Active and Passive Voice

The voice of a verb shows whether the Subject is active or passive. The verb is active if the Subject performs an action, passive if the Subject receives an action; as,

1. Cats catch mice. (ACTIVE) 2. Mice are caught by cats.

(PASSIVE)

Table showing Passive Voice

Tense Simple Present Simple Past Simple Future Present Continuous Past Continuous Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect How to Form Passive Is/am/are + Past participle Was / were + Past Participle Shall be/ will be+ Past participle Is/am/are being + Past Participle Was/were being + Past Participle Has/have been + Past Participle Had been + Past Participle Shall/will have been + Past Participle Sentence I am helped. He is helped I was helped. We were helped. I shall be helped. He will be helped. I am being helped. We are being helped I was being helped. We were being helped. I have been helped. He has been helped. I had been helped. I shall have been helped. He will have

Note :The active voice is more direct and more forceful than the passive. But there are legitimate uses for the passive; as, a) To eliminate mention of the agent : He was found stealing. Food was distributed among the famine stricken. b) To emphasize the recipient of an action : rajus house was burgled last night. The Prime Minister was given a warm welcome.

FROM ACTIVE AND PASSIVE

ACTIVE VOICE

CHANGES MADE DURING CONVERSIONS FROM ACTIVE VOICE TO PASSIVE VOICE

PASSIVE VOICE

Object
Subject

Subject
Object

The passive voice of the verb is made by adding its past participle to some form of the verb be (is, am, are, was, were, been, being).

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

Simple Present Tense

Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive :

Simple Past Tense

We killed a cobra. A cobra was killed by us. Hari stole my book. My book was stolen by Hari. Did Ashok tell the truth? Was the truth told by Ashok? I didnt write a letter. A letter was not written by me.

He helps me. I am helped by him. We see an aeroplane. An aeroplane is seen by us. She sings a song. A song is sung by her. Se does not feed sparrows. Sparrows are not fed by her.

Simple Future Tense

Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive :
I shall read a book. A book will be read by me. She will like oranges. Oranges will be liked by her. She will not pardon him He will not be pardoned by her. Will you deliver the letters? Will the letters be delivered by you?

Continuous Tense ( Present and Past)

Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive :
I am seeing a tiger. A tiger is being seen by me. They are singing songs. Songs are being sung by them Gurmit was driving a car. A car was being driven by Gurmit. The doctor was examining the patients. The patients were being examined by the doctor.

Perfect Tense (Present, Past and Future)

Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive : Active: Passive :
He has sold a horse. A horse has been told by him. You have made many mistakes. Many mistakes have been made by you. We had played a cricket match. A cricket match had been played by us. Will they have helped her? Will she have been helped by them?