Active voice to passive voice

Transformation of Sentences from Active to Passive Voice

Understanding how to change sentences from active voice to passive voice is an essential part of English grammar. This lesson will guide you step-by-step on how to transform active sentences into their passive form with easy rules and examples.

1. What is Active Voice?

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action.

Example: She writes a letter.

Here, “She” is the subject doing the action (writing).

2. What is Passive Voice?

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action.

Example: A letter is written by her.

Here, the focus is on the object (“a letter”), and the subject becomes less important.

3. General Rules for Transformation

• The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
• The verb changes to a passive form: be + past participle (V₃).
• The tense must be correctly adjusted to match the original sentence.
• Use "by + doer" if the doer is important.

4. Passive Voice Structure

Active: Subject + Verb + Object

Passive: Object + form of "be" + past participle + (by + subject)

5. Examples by Tense

• Simple Present Tense:
  Active: She reads the newspaper.
  Passive: The newspaper is read by her.
• Simple Past Tense:
  Active: The chef prepared the meal.
  Passive: The meal was prepared by the chef.
• Present Continuous:
  Active: She is watching a movie.
  Passive: A movie is being watched by her.
• Present Perfect Tense:
  Active: She has written a poem.
  Passive: A poem has been written by her.
• Future Tense:
  Active: The team will complete the project.
  Passive: The project will be completed by the team.

6. Transforming Commands into Passive Voice

Imperative sentences (commands or instructions) can be changed to passive voice using the structure: Let + object + be + past participle.

Example:
Active: Wash the dishes.
Passive: Let the dishes be washed.

7. Important Tips

• Not all sentences can or need to be changed to passive.
• Passive voice is often used in formal or scientific writing.
• Use the passive voice when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

8. Practice Exercise: Change to Passive Voice

Convert the following sentences from active to passive voice:

1. i) Active Voice: She sings a song.
   Passive Voice: ____________
2. ii) Active Voice: The gardener planted the flowers.
   Passive Voice: ____________
3. iii) Active Voice: They are playing football.
   Passive Voice: ____________

Suggested Answers:

• i) The song is sung by her.
• ii) The flowers were planted by the gardener.
• iii) Football is being played by them.

9. Conclusion

Transforming sentences from active to passive voice helps you express ideas differently and is useful in both writing and speaking. Practice regularly to gain confidence and fluency.