ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

A transitive verb (a verb which depends on an object) has two voices:

1. Active Voice
2. Passive Voice
Active Voice:
It indicates that the subject of the verb is the doer of the action or is active; e.g
We help our friends.

What is the action performed? helping

What is the subject of the verb? We
Who performs the action of helping? We
So in this sentence, the subject of the verb (We) also performs the action named in the verb (helping).
This sentence is said to be in the active voice.

Passive Voice:
It indicates that the subject of the verb is the receiver of the action or is passive; e.g
Our friends are helped by us.

What is the action performed? helping

What is the subject of the verb? Our friends
Does the subject of the verb (Our friends) also perform the action of helping? No. On the contrary, the
subject (Our friends) receive the action of helping. It is the object (us) who perform the action.
So in this sentence, the subject of the verb (Our friends) is the receiver of the action named in the verb
(helping). This sentence is said to be in the passive voice.

Rules to be followed while changing from Active to Passive:

1. The lion kills a goat. (active voice)
A goat is killed by the lion. (passive voice)

The passive object, a goat (which is being killed the receiver of action), becomes the subject
while the active subject, the lion (which is the doer of action), becomes the object. And we have
used the preposition by before it.

2. The above sentences are in Present Tense and in the second sentence, the subject (A goat) is
singular so is has been used and at the same time the third form (past participle form) of kills
(i.e killed) has been used with it. The third form of verb is used in the passive voice no matter
what the tense is.

3. We have to be careful about the use of personal pronouns.

I require some papers. (active) (subject form of the pronoun I)

Some papers are required by me. (passive) (object form of the pronoun I)
The teacher taught him. (active) (object form of the pronoun he)
He was taught by the teacher. (passive) (subject form of the pronoun he)

4. When the verb in the active voice has two objects, there are two forms in the passive voice.
My friend gave me a gift. (active) ( there are two objects me and a gift)

I was given a gift by my friend.

OR
A gift was given to me by my friend.
The first form is preferred.
5. The object or subject may be a long phrase instead of a single word. But while changing from
active to passive, the whole phrase will change its position.

The parents of all the scholars attended the prize distribution ceremony. (active)
The prize distribution ceremony was attended by the parents of all the scholars. (passive)
The earthquake demolished a large number of houses and buildings. (active)
A large number of houses and buildings were demolished by the earthquake. (passive)

6. If a verb is followed by any preposition in the active voice, the preposition is retained in the
passive voice.
She did not care for me.
I was not cared for by her.
They shouted at the naughty boy.
The naughty boy was shouted at by them.

7. Sometimes the subject is not important and we may omit it.

Somebody wants Aditi on the telephone.
Aditi is wanted on the telephone.
(We have omitted the words by somebody)

Simple Present Tense:

While changing from Active to Passive, Simple Present Tense takes the form:
Object + is / are / am + third form of verb + by + subject. E.g,

Geeta sings a song. (active)

A song is sung by Geeta. (passive)
He checks all items. (active)
All items are checked by him. (passive)
He teaches me. (active)
I am taught by him. (passive)

Simple Past Tense:

While changing from Active to Passive, Simple Past Tense takes the form:
Object + was / were + third form of verb + by + subject. E.g,

Heavy rains flooded the village. (active)

The village was flooded by heavy rains. (passive)
The driver applied the brakes. (active)
The brakes were applied by the driver. (passive)

Simple Future Tense:

While changing from Active to Passive, Simple Present Tense takes the form:
Object + will / shall + be + third form of verb + by + subject. E.g,

The loud noise will disturb the child. (active)

The child will be disturbed by the loud noise. (passive)
My mother will take me to Delhi. (active)
I shall be taken to Delhi by my mother. (passive)
 Other Tenses:

TENSE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

Simple Present Geeta sings a song. A song is sung by Geeta.
Present Continuous Geeta is singing a song A song is being sung by Geeta.
Present Perfect Geeta has sung a song. A song has been sung by Geeta.
Simple Past Geeta sang a song. A song was sung Geeta.
Past Continuous Geeta was singing a song. A song was being sung by Geeta.
Past Perfect Geeta had sung a song. A song had been sung by Geeta.
Simple future Geeta will sing a song. A song will be sung by Geeta.
Future Continuous Geeta will be singing a song. No Passive
Future Perfect Geeta will have sung a song. A song will have been sung by Geeta.

NOTE: Passive Voice is used while writing notices, newspaper reports, in process writing and in
advertisements.