ACTIVE AND
PASSIVE VOICE
Introduction
Active voice '()* +,
-
./ ,0+1 2
. transitive
verb (,
-(
(( ) ': intransitive verb (,
-(;(
(( ) <1
;
He cries. (intransitive verb) She eats rice. (transitive verb)
Passive voice '()* +,
-
./ ) ,0 
. transitive verb
,;B

; Rice is eaten.
 !"#$% Passive Voice : Verb to be + V3*
Verb to be 2/( tense H'I
1( JI(H
+K'(;'I
1(2
I
-
. V3 I1
Passive Voice '()%$$+,-. 3 ,01+23 :
1. Statemnt
(+ 
I;)
2. Question
(+0)()
3. Commsnd
(+0-)

Passive Voice in statement

'()* +,
-
./ ) ,0KH+ 
I;
8. 0+,89:;. ,01<;! Active Voice (
. Passive Voice (
1
B
1.
(K+ Active Voice (
.K+ Passive Voice )
.
0( 
1( 0(
I
-(K' ;K 
2. Verb to be
I
-K' ;K tense
1
 'IH+ Active Voice JI/
(H+ Passive Voice 1
= 0 %'>% 0+,89:;. Tense #$% verb to be .
Passive Voice
'IK Active Voice
1. Present Simple
2. Present Continuous
3. Present Perfect

V. to be K Passive Voice
1. is, am, are + V3
2. (is, am, are) + being + V3
3. (has, have) + been + V3


 

 

 



'IK Active Voice

V. to be K Passive Voice
4. Past simple
4. was, were + V3
5. Past continuous
5. (was, were) + being + V3
6. Past perfect
6. had been + V3
7. Future simple
7. (will, shall) + be + V3
8. Future continuous
8. (will, shall) + be + being
9. Future perfect
9. (will, shall) + have + beee + V3
3. 'IK+ Active Voice ,
-
I
-
.;,
- 3
4. ;1 by + K+ Active Voice ,
-
I
- ( )
.0(
1(
0( ;K (
=$;) % 1. Present Simple
Active : He drinks coffee.
Passive : Coffee is drunk by him.
Active : Asians eats rice.
Passive : Rice is eaten by Asians.
2. Present Continuous
Active : She is eating mangoes.
Passive : Mangoes are being eaten by her.
3. Present Perfect
Active : They have written these letter.
Passive : These letters have been written by them.
4. Past Simple
Active : He drank coffee.
Passive : Coffee was drunk by him.
Active : My friend took the photographs.
Passive : The photographs were taken by my friend.
5. Past Continuous
Active : She was eating mangoes.
Passive : Mangoes were being eaten by her.
Active : Were they shooting crocodiles?
Passive : Were crocodiles being shot by Them?


 

 

 



6. Past Perfect
Active : We had finished this exercise.
Passive : This exercise had been finished by us.
7. Future Simple
Active : She will write an essay.
Passive : An essay will be written by her.
8. Future Continuous
Active : He will be sending a letter.
Passive : A letter will be being sent by him.
9. Future Perfect
Active : I shall have cleaned this room by Sunday.
Passive : This room will have been cleaned by me.
Active : Helen will have sung a song.
Passive : A song will have been song by Helen.
N ;+=O :
1. )'I by 1J; people, someone, somebody, nobody, no one, anybody (;K
0
'I;
B'I by
;
someone is singing Thai songs.
Thai songs are being sung.
2. )+ Active Voice (
can, could, may, might, must, ought to has to JI have to

(:-
I
-
. Passive Voice K'K01I; + be + V3
;
Sam can drive a lorry.
A lorry can be driven by Sam.
Mali ought to cook dinner.
Dinner ought to be cooled by Mail.
3. )+ Active Voice (
( 2  :
.-(

JI(;(


(:-
I
-
.
Passive Voice 2K('
.<1
;
She gave me a dress.
I was given a dress by her.
A dress was given (to) me by her.


 

 

 



4. )
./( (two-word verbs) 1J; verb + adverb
; look for (') turn in
(;), call on (

-() etc.
(:-
I
-
. Passive Voice K'
I
-
i verb
.;,
- 3
adverb (;
I
-
;
He called on me.
I was called on by him.

Passive Voice in Question

'()*+,
-
./ ,0K 0)(
8. 0+,89:;.,01<;!! Q N Active Voice +,-. Passive Voice QR ,01<;!! Q N
Active Voice #ST.=R.>R; Helping Verb
1.
I
-+0)(K'
.+ 
I;
2.
I
-+ 
I;2 Active Voice
. Passive Voice ('I
3.
I
-+ 
I; Passive Voice K'
.+0)( +1
 Helping Verb
H*B+;1  JI;:-
=$;) % Did she buy this book?
1. She bought this book.
2. This book was bought by her.
3. Was this book bought by her?
(Passive Voice)
Are they playing football?
(Active Voice)
1. They are playing football.
2. Football is being played by them.
3. is football being played by them?
(Passive Voice)
)+0)( Active Voice H*B1 Question Word
1.
I
-+0)(K'
.+ 
I;
2.
I
-+ 
I;2 Active Voice
. Passive Voice ('I
3.
I
-+ 
I; Passive Voice
.+0)( +1
 Question Word H*B
+;1 helping Verb   JI;:- 0' 0; Who K Active Voice

I
-
. by whom K Passive Voice


 

 

=$;) %

 



Who sees you?

(Active Voice)
1. Who sees you.
2. You are seen by whom.
3. By whom are you seen?
(Passive Voice)
What do you want?
(Active Voice)
1. You want what.
2,3 What is wanted by you?
(Passive Voice)
Which book is bought by you? (Active Voice)
1. You buy which book.
2,3 Which book is bought by you? (Passive Voice)
Why did he do it?
(Active Voice)
1. He did it.
2. It was done by him.
3. Why was it done by him?
(Passive Voice)
Where did she place it?
(Active Voice)
1. She placed it.
2. It was placed by her.
3. Where was it placed by her? (Passive Voice)

Passive Voice in Command

'()* +
./ ) ,0K 0-
(:-
I
-
. Passive Voice 2K 
Let + object + be + V3
=$;) % Clean it.
Let it be cleaned.
 o
 K Let + object + not + be + V3
Donpt shut this window.
Let this window not be shut.


 

 

 



Verbs Expressing Emotion

'()* ,
-J1( *1J; interest, amuse, bore, please, frighten, excite, tire,
astonish, surprise, disappoint etc. 
'I;
B
. Transitive Verbs JI( (;K
K ;
( K
'I;
B2(
3 I :
1. K
. verb K  active voice (subj. + V + obj.) JI; q,0K'r
;
He bored me with his behaviour.

H,0K'i
:-1(H
H
This book interests me
':
I;(
B,0K'iK2
The news surprised her.
H;,0K''I;'I1K2
2. KK H present participle (V + ing) JI; q;r
(:- IK1':-K1,0K'
(

( *;K1;'*-; IB ':-B
( ing 'I verb
;
He is boring ': He is a boring man.

H
.,
-;
:-
This book is interesting ': it is an interesting news.
':
B;K2
The news is surprising ': it is a surprising news.
H;
B;'I1K2
3. K
. adj. ': K  passive voice

 past participle adjective : adj. ,
-(2
past participle (Subj. + V to be + past participle adj. + prep) JI; q *
(:- IK1(

( *; ; I:- ':-:-
( ed 'I verb JI(
preposition (r
;
I am bored with him.
i
:-
H
He is interested in this book.

HK2':
I;(
B
She was surprised at (by) the news.
'I;'I1K2

- H;


 

 

 



PRE-TEST OR POST-TEST
on Active and Passive Voice
DIRECTION : Choose the correct answer for each item.
1. a. She wants to know the reason for she badly treated since she has done her best for the
job.
b. She wanted to know the reason why she was badly treated since she had done her best
for the job.
c. She wanted to know the reason for her badly treated since she had done her best for the
job.
d. She wants to know the reason for she treated badly since she has done her best for the
job.
2. A new bridge across the river __________ next year.
a. is built
b. will build
c. builds
d. will be built
3. He __________ in 1876.
a. was imprisoned
b. imprisoned
c. had imprisoned
d. has imprisoned
4. The workmen here __________ by the week.
a. paid
b. have paid
c. are paid
d. had paid
5. This programme __________ since last month.
a. has been broadcasted
b. was broadcasted
c. be broadcasted
d. was being broadcasted
6. Several trees in my garden __________ by a hurricane.
a. was destroyed
b. were destroyed
c. was destroying
d. were destructive


 

 

7. The injure player __________ to the ambulance.

a. has being carried
b. had been carrying
c. being carried
d. was being carried
8. a. Whom was this novel written?
b. Was this novel written by?
c. By whom was this novel written?
d. By whom this novel was written?
9. a. What was it caused by?
b. What it was caused by?
c. By what it was caused?
d. Why by was it caused?
10. a. Which is house going to be rent by him?
b. Which house is going to rent by him?
c. Which is house he is going to be rent?
d. Which house is going to be rent by him?
11. a. Where it was placed by her?
b. Where was it placed by her?
c. Where was she placed it?
d. Where she was placed it?
12. a. Why it is done by your friend?
b. Why has your friend done it?
c. Why your friend had done it?
d. Why is it done by your friend?

 




 

 

13. a. Let the door open now.

b. Let open the door now.
c. Let the door be opened now.
d. Let be opened the door now.
14. a. Let that wine did not taste.
b. Let that wine not be tasted.
c. Let that wine was not tasted.
d. Let that wine be not tasted.
15. He seems to be __________ in Japanese.
a. interested
b. interesting
c. interest
d. interests
16. It is a very __________ trip.
a. tire
b. trip.
c. tiring
d. tired
17. This man __________ me. I am very much annoyed with him.
a. frighten
b. frightening
c. frightened
d. frightens
18. He __________ at not finding her at home.
a. is disappointing
b. is disappointed
c. disappoints
d. disappointed
19. Nara heard that he had won a scholarship. It __________ new.
a. was exciting
b. was excited
c. excites
d. excited
20. His complaints __________ me.
a. is annoying
b. is annoyed
c. annoyed
d. annoying

 




 

 

 



Exercise 1
DIRECTION : Change these sentences into passive voice.
1. The parentsp club is planning a picnic.
__________________________________________________________________________
2. The zoo supplies information about the feeding of wild bird.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. The telegraph operator was clicking out a message.
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Someone is painting the gates.
__________________________________________________________________________
5. He has to finish his report today.
__________________________________________________________________________
6. They brought off passengers on the wrecked ship.
__________________________________________________________________________
7. The raiders carried off all my cattle.
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Why are you not doing this exercise?
__________________________________________________________________________
9. Which building is he going to rent?
__________________________________________________________________________
10. Where did she buy it?
__________________________________________________________________________


 

 

 



Exercise 2
Direction : Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms.
1. This is an (interest) ____________ subject. It (interest) ____________ me.
Ipm (interest) ____________ in it.
2. He is the most (bore) ____________ speaker. I have ever heard.
3. His long letter (bore) ____________ me.
4. She is (trouble) ____________ with toothache.
5. My friends gave me a lovely dress as a birthday present.
It was very (please) ____________ It (please) ____________ me very much.
I was (please) ____________ with it.
6. Please donpt (disappoint) ____________ him. In fact, he was (disappoint) in his hope to
pass the examination.
7. Donpt tell them that story. It is not an (amuse) ____________ one.
8. Why did you (annoy) ____________ us?
9. The teacher is (annoy) ____________ at his response.
10.Paulps courage (astonish) ____________ us.


 

 

 



Exercise 3
DIRECTION : Choose the correct answer for each item.
1. Those who violate the rules ____________ .
a. must be severely punished
b. must severely meet punishment
c. should meet severe punishment
d. should be punished severe
2. Nowadays, however, young men with a technical education ____________ because of the
great demand for highly skilled workmen.
a. should pay
b. are well paid
c. is well paid
d. could pay
3. The words, phrases and ideas in song ____________ in ordinary spoken English.
a. have been using
b. have used
c. can be used
d. should use
4. qWhat did the manager say?r
qHe said that any worker staying away from work ____________ .r
a. will dismiss
b. had dismissed
c. is to be dismissed
d. will be dismissed
5. qLast month, the oil prices went up again by 20 percent.r
qThat was the third price in crease since the prices ____________ twice before that.r
a. have been raised
b. had been raised
c. have raised
d. had raised
6. qWhat will happen to the Indo-Chinese refugees?r
qTheypll be given a meal and then ____________ to find out why they fled their country.r
a. questioned
b. are questioned
c. question
d. will question
7. Thomas left for Bangkok as soon as he ____________ about your accident.
a. informed
b. had been informed
c. was informed
d. has been informed


 

 

 



8. qDid you study with that lecturer last year?r

qyes and heps the only one that ____________ .r
a. I was boring
b. I was bored
c. bore me
d. made me boring
9. qHe seemed quite unhappy about the remark.r
qIt {s quite natural him to resent ____________ .r
a. insulting
b. to insult
c. to be insulted
d. being insulted
10. Young people should not ____________ as a mass ____________ on to set right the ills of
society for which they are not responsible.
a. consider, to call
b. be considered, to be called
c. considered, to be called
d. be considered, to called
11. The announcement that all the flights from Singapore ____________ because of the heavy
rain ____________ the waiting passengers.
a. were delayed, greatly disappointed
b. were delayed, was greatly disappointed
c. had delayed, was greatly disappointing
d. were delaying, had greatly been disappointed
12. A : How was slavery abolished in Thailand?
B : At his coronation, King Chulalongkorn issued a
decree that all people born during his
reign
a. would eventually set free.
b. would set free eventually.
c. would be set eventually.
d. would eventually be set free.
13. There must exist in a modern community a sufficient number of persons who possess the


 

 

 



technical skill ____________ to maintain the numerous devices upon which our physical
comforts depend.
a. require
b. requires
c. required
d. requiring
14. ____________ at the thought of the party, they could not sleep that night.
a. Exciting
b. Excited
c. Excitement
d. To excite
15. The news about the revolution ____________ this morning.
a. was broadcasted
b. broadcasted
c. was broadcasting
d. has broadcasted
16. She was very ____________ to meet her friends.
a. delight
b. delighting
c. delighted
d. delightful
17. I hope you donpt mind ____________ to come and meet him.
a. to be asked
b. being asked
c. you were asked
d. we asked you
18. I donpt believe that the problem ____________ .
a. to be solved
b. being solved
c. have been solved
d. is being solved
19. He was quite ____________ up after the long journey.
a. doing
b. being done
c. having done
d. done
20. A promise is never a promise unless it is ____________ .
a. broking
b. broke
c. broken
d. being broken


 

 

 



ADDITIONAL EXERCISE
Choose : the correct answer.
1. Stones }}}} at the glass windows by some hooligans.
a. were throw
b. were thrown
c. were threwn
d. were throwed
2. Several shots }}}} in the gun battle between the police and the gangsters.
a. were exchange
b. was exchanged
c. was exchanging
d. were exchanged
3. The news about the revolution }}}} this morning.
a. was broadcast
b. is broadcast
c. was broadcasted
d. was broadcasting
4. Seventeen houses in the Village }}}} by the fire.
a. were destroyed
b. destroyed
c. had destroyed
d. were destroying
5. Prompt action by the fire brigade prevented the house from }}}} down.
a. burning
b. burns
c. being burn
d. being burnt
6. qAny book that is well }}}} is useful.r
qPerhaps to you ; not to me.r
a. written
b. writes
c. writing
d. wrote
7. The meeting }}}} next week.
a. is holding
b. to be held
c. is being held
d. is to be holding
8. Baseball, football, and badketball }}}} as
extracurricular activites.
a. has been approved
b. has approved
c. have been approved
d. is to be holding


 

 

 



9. Much fishing }}}} off the east coast of Malaysia Peninsular.

a. is doing
b. is done
c. did
d. does
10. The floor }}}} and the walls }}}} .
a. is being repaired ; are being painted
b. repaired ; painted
c. repairing ; painting
d. was repairing ; were painting
11. Mr. Thomas built that large house in 1958. That large house }}}} .
a. were built by Mr. Thomas in 1958.
b. in 1958 was built by Mr. Thomas
c. is built in 1958 by Mr. Thomas
d. was built by Mr. Thomas in 1958
12. If the prisoners attempt to escape from prison, }}}} .
a. he will catch
b. they will catch
c. they will have caught
d. they will be caught.
13. He wanted to know whether the report on the accidents }}}} or not.
a. has been typed
b. had been typed
c. have been typed
d. had typed
14. qThe play has not started yet.r
qLook, the curtain is }}}} now.r
a. being raised
b. risen
c. raising
d. being rose
15. Did the inspector check that machine? }}}} by
the inspector?
a. Did that machine checked
b. had that machine checked
c. Is that machine checked
d. was that machine checked


 

 

 



0O, Active and Passive Voice

1. ,01<;!($+8)
Active Voice
Tense
1. present simple
2. present continuous
3. present perfect
4. pas simple
5. pas continuous
6. pas perfect
7. future simple
8. future continuous
9. future perfect

Passive Voice
0_;

Verb to be
is, am, are
is, am, are + being
has, have + been
was, were
was, were + being
had been
will, shall + be
will, shall + be + being
will, shall + have + been

V (s, es)
is, am, are + Ving
has, have + V3
V2
was, were + Ving
had + V3
will, shall + V
will, shall + be + Ving
will, shall + have + V3

0_; 8
V3
V3
V3
V3
V3
V3
V3
V3
V3

=$;) %
Active Voice
1. He drinks coffee.
2. She is eating mangoes.
3. They have written these letters.
4. He drank coffee.
5. She was eating mangoes.
6. We had finished his exercise.
7. She will write an essay.
8. He will be sending a letter.
9. I shall have cleaned this room by
Sunday.

Passive Voice
Coffee is drunk by him.
Mangoes are being eaten by her.
These letters have been written by them
Coffee was drunk by him.
Mangoes were being eaten by her.
This exercise had been finished by her.
An essay will be written by her.
An letter will be being sent by him.
This room will have been cleaned by me
by Sunday


 

 

 



N ;+=O
1. )'I by 1J; people, someone, somebody, nobody, none, anyone, anybody (;
K0
'I;
B'I by
;
Someone is singing Thai sung.
Thai songs are being sung.
2. )+ Active Voice (
can, could, may, might, must, ought to, has to JI have to
JI have to
(:-
I
-
. Passive Voice K'K0- 1I; + be +V3
;
Sam can drive a lorry.
A lorry can be driven by Sam.
Mali ought to cook dinner.
Dinner ought to be cooked by Mali
3. )+ Active Voice (
( 2  :
.-(

JI(;(


(:-
I
-
.
Passive Voice 2K('
.<1
;
She gave me a dress.
I was given a dress by her.
A dress was given (to) me by her.
4. )
./( (two-word verbs) 1J; verb + adverb
; look for (')
turn in (;) , call on (

-() etc.
(:-
I
-
. Passive Voice K'
I
-
i verb

.;,
- 3 adverb (;
I
-
;
He called on me.
I was called on by him.
2. ,01<;!! Q N Passive Voice
2.1 ) Active Voice H*B1 Helping verb Passive Voice <H*B1 Helping Verb

;
Did she buy this book?
1. She bought this book.
2. This book was bought by her.
3. Was this book bought by her?


 

 

 



2.1 ) Active Voice H*B1 Question Word Passive Voice 2H*B1 Question
Word 1

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

Active Voice
Who sees you?
= you are seen by whom
What do you want
= you want what
Which book do you buy?
= you buy which book.
Why did he do it?
= He did it
= It was done by him
Where did she place it?
= She placed it
= It was placed by her.

Passive Voice
By whom are you seen?
What is wanted by you?
Which book is bought by you?

Why was it done by him?

Where was it placed by her?

3. ,01<;!! :%
Active Voice

I;
Clean it
o

Donpt shut this window.

Passive Voice
Let + object + be + V3
Let it be cleaned.
Let + object + not + be + V3
Let this window not be shut.


 

 

 



KEY TO EXERCISES
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
PRE-TEST OR POST-TEST
1. b
2. d
3. a
4. c
5. a
6. b
7. d
8. c
9. a
10. d
11. b
12. d
13. c
14. b
15. a
16. c
17. d
18. b
19. a
20. c
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}..
EXERCISE 1.
1. A picnic is being planned.
2. Information about the feeding of wild birds is supplied by the
zoo.
3. A message was being clicked out by the telegraph operator.
4. The gates are being painted.
5. His report has to be finished by him today.
6. Passengers on the wrecked ship were brought off by them.
7. All my cattle were carried off by the raiders.
8. Why is this exercise not being done by you?
9. Which building is going to be rented by him?
10. Where was it bought by her?
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}..
EXERCISE 2.
1. interesting interests interested
2. boring
3. bores
4. troubled
5. pleasing pleased
6. disappoint disappointed
7. amusing
8. annoy
9. surprised
10. astonishes
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}..


 

 

 



EXERCISE 3.
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. b
6. a
7. c
8. c
9. d
10. b
11. a
12. d
13. c
14. b
15. a
16. c
17. b
18. d
19. d
20. c
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}..
ADDITIONAL EXERCISE
1. b
2. d
3. a
4. a
5. d
6. a
7. c
8. c
9. b
10. a
11. d
12. d
13. a
14. a
15. d
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}..