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ACTIVE & PASSIVE VOICE

InEnglishlanguageverbscanbeusedintwoways.Thatisactivevoiceandpassive
voice.
ACTIVEVOICE
WhenthesubjectofasentenceisactiveandgivenmoreimportanceisknownasActive
voice.
Ex

eat aSamosa.

SubjectVerbObject
IntheabovesentenceIisthesubjectanditisactive.Subjectisresponsibleand
importanttoperformtheaction.SoitiscalledasACTIVEvoice.

PASSIVEVOICE
Wheninasentencetheactionismoreimportantthanthesubjectofthesentenceand
Subjectactspassivelyinthesentence,itisknownasPassivevoice.
Ex

ASamosa is

eaten by

ObjectVerb

me.

Subject

Theabovesentenceisinpassivevoiceastheobjectandtheactionperformedonthe
objectisgivenmoreimportance.Subjectofthesentenceseemspassive.Theactionof
eatingSamosaseemstobegettingdonefromthesubject.

GUIDELINES TO CHANGE THE VOICE

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To change the voice of any sentence there must be a TRANSITIVE verb in the
active voice. Sentence without transitive verb cannot be changed into passive voice.
Verbsareoftwotype

1)Transitive
2)Intransitive

Whenaverbneedsanobjecttofulfillthemeaningofthesentencethatverbis
knownasTransitiveverb.
Ex.

Ramaeatsabanana
Idriveacar
IntheaboveexampleVrebeatandDrivearetransitiveverbwhichneedsan
objecttogivecompletemeaningtothesentence.Ifthesentenceendswithoutan
objectitwillbeincomplete.
Ex.
Ramaeats.
Idrive.
Theabovesentenceseemsincompleteaswearenotabletogivetheanswerthe
question:Ramaeatswhat?WhatIdrive?
FollowingaretheexamplesofsomeIntransitiveVerbs
Bring,Take,drink,beat,steal,take,learn,teachetc

Whenaverbdoesnotneedanobjecttofulfillthemeaningofthesentencethat
verbisknownasIntransitiveverb.
Ex.

Shelaughs.
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Birdsfly
IntheaboveexampleVerblaughandflyareintransitiveverbwhichdoesnot
needanobjecttogivecompletemeaningtothesentence.

FollowingaretheexamplesofsomeIntransitiveVerbs
Eat,smile,sleep,go,come,dance,laughetc

If the sentence in perfect continuous tense, it can not be changed into Passive voice.
Followingtensescannotbechangedintopassivevoice.
PRESENTPERFECTCOMTINUOUS
PASTPERFECTCOMTINUOUS
FUTUREPERFECTCOMTINUOUS

In active voice subject comes first but in passive voice object comes first.
Ex.

Minister has declared a package. (Active Voice)

A package has been declared by the Minister

Following changes take place when we change active voice into passive voice.
Onlyverbspastparticiple(Thirdformofverb)isusedinthepassivevoice.

Ex.Sheknewtheidea.

(Active)

Theideaisknowntoher

(Passive)

Following changes take place when we change active voice into passive voice.

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I
becomes
We
becomes
He
becomes
She
becomes
Theybecomes
them

Patil
meinPassivevoice
us
him
her

Followingsubjectsremainsameinactive&passivevoice.
It
You

remains
remains

it
you

CONVERSATIONOFACTIVETOPASSIVEVOICE
SimplePresentTense.
Sub+verb+object

Object+tobeform+verbP.P.+subject

Shewatchsmovieseveryday

Moviesarewatchedbyhereveryday.

Theywatchmovieseveryday

Moviesarewatchedbythemeveryday

Inpresenttenseappropriateformofbethatisam,is,aremustbeused.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher,TheybecameThem

SimplePastTense.
Sub+verb+object

Object+tobeform+verbP.P.+subject

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Shewatchedmovieseveryday

Movieswaswatchedbyhereveryday.

Theywatchedmovieseveryday

Movieswaswatchedbythemeveryday

Inpasttenseappropriateformofbethatiswas,weremustbeused.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher,TheybecameThem

SimpleFutureTense.
Sub+verb+object

Object+tobeform+verbP.P.+subject

Shewillwatchmovieseveryday

Movieswillbewatchedbyherevery
day.

Theywillwatchmovieseveryday

Movieswillbewatchedbythemevery
day

Infuturetenseappropriateformofbethatiswillbe,shallbemustbeused.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher,TheybecameThem

PresentContinuousTense.
Sub+be+verb(ing)+object

Object+being+verbP.P.+subject

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Sheiswatchingmovieseveryday

Moviesarebeingwatchedbyherevery
day.

Theyarewatchingmovieseveryday

Moviesarebeingwatchedbythem
everyday

Incontinuoustenseappropriateformofbethatisbeingmustbeused.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher,TheybecameThem

PastContinuousTense.
Sub+be+verb(ing)+object

Object+being+verbP.P.+subject

Shewaswatchingmovieseveryday

Movieswerebeingwatchedbyher
everyday.

Theywerewatchingmovieseveryday

Movieswerebeingwatchedbythem
everyday

Incontinuoustenseappropriateformofbethatisbeingmustbeused.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher,TheybecameThem

FutureContinuousTense.
Asentenceinfuturecontinuoustensecannotbechangedintopassive
voice
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PresentPerfectTense.
Sub+have/has+verb(ing)+object

Object+have/has+been+verbP.P.+subject

Shehaswatchedmovieseveryday

Movieshavebeenwatchedbyherevery
day.

Theyhavewatchedmovieseveryday

Movieshavebeenwatchedbythem
everyday

Inpresentperfecttenseappropriateformofhavethatishave,hasmustbe
used.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher;TheybecameThem

PastPerfectTense.
Sub+had+verb(ing)+object

Object+had+been+verbP.P.+subject

Shehadwatchedmovieseveryday

Movieshadbeenwatchedbyherevery
day.

Theyhadwatchedmovieseveryday

Movieshadbeenwatchedbythem
everyday

Inpastperfecttenseappropriateformofhavethatishadmustbeused.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher;TheybecameThem

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FuturePerfectTense.
Sub+willhave+verb(ing)+object

Object+willhave+been+verbP.P.+subject

Shewillhavewatchedmovieseveryday

Movieswillhavebeenwatchedbyher
everyday.

Theywillhavewatchedmovies
everyday

Movieswillhavebeenwatchedbythem
everyday

Inpresentperfecttenseappropriateformofhavethatishave,hasmustbe
used.
Intheaboveexampleswatchesandwatchchangedintowatched.
AndShebecameher;TheybecameThem

ACTIVETOPASSIVEVOICEOF
CAN,MAY,MIGHT,SHOULD,MUST,OUGHTTO
Wecanconverttheactivevoicesentencewiththehelpofrulesappliedtobeform(am,
is,are,was,were,shall,will)andhaveforms(have,has,had,willhave)inthetense.
CAN

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Subject+can+verb+object

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Object+canbe+verb3+by+subject

Icanreadthebook

Thebookcanbereadbyme

Shecanplaycricket

Cricketcanbeplayedbyher

Theycancallyou

Youcanbecalledbythem

MAY
Subject+may+verb+object

Object+maybe+verb3+by+subject

Imayreadthebook

Thebookmaybereadbyme

Shemayplaycricket

Cricketmaybeplayedbyher

Theymaycallyou

Youmaybecalledbythem

MIGHT
Subject+might+verb+object

Object+mightbe+verb3+by+subject

Imightreadthebook

Thebookmightbereadbyme

Shemightplaycricket

Cricketmightbeplayedbyher

Theymightcallyou

Youmightbecalledbythem

SHOULD
Subject+should+verb+object

Object+shouldbe+verb3+by+subject

Ishouldreadthebook

Thebookshouldbereadbyme

Sheshouldplaycricket

Cricketshouldbeplayedbyher

Theyshouldcallyou

Youshouldbecalledbythem

MUST
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Subject+must+verb+object

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Object+mustbe+verb3+by+subject

Imustreadthebook

Thebookmustbereadbyme

Shemustplaycricket

Cricketmustbeplayedbyher

Theymustcallyou

Youmustbecalledbythem

OUGHTTO
Subject+oughtto+verb+object

Object+oughttobe+verb3+by+subject

Imustoughttothebook

Thebookoughttobereadbyme

Sheoughttoplaycricket

Cricketoughttobeplayedbyher

Theyoughttocallyou

Yououghttobecalledbythem

MAYHAVE,MIGHTHAVE,SHOULDHAVE,MUSTHAVE,OUGHTTOHAVE

MAYHAVE
Subject+mayhave+verb3+object Object+mayhavebeen+verb3+by+subject
Youmayhaveseenit

Itmayhavebeenseenbyyou

Ritamayhavetakenthebook

ThebookmayhavebeentakenbyRita

Collegemayhavedeclaredtheholiday

Theholidaymayhavebeendeclaredby
college

MIGHTHAVE
Subject+mighthave+verb3+object Object+mighthavebeen+verb3+by+subject
Youmighthaveseenit

Itmighthavebeenseenbyyou

Ritamighthavetakenthebook

ThebookmighthavebeentakenbyRita
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Collegemighthavedeclaredtheholiday

Theholidaymighthavebeendeclaredby
college

SHOULDHAVE
Subject+shouldhave+verb3+objectObject+shouldhavebeen+verb3+by+subject
Youshouldhaveseenit

Itshouldhavebeenseenbyyou

Ritashouldhavetakenthebook

ThebookshouldhavebeentakenbyRita

Collegeshouldhavedeclaredtheholiday

Theholidayshouldhavebeendeclaredby
college

MUSTHAVE
Subject+musthave+verb3+objectObject+musthavebeen+verb3+by+subject
Youmusthaveseenit

Itmusthavebeenseenbyyou

Ritamusthavetakenthebook

ThebookshouldhavebeentakenbyRita

Collegemusthavedeclaredtheholiday

Theholidaymusthavebeendeclaredby
college

OUGHTHAVE
Subject+oughthave+verb3+objectObject+oughthavebeen+verb3+by+subject
Yououghthaveseenit

Itoughthavebeenseenbyyou

Ritaoughthavetakenthebook

ThebookoughthavebeentakenbyRita

Collegeoughthavedeclaredtheholiday

Theholidayoughthavebeendeclaredby
college

Passivevoiceofimperativesentences(Order,request,command)

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Asentencewhichexpressescommandorrequestoradviceiscalledimperative
sentence.
Example:
Openthewindow.
Turnoffthefan.
Bringaglassofwater.

Tochangeactiveimperativesentenceintopassiveimperativesentence:

1. ThewordLetisaddedbeforesentenceinpassivevoice.
2. Auxiliaryverbbeisaddedafterobjectinsentenceinpassivevoice.
3. Mainverb(baseform)ofimperativesentenceischangedto3rdformofverb(past
participle)inpassivevoice.

Verb+object

Let+object+be+verb3

Reviseyourbook.

Letyourbookberevised.

Speakthetruth.

Letthetruthbespoken.

Helpthepoor.

Letthepoorbehelped.

Learnyourlesson.

Letyourlessonbelearnt.

Killthesnake.

Letthesnakebekilled.

Punishhim.

Lethimbepunished.

Openthedoor.

Letthedoorbeopened.

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Completethework.

Lettheworkedbecompleted.

Openthedoor.

Letthedoorbeopened.

Turnoffthetelevision.

Letthetelevisionbetunedoff.

Cleanyourroom.

Letyourroombecleaned.

Passivevoiceofinterrogativesentences
Asentencewhichasksquestioniscalledinterrogativesentence.
Example:
Willyouopenthewindow.
Canyouturnoffthefan
haveyoupassedtheexam

Tochangeactiveinterrogativesentenceintopassiveinterrogative
sentence:

1. Beginthesentencewiththemodel(auxiliary)verb.
2. Auxiliaryverbbeisaddedafterobjectinsentenceinpassivevoice.
3. Forhelpingverbbeenisaddedbeforetheobject.

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4. Mainverb(baseform)ofimperativesentenceischangedto3rdformofverb
(pastparticiple)inpassivevoice.

Willyouopenthewindow?

Willthewindowbeopenedbyyou?

Canyouturnoffthefan?

Canthefanbeturnedoffbyyou?

Haveyoupassedtheexam?

Hastheexambeenpassedbyyou?

Haveyouinvitedhim?

Hashebeeninvitedbyyou?

Didshegiveyoutheball?

Wastheballgiventoyoubyher?

Willyoutellmeastory?

Willastorybetoldtomebyyou?

Whobrokethewindow

Bywhomwasthewindowbroken?

Haveyoufinishedthework?

Hastheworkbeenfinishedbyyou?

Whenwillyouannouncetheresult?
Canitbecured?

Whentheresultwillbeannouncedby
you?
Canbeitcured(byanybody)

Passivevoiceofnegativesentences
Asentencewhichhasnegationinitiscallednegativesentence.
Example:
Iwillnotgiveyou.
Theycannotwinthematch.
Hehasnotcompletedit.

Tochangeactivenegativesentenceintopassivenegativesentence:

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1. Withmodelverbslikehave,has,hadbeenisaddedafterthenegation.
2. Excepthave,has,had,forothermodelverbbeisaddedafterthenegation.
3. Mainverb(baseform)ofnegativesentenceischangedto3rdformofverb

(pastparticiple)inpassivevoice.
4. DOformchangesasfollows:
ACTIVE

PASSIVE

DO(Afterthesubject)

am/is/are(Aftertheobjet)

Did

as/were

Subject+be+not+verb+objectObject+be+not+verb3+by+subject
Iwillnotgiveyou

Youwillnotbegiven.

Theycannotwinthematch

Thematchcannotbewonbythem

Hehasnotcompletedit

Ithasnotbeencompletedbyhim

Idonotlikethismusic

Thismusicisnotlikedbyme.

KetandidnotseenBangalore

BangalorewasnotseenbyKetan

Sandeephadnotsoldhiscar

Sandeepscarhadnotbeensoldbyhim

Rajnkanthasneverseenthefailure

FailurehasnotbeenseenbyRajnikant.

Shantanudidnotopenashop

AshopwasnotopenedbySantanu

Hedonotlikesexcuses

Excusesarenotlikedbyhim

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EXERCISE

1. Negativethinkingcausesdepression.

2. Gaganwonthebronzemedal.
3. Governmenthaspassedtheresolution.
4. Policewillhavecaughttheculprit.
5. CanItakeyourpen?
6. Whoscoredthebestgoal?
7. Teacherisnotreadingthebook.
8. Passthereport.
9. Procrastinationdelaysthesuccess.
10. Countryoffersfreeeducation.
11. Thetigerkilledthedeer.
12. Adogwaslickingthebrade.
13. Shallwevisitthemuseum?
14. MrRajatmighthavedisclosedthesecret.
15. Indiahadwontheworldcup.
16. Thatboyofyourshasbrokenmywindowagain.
17. Mygrandfatherhasbuiltthishouse.
18. Armywillhaveabandonedthetank.
19. Whatyousaycannotbebelieved.
20. Nobodyloveshim.

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