Active
and
Passive
Voice
Sentences can be active or passive.
• When the subject of the sentence is doing something the
verb is active.
E.g. The man wore a grey hat.
Subject – man
verb – wore
object – hat
• When the object of the sentence is having something done
to it, the verb is passive.
E.g. The grey hat was worn by the man.
Object – hat verb – worn subject – man
Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and “ passive
forms." You must learn to recognize the difference.
Active Form
Subject
[thing doing action]
+
Verb
+
Object
[thing receiving action]
Examples:
John
washes
Subject
verb
doing action
the dishes
object
receiving action
Passive form
Subject [from object of Active]
+
Verb to be
+
P.P
+
by
+
‘Agent’ [doer of action]
John
subject
washes
Verb
the dishes
object
The dishes are washed
by John
subject verb to be + P.P doer of action
note : Subject of Passive is from object
of Active.
We change the tense of the verb according to the
following table:
Tense
Present simple
Past simple
Present
continuous
Past continuous
Present perfect
Active form
Passive form
washes/wash
is/am/are washed
washed
was/were washed
is/am/are washing
is/am/are being
washed
was/were washing
was/were being
washed
has/have washed
has/have been
washed
Tense
Past perfect
Future simple
Active form
Passive form
had washed
had been washed
will/may/must
wash
Future perfect
will have washed
Future (going to)
is/am/are going to
wash
will/may/must
be
washed
will have been
washed
is/am/are
going to be
washed
By
+
I
He
She
They
We
me
him
her
them
us
Quiz
Change the following from active form to passive
form:
1.She is cleaning the room.
2.They took him to the hospital.
3. His mum will punish him for his mistakes.
4. Millions of people have read her book.
5. He always cleans up the house.
Good Luck