Active and Passive Voice Rule

and questions attached.

Active and Passive Voice

An action of a subject, in relation to an object, is expressed in two ways.

These two ways of expressing the action of a subject are known as
Voices.

1. Active Voice
2. Passive Voice

Examples for Active and Passive Voice

 I write a letter. (Active Voice)

 A letter is written by me. (Passive Voice)
The structure of the same sentence changes when expressed as Active
Voice or Passive Voice. The meaning of a sentence either expressed as
Active Voice or Passive Voice, remains the same.

Difference between Active Voice and Passive Voice.

The meaning or main idea of sentence, either expressed as Active Voice

or Passive Voice does not change. The structure of a same sentence
changes for Active Voice and Passive Voice. We know that every
sentence have a subject, a verb and an object. Subject is an agent who
works on an object in a sentence. In the above example, “I” is the subject
of the sentence that is doing some work on the object „letter‟ in the same
sentence.

To understand the difference in both voices, we should focus on the

subject and the object of a sentence. In Active Voice, the subject acts
upon the object. In Passive Voice, the object is acted upon by the subject.
The meaning remains the same in both Voices but the sequence of the
words (subject & object) changes. The sequence, of subject and object as
in Active Voice, is reversed when it is expressed in Passive Voice. Read
the following example to better understanding this difference.
 Active Voice Passive Voice
I eat an apple. An apple is eaten by me.
He bought a car. A car was bought by him.

The sequence of the subject and the object of the sentence is reversed
while converting the sentence from Active Voice to Passive Voice.

The structures of the same sentence, for both Voices, are as follows:

Active Voice: Subject + Verb + Object

Passive Voice: Object + Verb + Subject

Change in the Verb of a Sentence for changing Voice of a sentence

Apart from reversing the sequence of subject and object, the form of the
verb of the sentence also changes in both Voices. In the above example,
you can see the change in the main verb as well as an auxiliary verb of
the same sentence in both Voices. The only form of the verb used in
Passive Voice is the 3rd form of Verb which is also called Past Participle.
Hence, the rule for changing a verb for converting a sentence from Active
Voice into Passive Voice is to use only the 3rd form of Verb in Passive
Voice. For changing the auxiliary verb for converting a sentence from
Active Voice into Passive Voice, there are rules varying for tenses. To
learn these rules, read the rules for Tenses as given in the links on this
page.
Active and Passive Voice Rule

Rule No. 1. As mentioned earlier, the structure of the sentence will be

reversed in Passive Voice. The places of the Subject and the object will

interchange. The subject will shift to the place of Object and the object
will take the place of Subject in Passive Voice.
Example:
Active Voice: He buys a camera.
Passive Voice: A camera is bought by him.

Rule No. 2. Only Past Participle Form or 3rd form of a verb (e.g.
eaten etc) will always be used as the main verb in Passive voices for all
tenses. No other form of the verb will be used as the main verb. It can be
seen in all the examples given on this page.

Rule No. 3. The word “by” will be used before the subject in the Passive
voice.

Example:
Active Voice: She drinks water.
Passive Voice: Water is drunk by her.

Rule No. 4. Other words such as „with‟ or „to‟ may also be used instead
of the word „by‟ depending upon the subject of the sentence. These words
are used in very few cases. The word „by‟ is used in most cases.

Examples:
Active Voice:: I know him.
Passive Voice: He is known to me.
Active Voice: Water fills a tub.
Passive Voice: A tub is filled with water.

Rule No. 5. The auxiliary verb will be changed in Passive Voice

depending upon the tense of the sentence in its Active Voice. There are
rules for changing the auxiliary for each tense which can also be studied
on this website.

Rule No. 6. The subject may not be always mentioned in Passive Voice. A
passive voice for some sentences can also be written without having a
subject, if it gives a clear idea about the subject. Read the following
examples.

Examples:
Passive Voice: Women are not treated as equals.
Passive Voice: Sugar is sold in kilograms.

Active Passive Voice Questions

Directions (1-15): A sentence has been given in Active/Passive voice. Out
of

The four alternatives suggested below, select the one which best
expresses the same sentence in Passive/Active voice.

Q1. It is possible to do this.

(a) It is possible to have done this

(b) This is possible to be done.

(c) It is possible to be done.

(d) It can be done.

Q2. I would advise you not to get on the wrong side of your boss.

(a) It would be advised by me not to get on the wrong side of your boss.

(b) It would be my advice not to get on the wrong side of your boss.

(c) You would be advised by me not to get on the wrong side of your boss.

(d) You would be advised by me to not get on the wrong side of your boss.

Q3. The traitors should be shot dead.

(a) They should have shot the traitors dead.

(b) They shot the traitors dead.
(c) (c) They should shoot the traitors dead.
(d) (d) They shall shoot the traitors dead.

Q4. This is being taught by her.

(a) She is teaching this.

(b) This will be taught by her.

(c) She can teach this.

(d) She has to teach this.

Q5. Call my neighbour immediately.

(a) Let my neighbour be called immediately

(b) My neighbour is to be called immediately.

(c) Let my neighbour called immediately.

(d) My neighbour was to be called immediately.

Q6. Who completed it?

(a) It was completed?

(b) Was it completed?

(c) By whom it was completed?

(d) By whom was it completed?

Q7. Do they sell fruits?

(a) Do fruits sold by them?

(b) Are fruits sold by them?

(c) Do fruits sell by them?

(d) Do fruits be sold by them?

Q8. I bought a new dress last month.

(a) Last month a new dress was bought by I.

(b) Last month a new dress was bought by me.

(c) Last month a new dress is bought by me.

(d) Last month a new dress had been bought by me.

Q9. You are requested to dismiss him.

(a) Please dismiss him.

(b) I request you to dismiss him.

(c) He requests you to dismiss him.

(d) I plead you to dismiss him.

Q10. Sumit will be visiting Delhi next week.

(a) Delhi will be visited by Sumit next week.

(b) Next week Sumit will visit Delhi.

(c) Next week Sumit is going to visit Delhi.

(d) None of the option is correct.

Q11. Sameer could be doing anything else but sleep.

(a) Anything else but sleep could be done by Sameer.

(b) Sameer could do anything else but sleep.

(c) Anything else but sleep could have been done by Sameer.

(d) None of the option is correct.

Q12. The news surprised us.

(a) We had been surprised at the news.

(b) We had being surprised by the news.

(c) We were surprised at the news.

(d) We had surprised by the news.

Q13. This box contains twelve coins.

(a) Twelve coins are contained by this box.

(b) Twelve coins are contained in this box.

(c) Twelve coins have been contained by this box.

(d) Twelve coins are in this box.

Q14. I have to do my homework.

(a) My homework has to be done by me.

(b) My homework to be done.

(c) My homework has been done by me.

(d) My homework has been done.

Q15. Citrus peel tastes bitter.

(a) Citrus peel is bitter when it is tasted.

(b) Citrus peel is bitter when tasted.

(c) Citrus peel has a bitter taste.

(d) Citrus peel is tasted bitterly.