A voice in the form of a verb which expresses its connection with the doer (the subject). It makes dear whether the subject is doing something or something is being done to it.
There are two kinds of Voice :
1.Active Voice
In Active Voice, the verb shows that the subject does something.
For example :
Mrs Shailja teaches us English.
1.Passive Voice
The Passive Voice shows that something is done to the subject.
For example: English is taught to us by Mrs Shailja.
General Rules :
Replace the Subject by the Object (of the Active Voice)
❑ Use relevant helping verb — the third form of the verb after the object.
❑ Put ‘by’ after the Third firm of the Verb.
❑ Put the Subject of the active voice after by
Now study carefully the table given below and notice the formation of sentences from Active Voice to Passive Voice.
Active Voice
Mohan writes a letter
(Subject) (Verb) (Object)
Passive Voice
A letter is written by Mohan.
(Subject) (Verb) (Object)
If the subject is a Pronoun, change it as follows:
Active Voice Passive Voice
I me
We us
You you
He him
She her
It it
They them
Whom by whom
| Tense | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| Simple Present
Present Continuous Present Perfect Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Simple Future Future Perfect |
I like mangoes.
She is reading a poem. They have done their work. We played cricket. I was writing a story. He had solved the sum. He will buy a new car. He will have watered the plants. |
Mangoes are liked by me.
A poem is being read by her. Their work has been done by them. Cricket was played by us. A story was being written by me. The stun had been solved by him. A new car will be bought by him. The plants will have been watered by him. |
NOTE: The sentences in the following tenses cannot be changed into Passive Voice :
- Present Perfect Continuous
- Past Perfect Continuous
- Future Continuous
- Future Perfect Continuous
Change of Imperative Sentences
When an Imperative sentence is changed from the Active Voice to the Passive Voice, we use the verb ‘Let’ followed by the Passive Infinitive without Ito’. But when the Imperative sentence begins with ‘Kindly’ or ‘Please’, we use the words ‘You are requested’ followed by Active Infinitive; as :
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| 1. Open the door. 2. Respect your teachers. 3. Kindly help me. 4. Do not beat the dog. 5. Tell him to do his work. |
1. Let the door be opened.
2. Let your teachers be respected. 3. You are requested to help me. 4. Let the dog not be beaten by you. 5. Let him be told that his work is to be done. |
Change of Interrogative Sentences
Study how the following Interrogative Sentences are changed from the Active Voice to the Passive Voice.
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| 1. What do you want?
2. Whom did you laugh at? 3. Did your friend invite you? 4. Will he give me a book? 5. Who killed the snake? 6. Do the children play cricket? 7. Why did he punish you? 8. How did you do this sum? 9. Have you finished work? 10. Can anybody cure me? |
1. What is wanted by you?
2. Who was laughed at by you? 3. Were you invited by your friend? 4. Will a book be given to me by him? 5. By whom was the snake killed? 6. Is cricket played by the children? 7. Why were you punished by him? 8. How was this sum done by you? 9. Has the work been finished by you? 10. Can I be cured by anybody? |
Sentences Beginning with ‘Let’
Study the following sentences :
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| 1. Let us go out for a walk.
2. Let her play. 3. Let him send for a doctor. |
1. It is suggested that we should go out for a walk
2. It is proposed that she should play. 3. It is suggested that he should send tor a doctor. |
Verbs with Two Objects
Study the following sentences :
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| 1. My uncle gave Me a camera.
2. Mrs Chaulian teaches us |
1. I was given a camera by my uncle.
Or A camera was given to me by my uncle. 2. We are taught Hindi by Mrs Chauhan. Or Hindi is taught to us by Mrs Chauhatt. |
Verbs with Modal Auxiliaries
Study the following sentences: Active Voice
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| 1. You can do it.
2. He may take the test. 3. We should obey traffic rules. 4. He must return my book. |
1. It can be done by you.
2. The test may be taken by the hint. 3. Traffic rules should be obeyed by us. 4. My book must be returned by him. |
Active and Passive Voice Exercise-1 & 2
Active and Passive Voice Exercise-3 & 4
Active and Passive Voice Exercise-5 & 6
Active and Passive Voice Exercise-7 & 8
Active and Passive Voice Exercise-9 & 10