GRAMMAR RULES: ACTIVE & PASSIVE VOICE

The Active Voice

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence is the one performing the action expressed by the verb.

Structure

The standard structure is: Subject + Verb + Object

When to Use the Active Voice

• For clear, direct, and strong writing. This is the most common and generally preferred voice in English.
• When you want to emphasize the person or thing performing the action.
• To make your writing more concise and engaging.

The Passive Voice

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The person or thing performing the action (the agent) may be introduced with the preposition 'by' or omitted entirely.

Structure

The standard structure is: Subject (Receiver) + Form of 'be' + Past Participle (V3) + [by Agent (Doer)]

When to Use the Passive Voice

• When the doer of the action is unknown.
  Example: My wallet was stolen yesterday. (We don't know who stole it).
• When the doer of the action is unimportant or irrelevant.
  Example: The bridge was built in 1995. (Who built it is less important than the bridge itself).
• When the receiver of the action is more important and needs to be emphasized.
  Example: The Nobel Prize was won by a brilliant scientist. (The focus is on the prize).
• In scientific or formal writing to sound objective.
  Example: The solution was heated to 100 degrees Celsius.
• To avoid assigning blame.
  Example: Unfortunately, a mistake was made.

Rules for Conversion (Active to Passive)

10 Examples: Active to Passive Voice

• Active: The boy kicks the ball.
  Passive: The ball is kicked by the boy.
  
  Explanation: The object 'ball' becomes the subject. The simple present verb 'kicks' becomes 'is' (present tense of 'be') + 'kicked' (V3). The subject 'boy' becomes the object of 'by'.
• Active: She is singing a song.
  Passive: A song is being sung by her.
  
  Explanation: The object 'song' becomes the subject. The present continuous 'is singing' becomes 'is being' (present continuous of 'be') + 'sung' (V3).
• Active: They have finished the work.
  Passive: The work has been finished by them.
  
  Explanation: 'work' becomes the subject. The present perfect 'have finished' becomes 'has been' (present perfect of 'be') + 'finished' (V3).
• Active: The teacher taught the students.
  Passive: The students were taught by the teacher.
  
  Explanation: 'students' becomes the subject. The simple past 'taught' becomes 'were' (past tense of 'be') + 'taught' (V3).
• Active: He was driving the car.
  Passive: The car was being driven by him.
  
  Explanation: 'car' becomes the subject. The past continuous 'was driving' becomes 'was being' (past continuous of 'be') + 'driven' (V3).
• Active: She had written the letter.
  Passive: The letter had been written by her.
  
  Explanation: 'letter' becomes the subject. The past perfect 'had written' becomes 'had been' (past perfect of 'be') + 'written' (V3).
• Active: I will send the package.
  Passive: The package will be sent by me.
  
  Explanation: 'package' becomes the subject. The simple future 'will send' becomes 'will be' (future of 'be') + 'sent' (V3).
• Active: You must obey the rules.
  Passive: The rules must be obeyed by you.
  
  Explanation: 'rules' becomes the subject. When a modal (must, can, should) is used, the form is `modal + be + V3`.
• Active: Did the police catch the thief?
  Passive: Was the thief caught by the police?
  
  Explanation: In questions, the form of 'be' moves to the beginning. The tense is simple past ('Did'), so we use 'Was'.
• Active: The company is launching a new product.
  Passive: A new product is being launched by the company.
  
  Explanation: The object 'a new product' becomes the subject. The verb 'is launching' (present continuous) becomes 'is being launched'.

10 Examples: Passive to Active Voice

• Passive: The book was read by the student.
  Active: The student read the book.
  
  Explanation: The object of 'by' ('the student') becomes the new subject. The verb 'was read' (simple past passive) becomes 'read' (simple past active). The passive subject 'The book' becomes the object.
• Passive: A beautiful song is being sung by her.
  Active: She is singing a beautiful song.
  
  Explanation: 'her' becomes the subject 'She'. The verb 'is being sung' (present continuous passive) becomes 'is singing'.
• Passive: The project has been completed by the team.
  Active: The team has completed the project.
  
  Explanation: 'the team' becomes the subject. The verb 'has been completed' (present perfect passive) becomes 'has completed'.
• Passive: The window was broken by John.
  Active: John broke the window.
  
  Explanation: 'John' becomes the subject. The verb 'was broken' (simple past passive) becomes 'broke'.
• Passive: The problem had been solved by them.
  Active: They had solved the problem.
  
  Explanation: 'them' becomes the subject 'They'. 'had been solved' (past perfect passive) becomes 'had solved'.
• Passive: The match will be won by our team.
  Active: Our team will win the match.
  
  Explanation: 'our team' becomes the subject. 'will be won' (future passive) becomes 'will win'.
• Passive: The task should be finished by you.
  Active: You should finish the task.
  
  Explanation: 'you' becomes the subject. 'should be finished' (modal passive) becomes 'should finish'.
• Passive: The walls are being painted by the workers.
  Active: The workers are painting the walls.
  
  Explanation: 'the workers' becomes the subject. 'are being painted' (present continuous passive) becomes 'are painting'.
• Passive: Was the question answered by him?
  Active: Did he answer the question?
  
  Explanation: The question form is retained. 'him' becomes subject 'he'. 'Was...answered' (simple past passive) becomes 'Did...answer' (simple past active).
• Passive: Mistakes were made.
  Active: Someone made mistakes.
  
  Explanation: The doer (agent) is missing in the passive sentence. We supply a general subject like 'someone', 'they', or 'we' to make it active.