Active vs Passive Voice: Master the Rules & Examples
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The Students’, Teachers’ and Educators’ Guide to Choosing the Right Lens
In English grammar, voice is not about how loud you speak; it is the grammatical lens that determines who holds the spotlight in your sentence. As writers and speakers, deciding whether to use the Active Voice or the Passive Voice is one of the most powerful stylistic choices we make.
Understanding when to deploy each voice is crucial for clarity, flow, and professional communication. Let’s explore the mechanics, conversion rules, advanced syntactic quirks, and practical guidelines for choosing the right voice in Active vs Passive voice
1. Defining the Contenders: Active vs. Passive
The choice of voice depends entirely on whether your grammatical subject is performing or receiving the action of the verb.
Active Voice (The "Doer" in the Spotlight): In an active sentence, the grammatical subject directly performs the action expressed by the verb. It follows a direct, action-driven path: Subject (Doer) Verb Object (Receiver).
Example: Yun (Subject/Doer) caught (Verb) the ball (Object/Receiver).
Example: Sita loves Savitri.
The Verdict: Active voice is direct, concise, and forceful.
Passive Voice (The "Receiver" in the Spotlight):
In a passive sentence, the order is reversed. The object of the active sentence is promoted to the subject position, and the original subject "suffers" or receives the action. It follows the path: New Subject (Receiver) Verb "Be" + Past Participle (V3) [by + Agent].
Example: The ball (New Subject) was caught by Yun (Agent).
Example: Savitri is loved by Sita.
The Verdict: Passive voice shifts the emphasis to the result or the receiver of the action.
2. The Golden Rules of Voice Conversion In Active vs Passive Voice
Shifting a sentence from active to passive involves a structural dance governed by a few strict mechanical guidelines:
1. The Subject-Object Swap:
The direct object of the active sentence becomes the new subject of the passive sentence.
2. Pronoun Case Shift:
If personal pronouns swap places, their case must change from nominative (subject) to objective (object). For example, I shifts to me, she changes to her, and he becomes him.
3. The Auxiliary "Be" + Past Participle (V3) Rule:
The passive verb is always constructed using an appropriate tense of the auxiliary verb "be" followed by the past participle (V3) of the main verb.
o Simple Present: "Margo takes the dog" "The dog is taken by Margo".
o Past Continuous: "Secret agents were watching him" "He was being watched by secret agents".
4. The Instrument vs. Agent Rule:
While the doer (agent) of a passive action is introduced with the preposition "by", any physical tool or instrument used to complete the action is introduced with "with".
o Active: "A boy hit the dog with a stick."
o Passive: "The dog was hit by a boy with a stick."
5. The 8-Tense Cap: Out of the 12 grammatical tenses in English, only 8 tenses can be converted into the passive voice. The present perfect continuous, past perfect continuous, future perfect continuous, and future continuous tenses do not have standard passive forms.
3. Syntax Speedbumps: Complex Cases for Advanced Writers
Once you master the basics, the passive voice presents several advanced syntactic scenarios that require careful navigation:
A. The Intransitive Red Light
Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be converted into the passive voice. Intransitive verbs—such as sleep, sit, stand, go, come, exist, or arrive—do not have an object to promote, making a passive equivalent impossible.
Exception: If an intransitive verb is paired with a preposition to form a prepositional verb, it can be converted into a passive structure.
Active: "They laughed at the teacher."
Passive: "The teacher was laughed at by them."
B. Stative Verbs and Quasi-Passives
Certain stative transitive verbs (verbs indicating a state of being rather than a physical action) cannot go passive. These include belong, exist, have (meaning "own"), lack, resemble, seem, and suit. For example, you cannot say "A nice house is had by them".
Furthermore, English features a class of quasi-passives—verbs that are active in grammatical form but carry a passive meaning in context:
"These mangoes taste sour." (meaning they are sour when they are tasted).
"The rose smells sweet." (meaning it is sweet when it is smelt).
C. The Bare Infinitive Inversion
When active verbs of perception or causative verbs (such as make, see, hear, notice, watch) are followed by a bare infinitive, the passive construction forces the insertion of a full to-infinitive.
Active: "I made her cry."
Passive: "She was made to repeat the whole story."
Exception: The causative verb let retains its bare infinitive form even in the passive (e.g., "We were let go").
D. Double Objects (Dative Shift)
When an active verb has both a Direct Object (thing) and an Indirect Object (person), either can become the passive subject. However, it is far more natural and idiomatic in English to make the personal (indirect) object the subject.
Active: "The guard refused him admittance."
Passive Option A (Preferred): "He was refused admittance by the guard."
Passive Option B: "Admittance was refused to him by the guard."
4. When and Why Should You Write in the Passive Voice?
While writing teachers often advise students to use the active voice because it is crisper and shorter, the passive voice is an essential, highly refined tool when used intentionally. Use the passive voice in these four key situations:
I. Strategic Information Flow (Old vs. New Information)
English readers naturally expect known (old) information to appear at the beginning of a sentence, and new, exciting information to land at the end.
If your paragraph is about Joseph John Thomson, you write: "Thomson discovered the electron." (Active).
If your paragraph is about subatomic particles, you write: "The electron was discovered by J.J. Thomson." (Passive).
II. The Performer is Unknown or Obvious
When the doer of the action is anonymous, irrelevant, or universally understood, naming them is redundant. Leaving out the agent ("by-phrase") is called an agentless passive.
"Colin's car was stolen." (We don't know who the thief was, and adding "by a thief" adds no information).
"The thieves were arrested." (It is obvious they were arrested "by the police").
III. Being Diplomatic (The Scapegoat Rule)
In professional, corporate, and political communication, you often want to avoid direct "finger-pointing" or assigning blame to an individual.
Accusatory Active: "You made a major mistake with the billing system."
Diplomatic Passive: "Mistakes have been made with the billing system.".
IV. Scientific, Procedural, and Technical Writing
In scientific reports, the experimenter's identity is completely irrelevant; what matters is the process itself.
"A solution of one part sodium chloride and three parts water was prepared."
A Historical Grammar Tidbit!
Did you know that the passive progressive aspect we use today (e.g., "the meat is being cooked") did not exist in older English? It only emerged during the late eighteenth century. Prior to that, speakers relied on what linguists call the "passival"—using an active verb form with a passive meaning (e.g., "the meat is cooking")!
THE ADVANCED VOICE CHANGE MASTER SHEET (100 QUESTIONS)
Here is a comprehensive, advanced-level master practice sheet consisting of exactly 100 questions dedicated exclusively to the Advanced Level: Higher Grades topics of Voice Change: Modals, Double Objects, Imperatives, and Interrogatives.
This worksheet is meticulously designed to scale in syntactic complexity, using core examples, structures, and exceptions grounded directly in your grammar reference materials.
PART 1: MODALS IN VOICE CHANGE (Questions 1–25)
A. Active to Passive Conversion (Questions 1–13)
Convert the following active sentences containing modal auxiliaries into their passive forms.
1. Sita could help him.
2. You must write a book.
3. She should obey her parents.
4. The child could not climb the tree.
5. You may return the book next week.
6. They might win the match.
7. We ought to respect our teachers.
8. You must do your duty.
9. You could have solved the sum.
10. He should have helped his friend.
11. Father must have taken away the purse.
12. You should switch off the electricity when changing a fuse.
13. You cannot expect the children to understand these problems.
B. Passive to Active Conversion (Questions 14–25)
Convert the following passive sentences containing modal auxiliaries back into their active forms.
1. A thesis will have been written by her.
2. The project will have been completed by Ramesh.
3. The situation can be controlled by her.
4. The river may be crossed by him.
5. The wood should be cut by him.
6. The book will be stolen by you.
7. The match will be won by them.
8. The car would be repaired by you.
9. The future can be foretold by Mala.
10. The homework might not be done by the lazy students.
11. English verbs should be memorized by the students.
12. Cigarettes should not be smoked by children.
PART 2: DOUBLE OBJECTS & RETAINED OBJECTS (Questions 26–50)
A. Active to Passive Conversion (Questions 26–40)
Convert the following active sentences containing both a Direct Object and an Indirect Object. Provide the preferred passive form (using the Indirect/personal object as the subject) first.
1. The guard refused him admittance.
2. Mr. Krishnaji teaches us grammar.
3. The manager will give you a ticket.
4. He handed her a chair.
5. He gave me a purse.
6. Rahim teaches us English.
7. The Principal asked him a question.
8. Rani gave him a letter.
9. The company may give Kashyap a new office.
10. The teacher gave the boy a prize.
11. I offered him a chair.
12. He showed me the greatest respect.
13. They promised Mary a new doll for her birthday.
14. No one ever taught me the rudiments of music.
15. He told me a secret.
B. Passive to Active Conversion (Questions 41–50)
Convert the following passive sentences with dative structures back into their active forms.
1. A doll was promised to Mary by them.
2. We are taught English by Rahim.
3. A question was asked him by the Principal.
4. Admittance was refused to him by the guard.
5. Grammar is taught to us by Mr. Krishnaji.
6. A ticket will be given to you by the manager.
7. She was handed a chair by him.
8. I was given a purse by him.
9. A letter was given to him by Rani.
10. I was taught the rudiments of music by no one.
PART 3: IMPERATIVES (COMMANDS, REQUESTS, ADVICE) (Questions 51–75)
A. Active to Passive Conversion (Questions 51–65)
Convert the following imperative sentences into their correct passive equivalents. Ensure you use "Let + Object + be + V3" for commands, "You are requested" for requests, and "should be" for advice.
1. Shut the window.
2. Bring a glass of water.
3. Finish this work.
4. Switch off the light.
5. Inform the police.
6. Get out of this office.
7. Please open the door.
8. Please help that old lady.
9. Take this seat, please.
10. Please don't disturb me.
11. Post this letter.
12. Never tell a lie.
13. Do not pluck flowers.
14. Stand up on the bench.
15. Love the children.
B. Passive to Active Conversion (Questions 66–75)
Convert the following passive imperatives back into their active forms.
1. Let the door be shut.
2. Let a glass of water be brought.
3. Let the police be informed.
4. You are ordered to get out of this office.
5. You are requested to open the door.
6. You are requested to help that old lady.
7. You are requested not to disturb me.
8. Let a lie never be told.
9. You are ordered to stand up on the bench.
10. The children should be loved.
PART 4: INTERROGATIVES (Questions 76–100)
A. Active to Passive Conversion (Questions 76–93)
Convert the following questions into passive interrogative structures. Pay close attention to auxiliary inversion and wh-word shifts.
1. Does he need a pen?
2. Do you like the rooms?
3. Do you write a lesson?
4. Did he write a letter?
5. Did she help you?
6. Did he phone you?
7. Were you serving your parents?
8. Has he written a book?
9. Have they played a match?
10. Had she written a letter?
11. Why have you broken the mirror?
12. When will you return my pen?
13. Why are you laughing at her?
14. Where did he put the things?
15. Who broke this beautiful glass?
16. Who wrote the Ramayana?
17. Whom have you invited?
18. Whom has he abused?
B. Passive to Active Conversion (Questions 94–100)
Convert the following passive questions back into their active structures.
1. Is a pen needed by him?
2. Were the rooms liked by you?
3. Was a letter written by him?
4. Has a book been written by him?
5. By whom was this beautiful glass broken?
6. By whom was the Ramayana written?
7. Who has been invited by you?
COMPLETE ANSWER KEY (QUESTIONS 1–100)
Part 1 Answers: Modals
1. He could be helped by Sita.
2. A book must be written by you.
3. Her parents should be obeyed by her.
4. The tree could not be climbed by the child.
5. The book may be returned next week by you.
6. The match might be won by them.
7. Our teachers ought to be respected by us.
8. Your duty must be done.
9. The sum could have been solved by you.
10. His friend should have been helped by him.
11. The purse must have been taken away by father.
12. The electricity should be switched off when changing a fuse.
13. The children cannot be expected to understand these problems.
14. She will have written a thesis.
15. Ramesh will have completed the project.
16. She can control the situation.
17. He may cross the river.
18. He should cut the wood.
19. You will steal the book.
20. They will win the match.
21. You would repair the car.
22. Mala can foretell the future.
23. The lazy students might not do the homework.
24. Students should memorize English verbs.
25. Children should not smoke cigarettes.
Part 2 Answers: Double Objects
1. He was refused admittance by the guard (Preferred) or Admittance was refused to him by the guard.
2. We are taught grammar by Mr. Krishnaji (Preferred) or Grammar is taught to us by Mr. Krishnaji.
3. You will be given a ticket by the manager (Preferred) or A ticket will be given to you by the manager.
4. She was handed a chair by him (Preferred) or A chair was handed to her by him.
5. I was given a purse by him (Preferred) or A purse was given to me by him.
6. We are taught English by Rahim (Preferred) or English is taught to us by Rahim.
7. He was asked a question by the Principal (Preferred) or A question was asked him by the Principal.
8. He was given a letter by Rani (Preferred) or A letter was given to him by Rani.
9. Kashyap may be given a new office by the company (Preferred) or A new office may be given to Kashyap by the company.
10. The boy was given a prize by the teacher (Preferred) or A prize was given to the boy by the teacher.
11. He was offered a chair by me (Preferred) or A chair was offered to him by me.
12. I was shown the greatest respect by him (Preferred) or The greatest respect was shown to me by him.
13. Mary was promised a new doll for her birthday by them (Preferred) or A new doll was promised to Mary for her birthday by them.
14. I was never taught the rudiments of music by anyone (Preferred) or The rudiments of music were never taught to me by anyone.
15. I was told a secret by him (Preferred) or A secret was told to me by him.
16. They promised Mary a new doll for her birthday.
17. Rahim teaches us English.
18. The Principal asked him a question.
19. The guard refused him admittance.
20. Mr. Krishnaji teaches us grammar.
21. The manager will give you a ticket.
22. He handed her a chair.
23. He gave me a purse.
24. Rani gave him a letter.
25. No one ever taught me the rudiments of music.
Part 3 Answers: Imperatives
1. Let the window be shut.
2. Let a glass of water be brought.
3. Let this work be finished.
4. Let the light be switched off.
5. Let the police be informed.
6. You are ordered to get out of this office.
7. You are requested to open the door.
8. You are requested to help that old lady.
9. You are requested to take this seat.
10. You are requested not to disturb me.
11. Let this letter be posted.
12. Let a lie never be told.
13. Let flowers not be plucked or You are advised not to pluck flowers.
14. You are ordered to stand up on the bench.
15. The children should be loved.
16. Shut the door.
17. Bring a glass of water.
18. Inform the police.
19. Get out of this office.
20. Please open the door.
21. Please help that old lady.
22. Please don't disturb me.
23. Never tell a lie.
24. Stand up on the bench.
25. Love the children.
Part 4 Answers: Interrogatives
1. Is a pen needed by him?
2. Are the rooms liked by you?
3. Is a lesson written by you?
4. Was a letter written by him?
5. Were you helped by her?
6. Were you phoned by him?
7. Were your parents being served by you?
8. Has a book been written by him?
9. Has a match been played by them?
10. Had a letter been written by her?
11. Why has the mirror been broken by you?
12. When will my pen be returned by you?
13. Why is she being laughed at by you?
14. Where were the things put by him?
15. By whom was this beautiful glass broken?
16. By whom was the Ramayana written?
17. Who has been invited by you?
18. Who has been abused by him?
19. Does he need a pen?
20. Do you like the rooms?
21. Did he write a letter?
22. Has he written a book?
23. Who broke this beautiful glass?
24. Who wrote the Ramayana?
25. Whom have you invited?
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