Voice
In case of ‘it is..’ or ‘there is…’ the first clause remains unchanged, and the rest changes according to structure
Contents -
Part 1: Active and Passive of Assertive and Interrogative Sentences
Part 2: Active and Passive of Imperative Sentences and Multiple Clauses
Part 3: Miscellaneous
Part 1: Active and Passive of Assertive and Interrogative Sentences
A Finite Verb changes according the table of tense:
Assertive Sentence
Example:
Passive: Geetanjali was written by Tagore.
Here, the subject ‘Geetanjali’ is not the doer of the verb ‘written’. The doer is ‘Tagore’, an object here. When non-doer becomes subject, the sentence is called Passive. As it is in Past Simple Tense, the structure is:
Subject + was/were + v3 (past participle form of verb) + object. (No. 5 in the table)
Active: Tagore wrote Geetanjali.
Here, Tagore is the subject and doer. So, the sentence is Active. As it is in Past Simple Tense, the structure is: Subject + v2 (past form of verb) + object.
When the doer is unknown, ‘by + object’ is not used:
Example:
Passive: My watch was stolen.
In some cases, when the object in active is material or substance, ‘by’ preposition is not used, rather than ‘with’ is used:
Example:
Active: Gas filled the kitchen.
Passive: The kitchen was filled with gas.
Sometimes, there are two objects (non-doers) in active sentences.
For example:
Active: He teaches us English.
‘English’ and ‘us’ both are objects and non-doers. It can be made passive in two ways. Both are correct:
Passive: English is taught to us by him.
Passive: We are taught English by him.
Unchanged extension/compliment of verb:
Active: They kept me waiting.
Passive: I was kept waiting.
Here, the word waiting is the compliment of the verb and is not changed in passive.
Some sentences are always passive:
For example: Get + past participle:
I got dressed as quickly as possible.
Someone got hurt in the accident.
Other prepositions except ‘by’:
Active: Your conduct surprises me
Passive: I am surprised at your conduct.
Active: This news alarmed us.
Passive: We are alarmed at this news.
With infinitive:
Active: make/see/hear/help/watch + v1
Passive: make/see/hear/help/watch + to + v1
Example:
Active: He made me laugh.
Passive: I was made to laugh.
Active: He saw a mango fall.
Passive: A mango was seen to fall.
In case of infinitive:
Active: To + v1
Passive: To + be + v3
Example:
I want to do it.
It is wanted to be done by me.
Interrogative Sentence
a. Do/did/does in active sentences becomes is/are/was/were in passive sentences.
Example:
Active: Do you want it?
Passive: Is it wanted by you?
b. question statements with auxiliary verbs in active sentences:
Active: Can they solve this?
Passive: Can this be solved by them?
c. In ‘Wh’ question word sentences:
Active: What do you want?
Passive: What is wanted by you?
Exercise
Transform the following into passive sentences:
He ought to help me.
Do you want me?
Has she learnt her lessons?
They suggested a plan to us.
Did you eat the apple?
What made you laugh?
We elected him chairman.
We called him a fool.
Your proposal shocked me much.
He helped her save money.
Answer
I ought to be helped by him.
Am I wanted by you?
Have her lessons been learnt by her.
We were suggested a plan by them.
Was the apple eaten by you?
What were you made laughed by?
He was elected chairman by us.
He was called a fool by us.
I was shocked much at your proposal.
She was helped to save money by him.
Part 2 : Active and Passive of Imperative Sentences and Multiple Clauses
Imperative Sentence
In case of order/command:
A passive imperative begins with ‘let’, followed by the object in the active.
Example:
Passive: Let + subject + be + v3 (past participle)
Active: Let her to wait here.
Passive: Let her be told to wait here.
Active: Close all the gates.
Passive: Let all the gates be closed.
In case of advice/suggestion:
Passive: should/must + be + past participle
Active: Take medicine on time.
Passive: Medicine should be taken on time.
Imperative request:
Active: Please give me some more time.
Passive: You are requested to give me some more time.
Multiple Clauses
In case of ‘it is..’ or ‘there is…’ the first clause remains unchanged, and the rest changes according to structure.
Example:
Active: It is time to change our home.
Passive: It is time our home to be changed.
Active: There is no time to lose.
Passive: There is no time to be lost.
In other cases, the whole object becomes the subject:
Active: Everyone says that he is a fool.
Passive: That he is a fool is said by everyone.
In case of universal/general statements, ‘it is believed’, or ‘it is hoped’, ‘it is said’ is used in passive. The rest of the clause remains unchanged.
Active: People believe that he is skilled.
Passive: It is believed that he is skilled.
Compound Sentences
Active: They draft applications and type them.
Passive: Applications are drafted and typed.
Exercise
Transform the following into passive sentences:
People say that tortoises live longer than elephants.
He knows that he will pass.
Everybody knows that he is a fool.
I had called you before he came.
Don’t waste time.
He asked why I was late.
We know that Columbus discovered America.
What is done cannot be undone.
Please give a cup of coffee.
Enter the house of this gate.
Answer
It is said that tortoises live longer than elephants.
It is known that he will pass. / That he will pass is known to him.
It is known that he is a fool. / That he is a fool is known to everybody.
You were called by me before he came.
Let not time be wasted.
I was asked why I was late.
That Columbus discovered America is known to all.
What people do, they cannot undo.
You are requested to give a cup of coffee.
Your ordered to enter the house of this gate.
Part 3 : Miscellaneous
Active: He reads two hours.
Passive: Two hours are taken in reading by him.
Universal truth:
Active: The sun rises in the East.
Passive: It is said the sun rises in the East.
When adjective is object in active:
Active: Honey tastes sweet.
Passive: Honey is sweet when it is tasted.
When subject is the object of the verb:
Active: The cows are milking.
Passive: The cows are being milked.
Exercise
The books are printing.
He killed himself.
The rider urged the horse to run fast.
Pen through the line.
She bought her daughter a ring.
He gave me a cheque.
Rose smells nice.
I saw him fall down.
How dare you do it?
The moon looks beautiful.
Answer
The books are being printed.
He was killed by himself.
The horse was urged to run fast by the rider.
Let the line be penned through.
A ring was bought for her daughter.
I was given a cheque by him.
Rose is nice when it is smelt.
He was seen to fall down by me.
How dare it be done by you?
The moon is beautiful when it is looked at.
