Master Voice in
English Grammar
Active & Passive Voice — From Basics to Advanced. The complete, exam-ready guide with all tenses, special cases, and 20 MCQs.
Section 01
What is Voice in Grammar?
The grammatical concept that tells us whether the subject of a sentence performs the action or receives it.
The Full Definition
Voice is a grammatical category of a verb that shows the relationship between the subject of the sentence and the action expressed by the verb. It indicates whether the grammatical subject is the doer (agent) of the action or the receiver (patient) of the action.
In English, there are two voices: Active Voice and Passive Voice. The choice of voice fundamentally changes the emphasis, tone, and sometimes the meaning of a sentence.
Passive → The Subject receives the action (originally the Object).
"Doer as Subject" vs "Receiver as Subject"
Imagine a cricket match. Rohit Sharma hits a six.
Active: Rohit Sharma hit a six. — Here, Rohit (the doer/subject) is in the spotlight.
Passive: A six was hit by Rohit Sharma. — Here, the six (the receiver) is highlighted. We focus on what happened, not who did it.
In Bollywood news: "Salman Khan signed a new film" (Active) vs "A new film was signed by Salman Khan" (Passive — focus shifts to the film). Both sentences contain the same information, but the emphasis is different!
4 Reasons Why Voice Matters
📝 Exam Success
Voice questions appear in every major competitive exam — CBSE Board, SSC CGL, Bank PO, UPSC, CAT, and more. Mastering voice can earn you guaranteed marks.
✍️ Better Writing
Skilled writers switch between active and passive purposefully — to create emphasis, vary sentence structure, and control what information the reader focuses on.
🗣️ English Fluency
Native speakers use passive voice constantly in daily conversation and writing. Understanding it is essential for true fluency and natural-sounding English.
📖 Reading Comprehension
Academic texts, legal documents, news reports, and science books are full of passive voice. Recognising it instantly improves your comprehension speed and accuracy.
Section 02
Active Voice vs Passive Voice
A complete side-by-side comparison of both voices — definitions, structures, and key features.
Active Voice
The subject of the sentence is the doer — it performs the action described by the verb.
- Subject is the performer of the action
- Verb is in its standard (V1/V2) form
- Sentence is direct and to the point
- More common in everyday conversation
- Preferred in creative and journalistic writing
- Conveys energy, clarity, and immediacy
Passive Voice
The subject of the sentence is the receiver — it undergoes the action described by the verb.
- Subject receives the action of the verb
- Verb becomes be + past participle (V3)
- Original subject placed in "by phrase" (or dropped)
- Common in formal, academic, scientific writing
- Used when doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant
- Creates an impersonal, objective tone
⚡ Critical Rule: Only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be converted to passive voice. Intransitive verbs like sleep, die, arrive, go, come have no object, so they cannot be passivised. "She slept" → No passive possible.
Full Comparison Table
| Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Subject's Role | Performs the action (doer) | Receives the action (receiver) |
| Verb Form | Standard verb (V1/V2) | be + V3 (past participle) |
| Sentence Focus | Who does the action | What happens / what is done |
| Common in | Conversation, stories, news | Science, law, formal notices |
| By-phrase | Not present | Present (optional, can be dropped) |
| Tone | Direct, lively, personal | Formal, impersonal, objective |
| Length | Usually shorter | Usually longer |
| Example | The chef cooked the meal. | The meal was cooked by the chef. |
Section 03
The 5-Step Conversion Method
Follow these five steps in order and you will never make a mistake converting active to passive voice.
Identify Subject, Verb, and Object
Find the three core elements of the active sentence. Ask: Who is doing what to whom?
Subject = Ramesh | Verb = writes (Simple Present) | Object = a letter
Move the Object to the Subject Position
The Object of the active sentence becomes the new Subject of the passive sentence. If the object is a pronoun, change it to its subject form: me→I, him→he, her→she, them→they, us→we.
Object "him" → New Subject: He
Change the Verb to the Correct Form of be + V3
The tense of the original verb determines which form of be to use. The main verb always becomes V3 (past participle).
Present Cont. → is/am/are being + V3 | Past Cont. → was/were being + V3
Pres. Perfect → has/have been + V3 | Past Perfect → had been + V3
Simple Future → will be + V3 | Future Perfect → will have been + V3
Modals → Modal + be + V3
Place the Original Subject after "by"
The original doer (subject) goes at the end of the sentence, preceded by "by". Change subject pronouns to object form: I→me, we→us, he→him, she→her, they→them.
Subject "They" → by them
Subject "Ramesh" → by Ramesh (no change for proper nouns)
Verify Meaning and Grammar
Read the sentence aloud. Check: Does it mean the same as the original? Is the be form correct for the tense? Is the V3 correct (not V2)?
Passive: A letter is written by Ramesh.
- Doer is unknown: My phone was stolen. (We don't know who stole it.)
- Doer is obvious / general: Roads are repaired every year. (Obviously by government/workers — no need to say it.)
- Doer is indefinite (someone/people/they): She was told to leave. (No need: "by someone" or "by people" adds no information.)
Section 04
Pronoun Changes in Passive Voice
Pronouns must change their form when they move positions in the sentence. These two grids cover both directions.
Direction 1 — Active Subject → "by-phrase" Object Form
When the active subject becomes the agent in the by-phrase, use these object forms:
Direction 2 — Active Object → Passive Subject Form
When the active object becomes the new subject of the passive sentence, use these subject forms:
3 Solved Examples with Both Pronoun Changes
Example 1 — She as subject, him as object
Object "him" → new subject "He" (Direction 2) | Subject "She" → "by her" (Direction 1)
Example 2 — They as subject, us as object
Object "us" → new subject "We" | Subject "They" → "by them"
Example 3 — I as subject, her as object
Object "her" → new subject "She" | Subject "I" → "by me"
Section 05
All 12 Tenses — Active to Passive
Quick reference chart followed by expandable accordions with examples and notes for every tense.
| Tense | Active Voice Form | Passive Voice Form |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Subject + V1(s/es) + Object | Object + is/am/are + V3 |
| Simple Past | Subject + V2 + Object | Object + was/were + V3 |
| Simple Future | Subject + will + V1 + Object | Object + will be + V3 |
| Present Continuous | Subject + is/am/are + V1-ing + Object | Object + is/am/are being + V3 |
| Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + V1-ing + Object | Object + was/were being + V3 |
| Future Continuous | Subject + will be + V1-ing + Object | Not commonly used in passive |
| Present Perfect | Subject + has/have + V3 + Object | Object + has/have been + V3 |
| Past Perfect | Subject + had + V3 + Object | Object + had been + V3 |
| Future Perfect | Subject + will have + V3 + Object | Object + will have been + V3 |
| Modals (can/could etc.) | Subject + Modal + V1 + Object | Object + Modal + be + V3 |
| Going to (Future) | Subject + is/am/are going to + V1 | Object + is/am/are going to be + V3 |
| Need to / Have to | Subject + need to/have to + V1 | Object + need to/have to be + V3 |
Section 06
Special Cases in Passive Voice
Six important special scenarios that require different passive constructions — each tested frequently in exams.
Imperative Sentences (Commands)
Imperative sentences (commands/requests) have no visible subject — "You" is implied. There are TWO passive patterns, chosen based on the tone of the command.
- Polite request → requested
- Strong command / military → ordered
- Advice / suggestion → advised
- Warning / prohibition → warned
Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
Questions must remain as questions in the passive. The passive auxiliary is placed before the passive subject.
🔑 Special Rule — Who → By whom: When "Who" is the subject of an active question (acting as the doer), it changes to "By whom" in the passive, and the question structure is rearranged: By whom + was/were/is/are + Object + V3?
Ditransitive Verbs (Two Objects)
Verbs like give, send, teach, offer, show, tell, lend take two objects — an Indirect Object (IO = recipient: to whom?) and a Direct Object (DO = the thing). Either object can become the passive subject.
Option 2: DO → Subject + be + V3 + to + IO
Verbs That CANNOT Be Passivised
Intransitive Verbs
Verbs with no object cannot form a passive. Examples: sleep, die, arrive, go, come, fall, rise, sit, stand, lie, laugh, cry, sneeze.
❌ She slept → No passive possible.
Stative Verbs (of state/possession)
Verbs expressing state, not action: have (possess), resemble, consist of, contain, lack, suit, fit, belong to.
❌ She has a car → No passive possible.
✅ But: "She had her car repaired" → "Her car was had repaired" ❌ → Still no passive.
Reflexive Verbs
When the subject and object refer to the same person: He hurt himself. She introduced herself.
❌ These cannot be passivised as the object is the same as the subject.
Reciprocal Verbs
When two or more subjects act on each other: They met each other. They married each other.
❌ Such sentences do not produce meaningful passive forms.
- Ask: "Is there an object?" — If no object exists, passive is impossible.
- Ask: "Can the object become the subject of a passive sentence meaningfully?" — If no, passive is not possible.
Impersonal Passive — "It is said that…"
Used with reporting verbs like say, think, believe, know, report, consider, expect, claim to express general opinions or reports impersonally.
Pattern B (Personal): Subject of clause + is/was + said + to + V1/have V3
Going to Future Passive
Section 07
10 Common Mistakes Students Make
Avoid these errors — each one has appeared in actual exam questions. Study them carefully.
She wrote the letter. → The letter is written by her.
She wrote the letter. → The letter was written by her.
The road is repaired by workers. (for Present Continuous)
The road is being repaired by workers.
The book was written by she.
The book was written by her.
The work was done by they.
The work was done by them.
The letter was wrote by him.
The letter was written by him.
The food was ate by them.
The food was eaten by them.
She slept. → Sleep was slept by her.
Passive impossible — "slept" is intransitive (no object).
Who wrote this story? → Who was this story written?
Who wrote this story? → By whom was this story written?
Open the door. → You are requested open the door.
Open the door. → You are requested to open the door.
She has submitted the form. → The form has submitted.
She has submitted the form. → The form has been submitted.
They invited us. → Us were invited by them.
They invited us. → We were invited by them.
My wallet was stolen by someone.
My wallet was stolen.
Roads are repaired every year by people.
Roads are repaired every year.
Section 08
When to Use Each Voice
Voice is a choice. Understanding when to use active and when to use passive makes you a more powerful writer.
Use Active Voice When…
- The doer of the action is important or interesting
- You want a direct, clear, and energetic tone
- Writing a story, article, or journalistic report
- The identity of the subject adds meaning or impact
- You want to assign responsibility clearly
- Writing instructions or step-by-step guides
- In conversation and informal communication
- Creating persuasive or argumentative writing
Use Passive Voice When…
- The doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious
- You want to emphasise the action or its result
- Writing scientific, academic, or technical content
- The receiver of the action is more important
- You want to create an impersonal, objective tone
- Writing official notices, government documents, laws
- Reporting news diplomatically (avoiding blame)
- Describing historical events or general facts
Real-Life Context Examples
Passive preferred — focus is on the process, not the scientist.
"The experiment was conducted at 25°C."
Passive preferred — impersonal and authoritative.
"Candidates are requested to report by 9 AM."
Both voices used; passive for diplomatic or unknown doer.
"Three people were injured in the accident."
Passive to soften bad news or avoid assigning blame.
"Errors were made in the calculation."
Passive when doer is everyone or the process is universal.
"Tea is grown in Assam and Darjeeling."
Passive to focus on events rather than specific actors.
"India was declared independent in 1947."
Section 09
20 MCQ Practice Questions
Test your understanding. Click an option to see instant feedback and a detailed explanation.
Section 10
Exercises — Fill in the Blanks
Click on any blank to reveal the answer. Use "Reveal All" to check all answers at once.
Exercise A — Simple Tenses
Fill in the blanks with the correct passive voice form.
- 1The letters are delivered by the postman every morning. (Simple Present)
- 2The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan. (Simple Past)
- 3The results will be announced tomorrow. (Simple Future)
- 4Rice is grown in many parts of India. (Simple Present)
- 5The glass was broken by the child yesterday. (Simple Past)
- 6A new hospital will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister next month. (Simple Future)
Exercise B — Perfect & Continuous Tenses
Fill in the blanks with the correct passive voice form.
- 1The road is being repaired by the workers right now. (Present Continuous)
- 2The application has been submitted by the candidate. (Present Perfect)
- 3The suspect was being questioned by the police. (Past Continuous)
- 4The essay had been checked before the submission. (Past Perfect)
- 5The project will have been completed by December. (Future Perfect)
- 6Traffic rules must be followed by all citizens. (Modal)
Exercise C — Special Sentence Types
Fill in the blanks with the correct passive voice form for special cases.
- 1Submit the form. → You are requested to submit the form. (Imperative)
- 2Who discovered gravity? → By whom was gravity discovered? (Interrogative)
- 3People believe that he is innocent. → It is believed that he is innocent. (Impersonal)
- 4He taught me mathematics. → I was taught mathematics by him. (Ditransitive)
- 5She is going to launch the app. → The app is going to be launched by her. (Going to)
- 6They scolded her for being late. → She was scolded by them for being late. (Pronoun change)
Writing Practice
Task 1 — Paragraph Conversion
Convert this paragraph from Active to Passive Voice in your answer box below:
"Sachin Tendulkar played cricket for India for 24 years. Millions of fans admired him. He scored 100 centuries in international cricket. The BCCI awarded him the Bharat Ratna in 2014."
Cricket was played by Sachin Tendulkar for India for 24 years. He was admired by millions of fans. 100 centuries were scored by him in international cricket. The Bharat Ratna was awarded to him by the BCCI in 2014.
Note: In the last sentence, both forms are possible: "He was awarded the Bharat Ratna" (making indirect object the subject) or "The Bharat Ratna was awarded to him" (making direct object the subject).
Task 2 — Original Sentences
Write 6 original sentences in Passive Voice — one for each tense type listed below:
1. Simple Present | 2. Simple Past | 3. Simple Future | 4. Present Continuous | 5. Present Perfect | 6. Any Modal
1. (Simple Present) English is spoken all over the world.
2. (Simple Past) The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889.
3. (Simple Future) The exam results will be declared next week.
4. (Present Continuous) A new metro line is being constructed in the city.
5. (Present Perfect) The contract has been signed by both parties.
6. (Modal — should) The environment should be protected by everyone.
Section 11
Voice shows whether the subject performs (active) or receives (passive) the action of the verb.
S + V + O → O + be + V3 + by S
Only transitive verbs can be passivised.
is/am/are + V3
She writes → It is written
was/were + V3
He broke → It was broken
will be + V3
They will announce → It will be announced
is/am/are going to be + V3
She is going to open → It is going to be opened
is/am/are being + V3
⚠️ Never drop "being"!
was/were being + V3
They were repairing → It was being repaired
has/have been + V3
She has written → It has been written
had been + V3
He had built → It had been built
will have been + V3
They will have done → It will have been done
Modal + be + V3
"be" never changes after modal.
can/must/should/may/could + be + V3
You are requested/ordered/advised + to + V1
OR: Let + Object + be + V3
Active: Who did this?
Passive: By whom was this done?
Always use "whom" not "who"
I→me | We→us | He→him
She→her | They→them | You→you | It→it
me→I | us→we | him→he
her→she | them→they | you→you | it→it
❌ Intransitive verbs (sleep, go, arrive)
❌ Stative "have" (possess)
❌ Reflexive (hurt himself)
❌ Reciprocal (met each other)
1. Doer is unknown (stolen)
2. Doer is general/obvious (repaired)
3. Doer is someone/people/they
It is said/believed/thought + that + clause
OR: Subject + is said + to + V1/have + V3
1. V2 instead of V3 (ate → eaten)
2. Missing "been" in perfect passive
3. Wrong pronoun after "by" (by she → by her)
