Active Voice into Passive Voice
Active Voice into Passive Voice :
When we change the active voice into the passive, the sentence undergoes two changes. The subject goes into the predicate and the verb undergoes a change.
For example :
The kind gentleman distributed the sweets. - Active Voice
The sweets were distributed by the kind gentleman. - Passive Voice
In the second sentence…
The subject ‘the kind gentleman’ is shifted to the predicate.
The verb ‘distributed’ is changed to ‘were distributed’.
Change the following active sentences into passive.
a. Jeevan spoke to Kamal.
b. Veena gave the book.
c. Mrinal painted the picture.
d. We showed the pictures.
e. The children cleaned the house.
Change the following passive sentences into active.
a. This topic was introduced by Nandita.
b. Those flowers were plucked by the young girls.
c. This story was written by Charles Dickens.
d. The ceremony was conducted by the President.
e. India was ruled by the British.
Now take a look at the following sentences.
The giant gave the hen to Jack. (Active Voice)
Jack was given the hen by the giant. (Passive Voice)
The hen was given to Jack by the giant. (Passive Voice)
John built a house for Jane. (Active Voice)
A house was built for Jane by John. (Passive Voice)
Jane was built a house by John. (Passive Voice)
Convert the following active sentences into the passive in the two ways as shown above.
a. Draupadi gave the grain to Krishna.
b. The man threw the bone to the puppies.
c. Ankita made a garland for the idol.
d. Prakriti stitched the dress for Jinita.
e. Lakhan read the rules to the villagers.
Convert the following passive sentences into active.
a. The prizes were given to the students by the chief guest.
b. Juhi was gifted the puppy by her uncle.
c. The old man was given a blanket by Nidhi.
d. Sushmita was given good advice by Tahira’s mother.
e. Each parrot was fed grains by the caretaker.
Questions can also be converted from active to passive and vice versa.
For example :
Who sang this song? (Active Voice)
By whom was this song sung? (Passive Voice)
Do you know Chinese? (Active Voice)
Is Chinese known to you? (Passive Voice)
Convert the following questions into the passive voice.
a. What did he give you?
b. Where did you plant the bushes?
c. Who speaks in Urdu?
d. When will you tell the secret?
e. How did you climb this mountain?
Some active voice sentences, especially imperative sentences, do not have a subject.
For example :
Add some milk to the coffee.
In this sentence, the verb is ADD and there is no subject before it. It is also an imperative sentence. In such cases, the passive sentence begins with the word Let.
For example :
Add some milk to the coffee. (Active Voice)
Let some milk be added to the coffee. (Passive Voice)
Shut the window. (Active Voice)
Let the window be shut by you. (Passive Voice)
Convert the following active sentences into passive.
a. Distribute the papers.
b. Keep your book on the table.
c. Place your hand on top of mine.
d. Do not disturb your father.
e. Cover your notebooks.
Remember, the active voice is used when the focus is on the person performing the act.
For example :
Uma took my pen.
In this sentence, the focus is on Uma.
The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.
The person performing the act is not important and in some cases, not known.
For example :
My pen was taken.
In this sentence, the focus is on WAS TAKEN. In fact, we do not even know who has taken the pen.
When rewriting active sentences in the passive voice, the following changes take place.
The word in the predicate of the active sentence becomes the subject of the sentence.
The verb undergoes a change.
The subject of the active sentence becomes part of the predicate of the passive sentence or is dropped.
Active Voice into Passive Voice
The Sentences Index
