Active and Passive Voice In grammar, the voice of a verb describes the relationship between the action that the verb expresses and the participants identified by its arguments (subject, object et). When the subject is the agent or doer of the action, the verb is in the active voice. ‘When the subject is the target or undergoer of the action, the verb is said to be in the passive voice. eg. Active Dinesh killed a cat. Passive ‘A cat was killed by Dinesh. 1. Examine the following sentences carefully (a) The man must have eaten five bananas. (b) Vipin mailed the letrer. 2. Now observe the following sentences (a) Five bananas must have been eaten by the man. (b) The letter was mailed by Vipin. In the above sentences, the verbs in 1(a) have eaten and 1(b) mailed express the actions done by the subjects The man and Vipin respectively. When the subject of the verb does the action, the voice of the verb is said to be Active. In sentence 2(a) and 2(b), the verbs have been eaten and was mailed express the actions done on the subjects Five bananas and The letter respectively ‘When the subject of the verb in a sentence receives the action, the voice of the verb is said to be Passive. Here the word ‘by’ identifies the sentence as being in passive voice. Change of Voice While changing a verb from active voice to passive voice, (i) The object of the active voice is made the subject of the passive voice. (i) The subject of the active voice is made the object of the passive voice, (ii) The passive voice must contain the third form of the main or finite verb the following general rules should be followedAllnone English Language and Literature Class j —$—— (jv) The form of the verb is used according to the tense. ‘Verb In Active form Object Subject 1 tiled ager Object Verb inPassivetform by + Subject Ager ‘was kled byme Changes of Person Subjective Case Possessive Case Objective Case ye 2 our us you your you _ he tis i eer her they their = Formation of Passive Voice Present Indefinite/Simple Affirmative Active Subject + first form of verb + s /es + object Passive Object + is/am/are + third form of verb + by+ subject EXAMPLES ‘Active He writes a leer Passive A letter is written by him, Active She sings a song Passive A song is sung by hee. Active They invite me. Passive Lam invited by them. Negative Active Subject + do/does + not + first form of verb + object Passive Object + is/am/are + not + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLES Active Ido not distribute newspapers. Passive Newspapers are not distributed by me. Aative She does not buy mobiles. Passive Mobiles are not bought by her. Actie You do not help me. Passive 1 am not helped by you. Interrogative Active Do/does + subject + first form of verb + object? Passive Is/am/are + object + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLES Do you obey your elder brother? eats your elder brother obeyed by you? ‘Active Does she pluck the flowers! Passive Are the flowers plucked by her? Negative Interrogative ‘Active Do/does + subject + not + first form of verb + object? Passive Is/am/are + object + not + third form of verb + by + subject? Active Does Mohit not plant a tree? Pasive Is a tree not planted by Mohit? Active Do you not read a book? Passive Is a book not read by you? Present Continuous Affirmative Active Subject + is/am/are + first form of verb + ing + object Passive Object + is/am/are + being + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLES ‘Active My friend is cooking the food. Passive The food is being cooked by my friend. Active You ate teaching me. Passive Lam being taught by yo. Negative Active Subject + is/am/are + not + first form of verb + ing + object Passive Object + is/am/are + not + being + third form o verb + by + subject EXAMPLES. ‘ative She is not purchasing a house, Pasive A house is not being purchased by her Active Lam not cutting a tee Passive A tree is not being cut by me. Interrogative Active _Is/am/are + subject + first form of verb + ing + object? Passive Is/am/are + object + being + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE Active Are they plucking some flowers? Passive Are some flowers being plucked by them?a 93 _nctve and Passive Voice (Section 8) a negative Interrogative ee Wevestniie + not + first form of verb + ing ge Ianv/are * object + not + heing + thind form of Ba Lexb + by + subject pans Is he not fing 2 bie? SER a kee nor Beng Alen be Areou mee ane a oe fase Beasong not being su BEE ace Lave machine vou Enact? SEL ate we nce being aught Engh by me! present Perfect Afirmative asve Subject + has have + thind form of verb + object Passe Object + has/have + been + third form of verb by + subject ‘XANPLES: Ame Shehes nken ac tea has been taken by her Astve Subject + has/have + nor + third form of verb + object ct + has AMPLES, Asse He has nor eaten Paste A banana has not b Ace They he Active Has/have + subject + third form of verb + object? Posine Has/have + object + been + third form of verb * by + subject” SAWP Acre Have they won the march? Fesxe Has the match been won by them! Negative Interrogative AsiveHas/have + subject + not + third form of verb + object? Passive Has/have + object + not + been + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE ‘Acting Has he nor written his letter? \ as tis Teter not been writen by bien fect Continuous tense. Passive “There is no passive form of Present Pe Past Indefinite Affirmative ‘Active Subject + second form of verb + object ‘Object + was/were + third form of verb + by + subject Passive EXAMPLES ‘Reena employes three hundred men. Aste ‘Three hundred men were employed by Reena. Paste Active They buie three house. Passive Three houses were built by them. Negative Active Subject + did + not + first form of verb + object Passive Object + was/were + not + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLES Aste Tid nor see him. wwe He was not seen by me. Actie You did noe pay the bill Pasine The bill was not paid by you. Interrogative Active Did + subject + first form of verb + object? Passive Was/wvere + object + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLES. Actite Did Anmol open the shop? Paine Was the shop opened by Anmol? ‘Active Did she ent the mangoes? Passive Were the mangoes eaten by her! Negative Interrogative Did + subject + not + first form of verb + object? Passive Was/were * object + not + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLES, Aatte Did they not enjoy the magic show? Active Passive Was the magic show not enjoyed by them? Actie Did Bhawna not finish her work? Passe Was Bhawna’s work not finished by her?94 All‘none English Language and Literature Class 10 sss ees... — Past Continuous Affirmative Active Subject + was/were + first form of verb + ing + object Passive Object + was/were + being + third form of verb + by # subject EXAMPLES: Active I was learning my lesson, Passive My lesson was being learnt by me. Active They were distributing the sweets among the children Passive The sweets were being distributed ‘by them among the children. Negative Active Subject + was/were + not + first form of verb + ing + object Passive Object + was/were + not + being + third form of verb + by + subject ‘EXAMPLE Active The farmer was not ploughing the field Passive The field was not being ploughed by the farmer. Interrogative Active Was/were + subject + first form of verb + ing + object? Passive Was/were + object + being + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE Active Were they abusing the others? Passive Were the others being abused by them? Negative Interrogative Active Was/were + subject + not + first form of verb + ing + object? Passive Was/were + object + not + being + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLES: Active Pasive Active Pasive ‘Was she not driving a motor car? ‘Was a motor car not being driven by hes? Were the farmers not sowing the seeds? ‘Were the seeds not being sown by the farmers? Past Perfect Affirmative Active Subject + had + third form of verb + object Passive Object + had + been + third form of. verb + by + subject EXAMPLE Active Thad already done my work. Passive My work had already been done by me, Negative Active Subject + had + not + third form of verb + object Passive Object + had + not + been * third form of verh + by + subject EXAMPLES: Active You had not written @ letter. Passive A letter had not been wrieten by you. Active They had not won the match. Passive The match had not been won by them. Active He had not played a football match. Passive A football match had not been played by him. Interrogative Active Had + subject + third form of verb + object? Passive Had + object + been + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE Active Passive Had he knocked at the door? Had the door been knocked at by him? Negative Interrogative Active Had + subject + not + third form of verb + object? Passive Had + object +’ not + been + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLES Active Had she not washed the clothes? Pave Had the clothes not been washed by her? Active Had they not played a cricket match? Passive Had a cricket match not been played by thern? Note There is no passive form of Past Perfect Continuous tense Future Indefinite Affirmative Active Subject + will/shall + first form of verb + object Passive Object + will/shall + be + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLES: Active He will win the ‘match, Passive The match will be won by him, ‘Active I shall teach you, Passive You will be taught by me. ‘eve Kamal wil bol milk Milk will be boiled by Kamala,95 naive and Passive Voice (Section B} jative ave Subject + will/shall + mot + firs form of verb + object Object + will/shall + not + be + third for Basie cb + by * subject oo BNP yl not watch TV. ese TV will not be watched by them. Jere shall no cook ice 128 Rie ill ot be cooked by me. Inerrogative Will/shall + subject + first form of verb + object? sive Will/shall + object + be + third form of verb + by + subject? exe Will they praise the Gita! paive Will the Gita be praised by them? ‘five Shall we run a race? Posie Willa race be run by us? Negative Interrogative ‘Acve Will/shall + subject + not + first form of verb + object? Pase Will/shall + object + not + be + third form of verb + by + subject? AMPLE Ace Will your friend not invite Abhay? Passe Will Abhay not be invited by your friend? future Perfect Affirmative Ave Subject + shall have/will have + third form of verb + object Pasive Object + shall have been/will have been + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLES “They will have planted a tree. Active Pasice A tree will have been planted by them. ‘Active We shall have sold our house. Passive Our house will have been sold by us. Negative ‘Active Subject + will/shall + not + have + third form of verb + object Passive Object + will/shall + not + of verb + subject EXAMPLES ‘Active They will not have planted a tree. Pasive A tree will not have been planted by them. Active We shall not have sold our house. Passive Our house will not have been sold by us. Interrogative ‘Active Will/shall + subject + have + third form of verb * object? 1 Will/shall + object + have + been + third form of verb + + subject? have + been + third form Passiv. EXAMPLES. ‘Active Will they have planted a tree? Passive Willa tree have been planted by them? Active Shall we have sold our house? Passive Will our house have been sold by us? Negative Interrogative Active Will/shall + subject + not + have + third form of verb + object? Passive Will/shall + object + not + have been + third form of verb + subject? EXAMPLES Active Will they not have planted a tree? Pasie Wil a tree not have been planted by them? ‘Acti Shall we not have sold our house? Passe Will our house not have been sold by us? ‘There is no passive form for Future Continuous and Future Perfect Continuous NoteChange in Mod seve Subject + modal auiary + ist form of verb + tive S object Passive Ghject + modal auliany + + by + subject EXAMPLES ite He should buy a book. faite book shoul be bought by him. ‘Active They must speak the truth. Passive The truth must be spoken by them, Rule 2. Active be + third form of verb Subject * modal auxil of verb + object Object + modal auxiliary + have + been + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLES Active They may have eaten the food. Passive The food may have been eaten by them. Active She should have drunk the milk. Passive ~The milk should have been drunk by her. Rule 3. Active Passive ry + have + third form Passive Subject + ought to + first form of verb + object Object + ought to + be + third form of verb + subject EXAMPLES: ‘Actte You ought to serve your nation. Passive Your nation ought to be served by you. Active They ought to respect their parents. Pasise Their patents ought to be respected by them. Negative Rule 1, Active Subject + modal auxiliary + not + first form of verb + object Passive Object + modal auxiliary + not + be + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLE Active He should not abuse others. Passive Others should not be abused by him. Rule 2. Active Subject + modal auxiliary + not + have + third form of verb + object Object + modal auxiliary + not + have + been + third form of verb + by + subject Passive als While Forrning Passive Voice EXAMPLE ive He may not have done the work. Pace The work may not have been done by him. Rule 3. Active Subject + ought + not * to + first form of verb + object Passive Object + ought + not + to + be + third form off + by + subject EXAMPLE ‘Active You ought not to insult others. Passive Others ought not to be insulted by you. Interrogative Rule 1 Active Modal auxiliary + subject + first form of verb object? Passive Modal auxiliary + object + be + third form oft + by + subjece? EXAMPLE Active Passive Can our team win the match? Can the match be won by our team? Rule 2. Active Modal auxiliary + subject + have + third form of verb + object? Passive Modal auxiliary + object + have + been + thind form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE Active ‘Will he have eaten the mangoes? Passive ‘Will the mangoes have been eaten by him? Active Ought + subject + to + first form of verb + object? Passive Ought + object * to + be + thind form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE Active. Passive Ought we to follow the rules? Ought the rules to be followed by us? Negative Interrogative Rule 1, Active Modal auxiliary + subject + not first form of & + object? Passive Modal auxiliary + object + not + be + third formo! verb + by + subject?Active and Passive Voice (Section B) 97 es Active Passive Rule 2. Active Should they not buy a house? Should a house not be bought by them? Modal auxiliary + subject + not + have + third form of verb + object? Modal auxiliary + object + not + have + been + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE ative Pasive Rule 3. Active Passive Would Raman not have won the match? ‘Would the march not have been won by Raman? Ought + subject + not + to + first form of verb + object? Ought + object + not + to + be + third form of verb + by + subject? EXAMPLE Active Ought you not to pollute the air? Passive Ought the air not to be polluted by you? Some Specific Conditions Passive Voice of Verbs with Two Objects Read the following L. Active Passive Passive She taught me English. Iwas taught English by her. English was taught to me by her. 2. Active Passive He gave mea pen. Iwas given a pen by him. or ‘Apen was given to me by him. Note Here we can observe that any one of the two objects can be SONS Ti chosen as the subject ofthe passive voice. Passive Voice of Sentences with Infinitive ‘to’ Rules to Change Active Voice into Passive Voice Active Subject + helping verb + to + first form of verb + object Passive Object + helping verb + to + be + third form of verb + by + subject EXAMPLES 1. Active Passive She isto cook the food. ‘The food is to be cooked by her. 2, Active Tam to buy the book. Pasie The book isto be bought by me. 3, Aaive They have to read Sanskrit. Pasite Sanskrit as to be read by them, 4. Active He had co play Hockey. Pasie Hockey had to be played by him. Passive Voice of Imperative Sentences Study the following rules to make the passive form of imperative sentences Rule 1. Rule 2. Rule 3. Let + object * be + third form of verb Object + should + be.* third form of verb You are ordered/requested/advised + to + first form of verb + Rule 4. Let object + be * third form of verb + by + EXAMPLES 1. Adve Open the shop, Pasive Leche shop Be opened “The shop should be opened. You are ordered to open the shop. 2. Active — Write your name. Pasive Let your name be writen. Your name should be written, You are requested (or ordered) to write your name. 3. Active Call the peon, Pasive Lac the peon be elled. ‘The peon shouldbe called. You are ordered to cl the peon 4, Active” Let him learn his lesson. Passive Lets lesson be lear by him, 5. Active Don’t break the door. Pasive Let che door not be broken 6. Active Let me cook the food. Pasive Let the food be cooked by me. Passive Voice Without Agent (Without ‘does’ or Omission of Subject in the Passive Voice) Active Someone has stolen my book. Passive. My book has been stolen, No one can buy it. Passive It cannot be bought. Active People always respect teachers. Passive Teachers are always respected. ActivePRACTICE QUESTIONS 1 Complete the following passage by choosing the correct passive forms of the verbs given in 0 brackets. ; Yesterday, che city (a (hit) bya thunderstorm, Many trees (b) 0.0. (uproot) and streets at several places (c) (flood), resulting in traffic jams. 2 Complete the following passage by choosing the correct passive forms of the verbs given in brackets. Last Monday, the Annual Function (a) . (invite) as the Chief Guest. The prizes (c) (given away) for the be Chief Guest appreciated the arrangements of the event and the discipline a 3 Complete the following passage by choosing the correct passive forms of the verbs given in brackets. Ifa long journey (4) «nn. (give) a good start, it is half covered. Weariness of the traveller (b) (defeat) by his enthusiasm and hope. He (¢) wn. (reward) with success. | (celebrate) in our school. Shri Abdul Kalam (b) snes performances of the year. The nong the students. 4 Complete the following passage by choosing the correct passive forms of the verbs given in brackets _ (elect) as an MP. She does not know that unfair ike) by the people for his wrong practices and Renu is feeling proud of her father because he (a) means (6)... (use) in the election. He (c) .. impolite manners. (d 5 Complete the passage by choosing the correct form of verbs. When I arrived in the dream country I (a) . (tell) that I was the Great King who (c) .. (expect) for many years. ‘All your commands’, they said, “(d) «nen (carry out) immediately. Your most extravagant wishes (e) sesunnnun (fulfil)? 6 Rewrite the following sentences by replacing passive verbs with active verbs and by adding a subject if necessary. (a) The building has been left by Elvis. (b) When I was prosecuted by Ned, | felt very foolish. (©) A superb dinner was prepared by the famous chef, (4) The dog was given a bath and the cat was rescued from the tree. (©) The story of the Albatross will be told many times by the Ancient Mariner. (take) straight to the palace. There | (b) 7 ie the following passage by choosing the correct Passive forms of the verbs given in rackets, Pleasure cannot (a) whose bones (¢) . 8 Complete the follo brackets. (enjoy) without passing through pains. Spring (b) - (freeze) by an unbearably cold winter. - (relish) only by those wing passage by choosing the correct passive forms of the verbs given in hres ela) eave) alone even by my shadow, my loneliness (B) nn (displ bythe esence of someone who is ev hl for all he aes, even ato my downs MAE that moment HL) nn (compenst)ace ond Passive Voice (Section 8) = 9 complete the following passage by choosing the correct passive jorms of the verbs given in brackets. Yesterday, a UFO (a) .. (ee) in the western sky over Delhi. People © (horrify) to see it and started running helterskelter. It was reported fo have remained suspended in the air for some time. Then it picked up speed and (6) mmm (L088) to view. 10 Rewrite the following sentences in passive voice. (@) Ms Rawat teaches us grammar. (4) The teacher praised him. (9 The firemen took the injured to the hospital. (@) An earthquake destroyed the town. (@) My work pleased the teacher. 1 (@) was hit (0) were uprooted 7 (a) be enjoyed (0) is relished (©) were flooded (@) have been frozen 2 (@) was celebrated ——_(b) was invited B (@) have been left (0) is dispelled (0) were given away (6) am compensated 3 (@)isgiven (0) is deteated 9 (@) was seen (b) were horitied (© is rewarded (©) was lost 4 (a)nas been elected —_(b) were used YO (6) We are taught grammar by Ms Rawat (© is dstked or 5 (a) was taken (b) was told ‘Grammar is taught to us by Ms Rawat. (0) had been expected (4) will be carried out (b) He was praised by the teacher. (6) willbe tutflled (6) The injured were taken to the hospital by the firemen. 6 (@) Ehis has lett the building. (0) When Ned prosecuted me, | felt very foolish. (0) The famous chet prepared a superb dinner. (@) Someone gave the dog a bath and rescued the cat from the tree. (©) The Ancient Mariner wil tell the story of the Albatross many times. (6) The town was destroyed by an earthquake. (@) The teacher was pleased by my work, DOWNLOAD ‘ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE’ CHART AT age Link https:/go0.q/C5t5Wa OR Scan the Code a