Active Voice & Passive VoiceBy: Syed Ibrahim Shams

Def: Voice, Active Voice & Passive Voice

Voice is the form of a Verb which shows whether the Subject does something or has something done to it.

A Verb is in Active Voice, when its Subject does something.

A verb is in Passive Voice, when something is done to its Subject.

ExamplesActive Voice:• I play hockey.• She ate mangoes.• He will buy this house.

Passive Voice:• Hockey is played by me.• Mangoes were eaten by her.• The house will be bought by her.

Rules for changing from Active to Passive Voice

1. The Subject becomes the Object.2. The principal Verb is changed into the Past Participle.3. The Principal Verb is preceded by some form of the

Verb be.4. The Preposition by is placed before the Object.

Change from Active to Passive VoiceActive Voice

1. I like mangoes.2. My mother loves me.3. They do not like her.4. She bought a book.5. We shall play hockey.6. You will not beat her.

Passive Voice1. Mangoes are liked by me.2. I am loved by my mother.3. She is not liked by them.4. A book was bought by her.5. Hockey will b played by us.6. She will not be beaten by you.

Important Points• Only Transitive Verbs can be used in the Passive Voice.• When a Verb has tow Objects, only one of them can be

used as the Subject in the Passive Voice & the other remains as it is.• I gave him a rupee. :Active Voice:• A rupee was given to him by me. :Passive Voice:

Important Points• When an incomplete Transitive Verb is changed from the

Active into Passive Voice, it is the Object, and not the Complement, which becomes the Subject.• We made him captain. :Active Voice:• He was made captain by us. :Passive Voice:

• When a Verb in the Active Voice expresses a command, a request or an advice, we use, in the Passive Voice, the Verb “Let”, followed by the Passive Infinitive without “to”.• Polish my shoes. :Active Voice:• Let my shoes be polished. :Passive Voice:

Thank You for giving me Time