Voice Change (Active and Passive Voice), Types, Rules
Voice Change (Active and Passive Voice)
Definition of Voice
Voice in English grammar shows whether the subject of a sentence is the doer of the action or the receiver of the action.
👉 Example:
Active Voice:
The teacher teaches the students.
(Here, the teacher = subject, and she is doing the action → teaching.)
Passive Voice:
The students are taught by the teacher.
(Here, the students = subject, but they are receiving the action → being taught.)
🔎 Explanation
When the subject performs the action, the sentence is in Active Voice.
When the subject receives the action, the sentence is in Passive Voice.
👉 In short:
Active Voice = Subject does something.
Passive Voice = Subject has something done to it.
Why Learning Voice Change is Important?
Voice change is an important part of English grammar because it helps us express the same idea in different ways depending on the situation. It improves both writing and speaking skills, making communication more flexible, clear, and effective.
Uses of Voice Change
1. To Add Variety in Writing
Repeating only an active voice can make writing monotonous.
Passive voice helps bring freshness and variety.
👉 Example:
Active: The chef cooked the meal.
Passive: The meal was cooked by the chef.
2. To Emphasize Different Parts of a Sentence
Active voice highlights the doer of the action.
Passive voice highlights the receiver of the action.
👉 Example:
Active: Scientists discovered a new planet. (Focus on scientists)
Passive: A new planet was discovered by scientists. (Focus on planet)
3. To Use in Formal or Official Writing
Passive voice is often used in reports, newspapers, and formal writing where the doer is not important.
👉 Example: The rules were changed last year.
4. To Show Politeness or Avoid Blame
A passive voice is useful when we don’t want to blame someone directly.
👉 Example:
Active: You broke the vase.
Passive: The vase was broken.
5. To Match Real-Life Situations
Sometimes the doer is unknown or unimportant, and passive voice fits better.
👉 Example: The thief was caught. (Focus is on the thief, not who caught him.)
✅ In short:
Learning voice change is important because it makes language more powerful, flexible, and professional.
📚 Types of Voice
There are two types of voice:
1. Active Voice
Definition: In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb.
Structure:
Subject + Verb + Object
Example:
She (subject) reads (verb) a book (object).
Here, the subject “She” is doing the action of reading.
Uses of Active Voice:
Make sentences clear and direct.
Shows who is performing the action.
2. Passive Voice
Definition: In passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb.
Structure:
Object of active sentence + is/are/was/were + past participle of verb + by + subject
Example:
A book (object) is read (verb) by her (subject).
Here, the focus is on the object “book” which is receiving the action.
Uses of Passive Voice:
When the doer is unknown or unimportant.
To emphasize the action or the object rather than the subject.
📝 Rules of Voice Change
Active to Passive Voice
To change a sentence from active to passive voice, follow these steps:
Identify the subject, verb, and object of the active sentence.
Move the object of the active sentence to the position of the subject in the new passive sentence.
Add the appropriate form of the verb "to be" (e.g., is, am, are, was, were, been) before the main verb. The tense of "to be" must match the tense of the original verb.
Change the main verb to its past participle form.
Add the preposition "by" and then place the original subject at the end of the sentence.
Example:
Active: "John bought the book."
Subject: John
Verb: bought (past tense)
Object: the book
Passive: "The book was bought by John."
The object ("the book") becomes the new subject.
The verb "bought" is past tense, so we use "was" (a past tense form of "to be").
The past participle of "bought" is "bought."
The original subject ("John") is added with "by."
Passive to Active Voice
To change a sentence from passive to active voice, reverse the process:
Identify the subject of the passive sentence and the doer of the action (often in a "by" phrase).
Move the doer to the position of the subject in the new active sentence.
Change the verb from the "to be" + past participle form back to a single active verb. The tense of the new verb should match the tense of the original "to be" verb.
Move the original subject of the passive sentence to the position of the object.
Example:
Passive: "The report was written by Sarah."
Subject: The report
Verb: was written
Doer: Sarah
Active: "Sarah wrote the report."
The doer ("Sarah") becomes the new subject.
The verb "was written" is changed back to "wrote" (past tense).
The original subject ("the report") becomes the new object.
🔹 Voice Change in Different Tenses
Voice Change: Rules, Formulas, and Examples
1. Basic Rule
In an active voice, the subject does the action.
In passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
Use the correct form of “be” + past participle of the verb.
Add “by + subject” if necessary.
Keep the tense of the verb the same.
Example:
Active: She writes a letter.
Passive: A letter is written by her.
2. Formulas and Examples for Different Tenses
Present Simple:
Formula: Active → S + V₁ + O
Formula: Passive → O + is/are + V₃ + by S
Example:
She writes a letter → A letter is written by her
Present Continuous:
Formula: Active → S + is/are + V-ing + O
Formula: Passive → O + is/are being + V₃ + by S
Example:
She is writing a letter → A letter is being written by her
Present Perfect:
Formula: Active → S + has/have + V₃ + O
Formula: Passive → O + has/have been + V₃ + by S
Example:
She has written a letter → A letter has been written by her
Past Simple:
Formula: Active → S + V₂ + O
Formula: Passive → O + was/were + V₃ + by S
Example:
She wrote a letter → A letter was written by her
Past Continuous:
Formula: Active → S + was/were + V-ing + O
Formula: Passive → O + was/were being + V₃ + by S
Example:
She was writing a letter → A letter was being written by her
Past Perfect:
Formula: Active → S + had + V₃ + O
Formula: Passive → O + had been + V₃ + by S
Example:
She had written a letter → A letter had been written by her
Future Simple:
Formula: Active → S + will + V₁ + O
Formula: Passive → O + will be + V₃ + by S
Example:
She will write a letter → A letter will be written by her
Future Perfect:
Formula: Active → S + will have + V₃ + O
Formula: Passive → O + will have been + V₃ + by S
Example:
She will have written a letter → A letter will have been written by her
3. Modals
Formula: Active → S + Modal + V₁ + O
Formula: Passive → O + Modal + be + V₃ + by S
Example:
She can solve the problem → The problem can be solved by her
4. Imperative Sentences
Formula: Active → Verb + Object
Formula: Passive → Let + Object + be + V₃
Example:
Close the door! → Let the door be closed!
5. Interrogative Sentences:
Active: Did she complete the task?
Passive: Was the task completed by her?
6. Pronoun Changes
I → Me
We → Us
He → Him
She → Her
They → Them
You → You
Example:
Active: He helps me → Passive: I am helped by him
7. Sentences Without Objects
Sentences without an object cannot be changed to passive.
Example:
He sleeps → ❌ Cannot make passive
Examples of Active and Passive Voice
1. Active: The chef cooks the meal.
Passive: The meal is cooked by the chef.
2. Active: The policeman caught the thief.
Passive: The thief was caught by the policeman.
3. Active: They will announce the results tomorrow.
Passive: The results will be announced tomorrow.
📝 Exercise on Voice Change
Change the following sentences into Passive Voice:
1. She reads the newspaper every day.
2. The boys are playing cricket.
3. He has written a letter.
4. They were singing a song.
5. The teacher had punished the student.
6. She will buy a new car.
7. The manager will have checked the files.
8. Open the window.
9. Who wrote this poem?
10. You must obey the rules.
Difference Between Active and Passive Voice
1. Definition:
Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.
2. Focus:
Active Voice: Focus is on who is doing the action.
Passive Voice: Focus is on what is being done or who receives the action.
3. Structure:
Active Voice: Subject + Verb + Object
Passive Voice: Object + Be + Past Participle + (by + Subject)
4. Example:
Active Voice: She writes a letter.
Passive Voice: A letter is written by her.
5. Use:
Active Voice: Used when the doer is important.
Passive Voice: Used when the action or receiver is more important, or doer is unknown.
6. Tense Changes:
Active Voice: Verb remains in its normal form.
Passive Voice: Requires correct form of “be + past participle” according to tense.
7. Pronoun Usage:
Active Voice: Subject remains the same.
Passive Voice: Subject may change; pronouns change accordingly (I → me, he → him, she → her, we → us, they → them).
8. Question Form:
Active Voice: Do you like mangoes?
Passive Voice: Are mangoes liked by you?
9. Imperative Sentences:
Active Voice: Close the door.
Passive Voice: Let the door be closed.
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