NAME : ABU BASIT IKBAL (10614086)

CLASS : 4SA02

ACTIVE PASSIVE VOICE

Definition of Active and Passive Voice

 ACTIVE VOICE

A feature of sentences in which the subject performs the action of the verb and the direct
object is the goal or the recipient: The mechanic fixed the car.

 PASSIVE VOICE

A feature of sentences in which the object or goal of the action functions as the sentence
subject and the main verb phrase includes the verb to be and the past participle: The car was
fixed by the mechanic.

Characteristics and pattern of Active Voice

#Characteristics

 The subject of sentence in active form is at the starting of the sentence

 Subject is followed by the form of ‘to be’, verb and object.
 We can say that verb is in the Active Voice.
 An active voice tells clearly about the action which has done it.

#Pattern of sentence

Characteristics and pattern of Passive Voice

#Characteristics

 When we change the sentence from active to passive voice, the object becomes the
subject.
  We can use sentences with only transitive verbs in passive voice that is we can change
the sentences having object into this voice
 This form may or may not tell clearly about the action which has done it.
 To make clear the action who has done it we should add ‘by’

#Pattern of sentence

Usage of Passive Voice

 In the passive voice, “By” is used when the agent needs to know the job/ activity.

Example: A letter was written by him

 Passive voice is used when the statement doesn’t need to know the agent

Example: the stories are told every night

 Passive voice is used when we don’t know or forget who the agent.

Example: Twenty civilians were killed

 When we are more interested in the job than the agent who works, we can use Passive
voice

Example: An old library is being repaired

 To prevent an awkward sentences or inappropriate with grammar.

Example: When she arrived home a police arrested her — it’s better: when she
arrived home she was arrested (by a police).

Tips to Recognize the Passive Voice

In order to recognize that a sentence is in passive voice, watch out for these keywords:

 Be
 Is
 Are
 A
 Was
 Were
 Has been
 Have been
 Will be/ Being
Furthermore, Active and Passive voice are also related to Transitive and Intransitive verbs.

 TRANSITIVE VERBS

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or direct objects that receive the action. They are
either active voice or passive voice.

 Transitive Active

Example : The boy kicked the ball.

Explanation :
The boy kicked the ball = Active Voice (Subject + Verb + Object)
Kicked = Transitive verb, because there is direct object “the ball”

 Transitive Passive

Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional
phrase or omitted in the sentence.

Example : The ball was kicked by the boy

Explanation:
The ball was kicked by the boy = Passive Voice (Subject+ form of ‘to be’ + past participle
of verb+ by + object)
Kicked = Transitive verb, because there is direct object “the ball”

TIPS: The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or
been as an auxiliary or helping verb.

 INTRANSITIVE VERBS

Intransitive verbs are verbs that have no receiver of the action. They are classified
as intransitive complete or intransitive linking.

 Intransitive linking

Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative (word or group of words
that complete a linking verb and renames the subject as noun) or predicate adjective (an
adjective that is used to predicate an attribute of the subject of the sentence).

Example: The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) The girl is cute. (predicate adjective)
Explanation:
The girl is Mary = “The girl” is subject, Linking verb is the word “is” and predicate
nominative, the word “Mary”
The girl is cute = “The girl” is subject, Linking verb is the word “is” and predicate Adjective
is the word “Cute". The word "cute" is affectively renames subject of the sentence.

 Intransitive complete

Intransitive complete is a type of verb that does action but no one receives the action of
the verb or complete without transferring their action to anyone or anything.

Example: The bell rang suddenly, The girl knitted all evening, They were here.
Explanation:

The bell rang suddenly = There is no receiver of the action in the sentence
The girl knitted all evening = There is no receiver of the action in the sentence
They were here = There is no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective

How to change the sentences from Active to Passive Form

1. The sentence must have objects (transitive verb). If there is no object then there must be
question word who asks the object.
2. Object active sentence became the subject of passive sentences.
3. Subject or active sentences into passive sentences that preceded the object word “by”.
4. The verb used is verb III (past participle) which is preceded by to be.
5. The adjusted sentence structure by tenses.

Rules
1. The places of subject and object are interchanged i.e. the object shifts to the place of
subject and subject shifts to the place of object in passive voice.

Example:
Active voice : I make a cake.
Passive voice : A cake is made by me.

Subject (I) of sentence shifted to the place of object (cake) and object (cake) shifted to the
place of subject (I) in passive voice.

2. Sometimes in passive voice, subject of sentence is not used. Besides, subject of sentence
can be omitted in passive voice, if without subject it can give enough meaning in passive
voice.
Example:
Passive voice : Cake is sold in market.

TIPS
If we want to change this passive voice form into active voice, there must be a subject. The
subject must be “someone or somebody”

Passive voice : Cake is sold in market.

Active : Someone sells cake in market.

3. Sentence of Passive voice always used 3rd form of verb (past participle) as main verb for
all tenses. Base form of verb or present participle will be never used in passive voice.
Moreover, the word “by” is used before subject in sentences in passive voice.

Example:
Active voice : The hunter kills the lion.
Passive voice : The lion is killed by the hunter.

4. The word “by” is not always used before subject in passive voice but it can be replaced
“with, to, etc” may also be used before subject in passive voice.
Examples:

Active voice : The water fills the tub.

Passive voice : The tub is filled with water.
Active voice : He knows me.
Passive voice : I am known to him.

5. Auxiliary verbs are used passive voice according to the tense of sentence.

The Form of Active Voice and Passive Voice in Tenses

Passive voice in Present Tense

Active Voice Passive Voice

Formula: Subject + Verb + Formula: S + to be + past participle + by

object object
Examples:

He writes a letter A letter is written by him

Subject (He) + Verb (writes) + S (A letter) + to be (is) + past participle
object (a letter) (written) + by object (him)

They sell books Books are sold by them

Subject (They) + Verb (sell) + S (Books) + to be (are) + past participle
object (books) (sold) + by object (them)

She helps me I am helped by her

Subject (She) + Verb (helps) + S (I) + to be (am) + past participle
object (me) (helped) + by object (her)

Passive voice in Present Continuous Tense

Active Voice Passive Voice

Formula: Subject + to be (is, am, are) Formula: S + to be (is, am, are) +

+ present participle + object being + past participle + by object
Examples:

She is singing a song A song is being sung by her.

Subject (she) + to be (is) + present S (A song) + to be (is) + being + past
participle (singing) + object ( a song) participle (sung) + by object (her)

They are eating apples Apples are being eaten by them

S (Apples) + to be (are) + being +
Subject (They)+ to be (are) + present past participle (eaten)+ by object
participle (eating) + object (apples) (them)

You are disturbing me I am being disturbed by you

S (I) + to be (am) + being + past
Subject (You)+ to be (are) + present participle (disturbed)+ by object
participle (disturbing) + object (me) (you)

Passive voice in Simple Past Tense

Active Voice Passive Voice

Formula: Subject + past participle + Formula: S + was/were + past participle

object + by object
Example:

He bought a car A car was bought by him

Subject (He) + past participle (bought) S (A car)+ was+ past participle
+ object (a car) (bought) + by object (him)

She decorated the walls A new car was bought by Jeffri

Subject (She) + past participle S (A new car)+ was+ past participle
(decorated) + object (the walls) (bought) + by object (Jeffri)

I helped them They were helped by me

Subject ( I ) + past participle (helped) S (They)+ were+ past participle
+ object (them) (helped) + by object (me)

Passive voice in Past Continuous Tense

Active Voice Passive Voice

Formula: S + was/were + being +
past participle + by object
Examples:
She was washing a shirt
S (she)+ was+ being + past
participle (washing)+ by object (a
shirt)
Boys were singing songs
S (Boys)+ were + being + past
participle (singing)+ by object
(songs)
She was not washing a shirt
S (she)+ was not + being + past
participle (washing)+ by object (a
shirt)
Formula: S + was/were + being + past
participle + by object
A shirt was being washed by her
S (A shirt) + was + being + past
participle (washed) + by object (her)
Songs were being sung by boys
S (songs) + were + being + past
participle (sung) + by object (boys)
A shirt was not being washed by her
S (A shirt) + was+ being + past participle
(washed) + by object (her)

Passive voice in Present Perfect Tense

Active Voice Passive Voice
Formula: Subject + have/has + Formula: S + have/has been + past
past participle + object participle + by object
Examples:
He has completed the work The work has been completed by him
S (The work)+ has been + past
Subject (He) + has + past participle participle (completed) + by object
(completed) + object (the work) (him)
 She has written five poems
Subject (she) + has + past participle
(written) + object (five poems)
I have made some cakes
Subject ( I ) + have + past participle
(made) + object (some cakes)
Five poems have been written by her
S (Five poems)+ have been + past
participle (written) + by object (her)
Some cakes have been made by me
S (Some cakes)+ have been + past
participle (made) + by object (me)

Passive voice in Past Perfect Tense

Active Voice
Formula: Subject + had + past
participle + object
Examples:
He had left that place
Subject (He)+ had + past participle (left)+
object (that place)
I had finished my work
Subject ( I )+ had + past participle
(finished)+ object (my work)
She had missed the last bus
Subject (She)+ had + past participle
(missed)+ object (the last bus)
Passive Voice
Formula: S + had been + past
participle + by object
That place had been left by him
S ( That place )+ had been + past
participle ( left ) + by object
( him )
My work had been finished by
me
S (My work)+ had been + past
participle (finished) + by object
(me)
The last bus had been missed by
her
S (the last bus)+ had been + past
participle (missed) + by object
(her)

Passive Voices for Present & Future Modals

(e.g. MAY, MIGHT, CAN, MUST, SHOULD, OUGHT)
Auxiliary Verb used in Passive Voice: Be
Active Voices Passive Voices
Can Can Be

He can drive a car. A car can be driven by him

Subject + can + verb + Object Object + can be + past participle +
by + subject
He cannot drive a car
Subject + cannot + verb + Object
Can he drive a car?
Can + subject + verb + object?
MUST
He must learn this book.
Subject + must + verb + Object
He must not learn this book.
Subject + must not+ verb + Object
Must he learn this book?
Must + subject + verb + object?
MAY
She may eat an apple
Subject + may + verb + Object
She may not eat an apple.
Subject + may not+ verb + Object
May she eat an apple?
May + subject + verb + object?
MIGHT
A car cannot be driven by him.
Object + cannot be + past participle
+ by + subject
Can a car be driven by him?
Can + subject + be + past participle
+ object?
MUST BE
This book must be learnt him.
Object + must be + past participle +
by + subject
This book must not be learnt by him.
Object + must not be + past
participle + by + subject
Must this book be learnt by him
Must + subject + be + past participle
+by + object?
MAY BE
An apple may be eaten by her.
Object + may be + past participle +
by + subject
An apple may not be eaten by her.
Object + may not be + past participle
+ by + subject
May an apple be eaten by her?
May + subject + be + past participle
+by + object?
MIGHT BE
She might kill the snake.
Subject + might + verb + Object
She might not kill the snake.
Subject + might not + verb + Object
Might she kill the snake?
Might + subject + verb + Object
SHOULD
I should buy this clock.
Subject + should + verb + Object
I should not buy this clock.
Subject + should not + verb + Object
Should I buy this clock?
Should + subject + verb + Object?
OUGHT TO
You ought to help her.
Subject + ought to + verb + Object
You ought not to help her.
Subject + ought not to + verb +
The snake might be killed by her.
Object + might be + past participle +
by + subject
The snake might not be killed by her.
Object + might not be + past
participle + by + subject
Might the snake be killed by her?
Might + Object + be + past participle
+ by + subject
SHOULD BE
This clock should be bought by me.
Object + Should be + past participle
+ by + subject
This clock should not be bought by
me.
Object + Should not be + past
participle + by + subject
Should this clock be bought by me?
Should + Object + be + past
participle + by + subject?
OUGHT TO BE
She ought to be helped by you.
Object + ought to be + past participle
+ by + subject
She ought not to be helped by you
Object + ought not to be + past
Object
Passive voices for Past Modals
Passive Voices for Past Modals
(e.g. MIGHT HAVE, MAY HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, OUGHT HAVE,
MUST HAVE)
Auxiliary Past participle used in Passive Voice: BEEN
Active Voices
SHOULD HAVE
I should have started a job.
Subject + should have + past
participle + Object
I should not have started a job.
Subject + should have not + past
participle + Object
Should I have started a job?
Should + subject + have + past
participle + object
MUST HAVE
He must have passed the exam.
Subject + must + have + past
participle + Object
He must not have passed the exam.
Subject + must not+ have + past
participle + Object
participle + by + subject
Passive Voices
SHOULD HAVE BEEN
A job should have been started by
me
Object + should have been + past
participle + by + subject
A job should not have been started
by me
Object + should have not been + past
participle + by + subject
Should a job have been started by
me?
Should + subject + have been + past
participle + by +object?
MUST HAVE BEEN
The exam must have been passed by
him.
Object + must have been + past
participle + by + subject
The exam must not have been passed
by him.
Object + must not have been + past
participle + by + subject
MAY HAVE MAY HAVE BEEN

You may have helped the kids.
Subject + may + have + past
participle + Object
You may not have helped the kids.
The kids may have been helped by
you.
Object + may have been + past
participle + by + subject
The kids may not have been helped
by you.

Subject + may not have+ past Object + may not have been + past
participle + Object participle + by + subject

MIGHT HAVE MIGHT HAVE BEEN

He might have killed the snake. The snake might have been killed by
her.
Subject + might have + past Object + might have been + past
participle + Object participle + by + subject

He might have not killed the snake. The snake might not have been killed
by her.
Subject + might have not + past Object + might not have been + past
participle + Object participle + by + subject

OUGHT TO HAVE OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN

You ought to have finished the task.
Subject + ought to have + past
participle + Object
You ought not to have finished the
task.
Subject + ought not to have + past
participle + Object
The task ought to have been finished
by you
Object + ought to have been + past
participle + by + subject
The task ought not to have been
finished by you
Object + ought not to have been +
past participle + by + subject

How to change an active sentence into a passive sentence, the steps are:
 For example:
Timmy washed the dog _ The dog was washed (by Timmy)
SOURCES :

Grammatically definitions. (n.d.). Read Write Think. Retrieved from

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson280/grammatically_defini
tions.html
Active and Passive Voice. (n.d.). TheBestUknow.com. Retrieved
from http://thebestuknow.com/english-grammar/active-passive-voice/

Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs. (n.d.). Daily Grammar. Retrieved
From.http://www.dailygrammar.com/Lesson-118-Transitive-and-Intransitive-
Verbs.html

What Is a Predicate Nominative?. (n.d.). Grammar Monster. Retrieved

from http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/predicate_nominative.html

Predicate Adjective.(n.d). Your dictionary. Retrieved

From.http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/adjectives/predicate-
adjective.html

Passive voice for tense.(n.d.). Studyexam. Retrieved

from http://www.studyandexam.com/passive-voice-for-tense.html/

ACTIVE / PASSIVE VOICE. .(n.d.). Towson University. Retrieved

from https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/activepass.html

Passive Voice. (n.d.). Multi-Media English. Retrieved

From.https://multimedia-english.com/grammar/passive-voice-51

Passive voices for Present and Future Modals.(n.d.). Studyexam. Retrieved

From. http://www.studyandexam.com/passive-voice-for-modal.html