Active and passive voice

Twelve Standard >> Active and passive voice

Understanding Active and Passive Voice

In English grammar, voice refers to the relationship between the action expressed by the verb and the participants (subject and object) in a sentence. There are two types of voice:

Active Voice
Passive Voice

1. Active Voice

In a sentence written in active voice, the subject is the one carrying out the action. It is direct, clear, and often preferred in writing.

Structure: Subject + Verb + Object

Example: The teacher explains the lesson.

Here, "The teacher" is the subject doing the action.

2. Passive Voice

In a passive voice sentence, the subject receives the action. Passive voice is often used when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or implied.

Structure: Object + form of 'to be' + Past Participle + (by Subject)

Example: The lesson is explained by the teacher.

Here, the focus is on the lesson rather than the teacher.

3. Changing Active to Passive Voice

Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence.
Move the object to the subject position.
Apply the appropriate tense of the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Optionally, include the original subject after "by."

Example:

Active: She wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by her.

4. Tense-wise Conversion Chart

Active Voice	Passive Voice
She writes a letter.	A letter is written by her.
She is writing a letter.	A letter is being written by her.
She wrote a letter.	A letter was written by her.
She has written a letter.	A letter has been written by her.
She will write a letter.	A letter will be written by her.

5. When to Use Passive Voice

When the person responsible is not known: The window was broken.
When the doer is not important: The road is being repaired.
To be more formal or objective: It was decided that the meeting would be postponed.

6. Exercises

Convert the following sentences into passive voice:

They are playing football.
She has completed the assignment.
The chef cooked a delicious meal.
We will organize the event next week.
The manager approved the request.

Understanding active and passive voice helps improve clarity and variety in writing. Although active voice is generally clearer and more commonly used, passive voice is appropriate in formal contexts or when the focus is on the action rather than the doer.