Voice - Worksheet

 The verb that expresses that the subject is the doer of action is said to be in the active voice.
 The verb that expresses what is done to the subject is said to be in the passive voice.
 When we use the word voice, we refer to the form of the verb which indicates whether the
subject is the doer of the action or the receiver of the action.
 We use the passive voice when:

1. the active form would involve the use of a pronoun or noun such as somebody, they, people or
anybody as the subject. For example:

 My watch has been stolen. (Someone has stolen my watch.)

 I was asked to show my identity card. (They asked me to show my identity card.)

2. the subject is implied in the context. For example:

 He was not allowed to leave the hospital (by the doctor).

 Rishi was asked to go to his bedroom (by his mother).

3. we wish to focus on the person or the thing acted upon rather than the doer. For example:

 The driver was hurt in the accident.

 The walls were repainted.

4. the doer is not known or we do not intend to name the doer. For example:

 Fire was discovered in the Stone Age. (We do not know who discovered fire.)
 Grave mistakes were made. (We do not want to name the doer.)

5. writing a report. For example:

 Three people were named in the scam.

Here are some rules to be kept in mind when changing the voice of the verb from active to passive.

1. The object of the verb becomes the subject. For example

 Janki picked up the book. (active)
 The book was picked up by Janki. (passive)
2. The preposition by is placed before the object
3. The number of the verb changes according to the number and person of the subject. Example-
 The farmer ploughed his field. (active)
 The fields were ploughed by the farmer. (passive)

4. If an active verb is followed by a preposition, it is retained when the voice is changed into passive. For
example:

 The woman handed out pamphlets to the students. (active)

 The pamphlets were handed out to the students by the woman. (passive)

5. When the active verb has two objects, one direct and the other indirect, either of them becomes the
subject, the other remains a retained object in the passive voice.
  Asim kept the jar on the table. (active)
 The jar was kept on the table by Asim. (passive)

6. Only transitive verbs (those that take objects) can be transformed into passive constructions.
Furthermore, active sentences containing certain verbs cannot be transformed into passive structures.

7. Interrogative sentences are normally of two types

a. Yes/No questions.

b. 'Wh' questions

Yes/No questions are those questions which begins with an auxiliary.

 Questions beginning with Is/am/are. The passive structure of such questions will be as per
following

Is/am/are/+ subject V-III+ by + agent?

Example- Active- Does he need a pen? Passive- Is a pen needed by him?

Q1. Change the voice in these sentences from active to passive.

i. Can you help the needy?

ii. Someone has taken my handkerchief.
iii. They left the camping ground in a mess.
iv. Sukanto opened the box easily
v. Bunny polished the silver vases well.
vi. No one has found the necklace yet.
vii. The counsellor gave her good advice.
viii. The organising committee has made all the arrangements.
ix. Amit's family blamed him for the failure.
x. My brother sent me a gift.
xi. Did Kanika invite you for the concert?
xii. One should keep one's promises.