners.
2
Ans: C
The driver was blowing the horn.
A. The horn was blown by the driver.
B. The horn was being blown by the driver.
C. The horn is being blown by the driver.
Ans: B
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3
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Choose the correct alternative to change the given
sentence into passive voice:
3
The shopkeeper lowered the prices.
A. The prices were lowered by the shopkeeper.
B. The prices lowered the shopkeeper.
C. The prices are lowered by the shopkeeper.
4
Ans: A
They drew a circle in the morning.
A. A circle was being drawn by them in the morning.
B. A circle was drawn by them in the morning.
C. In the morning a circle have been drawn by them.
Ans: B
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IMPERATIVE SENTENCES
Imperative sentence in passive voice takes the following
form:
 Let + object + be + past participle
Active : Open the door.
Passive : Let the door be opened.
If the sentence is in the negative, it takes the following form.
 Let not + object + be + past participle
Active : Do not heat the food.
Passive: Let not the food be heated.
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1
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Change the following imperative sentences into passive.
1
Keep this book on the table.
Let this book be kept on the table.
2
Leave the room at once.
Let the room be left at once.
3
Switch off the fan.
Let the fan be switched off.
4
Call the attendant.
Let the attendant be called.
5
Obey the rules of the road while walking.
Let the rules of the road be obeyed while walking.
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2
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Change the following imperative sentences into passive.
6
Help the children.
Let the children be helped.
7
Wash the shirts.
Let the shirts be washed.
8
Always speak the truth.
Let the truth be spoken always.
9
Do not find fault with others.
Let not fault be found with others.
10
Take care of your parents.
Let your parents be taken care of.
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1
I. Change these sentences into the passive voice.
1. Ram has chosen a book.
2. His behaviour vexes me.
3. The kind-hearted woman is helping the orphans.
4. His own friends are deceiving him.
5. Columbus discovered America.
6. The police carried the wounded persons home.
II. Complete the remaining sentences of Ex A (Page 114) in
Cornerstone.
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2
III. Change these sentences into the passive voice.
1. The superstitious villagers readily believed his stories.
2. My mother has forgiven me for my rude behaviour.
3. Rukun was washing the dishes when you came.
4. He will water the lawn tomorrow.
5. My friend conducts classes twice a week.
6. Sumit had driven many cars before he bought this one.
7. Rohan will have completed the project before the deadline.
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3
IV. Change these sentences into the passive voice.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Bring a glass of water for me.
Do it at once.
Help Rahul in his assignment.
Read this document carefully.
Do not dump garbage on the roads.
Keep this file in the cupboard.
Do not carry it home.
Do not forget the person who loves you.
Lend me some money.
Don’t ever touch my phone.
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