VOICE- Basic Rules
Definition: Voice is the form of the verb which shows whether the subject acts or is acted upon.
There are two Voices:
i. Active- When the subject of the sentence is the doer or actor, the verb is Active. It is so because the subject is active.
He runs. I did it. He said this.
ii. Passive - When the subject of the sentence is acted upon, the verb is Passive. It is so because the subject is passive.
It was done by me. This was said by him.
Rules for changing the Active Voice into the Passive: ‑
(i) The object of the active voice becomes the subject of the passive voice
(ii) The subject of the active voice becomes the object of the passive voice
(iii) An auxiliary verb is used according to tense, number and person.
(iv) The past participle form of the given main verb is used after auxiliary verb.
(v) The subject of the active voice is generally followed by the preposition by.
Object: The object of a sentence is the person or thing that receives the action of the verb. It is the who or what that the subject does something to. It can be a noun, a noun phrase, a pronoun or a longer complex object, which is modified (in a similar way to a complex subject).
If we ask a verb ‘whom or what’, the answer we get is an object.
Only a transitive verb can have an object. An intransitive verb never has an object
He speaks English well
The Subject is a word, or a group or words, that denotes the person or thing about whom or which something is said.
It must be a noun or a noun-equivalent, and may consist of any number of words.
The scientist looked out of the window.
Changes of Pronouns:
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
I | me |
we | us |
you | you |
he | him |
she | her |
it | it |
they | Them |
Who | whom |
Words used other than by in passive voice:
If the active voice sentence has verbs like -shock, please, surprise, marvel, vex, annoy, know, satisfy, stun, fill , in passive voice sentence we don’t use by rather we use with before the person and at before the behavior, characteristics , or object.
Passive verb | Preposition | Passive verb | Preposition | passive verb | preposition | ||
known | to | annoyed | with | contained | in | ||
seized | with | satisfied | with | worried | about | ||
displeased | with (somebody) | filled | with | frightened | of | ||
annoyed | at | Shocked | at | marveled | at | ||
charmed | At (behaviour) | pleased | at(behaviour) | Pleased | With(somebody) | ||
charmed | with (somebody) |
Active Voice | Passive voice |
The news surprises me. | I am surprised at the News. |
The boy pleased us all. | We all were pleased with the boy. |
I pleased my teacher and well wishers. | My teachers and well wishers were pleased with me. |
They pleased us all. | We all were pleased with them. |
His behavior pleased me. | I was pleased at his behavior. |
I pleased my teachers. | My teaches were pleased with me. |
His behavior pleased us. | We were pleased at his behaviour. |
The news has shocked(gg©vnZ) me. | I have been shocked at the News. |
He pleases me. | I am pleased with him. |
His work did not satisfy(mš‘ó) me. | I was not satisfied at his work. |
His behavior surprised me. | I was surprised at his behavior. |
Panic seized the writer. | The writer was seized with panic. |
The action surprised me. | I was surprised at the action. |
My result displeased father. | Father was displeased at my result. |
The box contains twelve pencils. | Twelve Pencils are contained inthis box. |
The boy satisfied us. | We were satisfied with the boy. |
My performance satisfied the Headmaster. | The Headmaster was satisfied at my performance. |
Her conduct pleased me. | I was pleased at her conduct. |
Your work satisfyed me. | I was satisfied at your work. |
Smoke filled the room. | The room was filled with smoke. |
Toxic gas filled the room. | The rooms were filled with toxic gas. |
Fire burnt the ship. | The ship was burnt with fire. |
Panic seized the writer. | The writer was seized with panic. |
The cup contains tea. | Tea is contained in the cup. |
The books not contain a lot of information. | A lot of information is contained in the books. |
Newspaper contains daily news. | Daily news is contained inNewspaper. |
The cup contains(avib ¶gZv)tea. | Tea is contained in the cup. |
The newspaper contains daily news. | Daily news is contained at the newspaper. |
He compelled me to do it. | I was compelled to do it. |
They compelled me to do it. | I was completed to do it. |
She marvelled us all. | We all were marveled with her. |
The beauty of Taj Mahal marvels all. | All are mervelled at the beauty of the Taj Mahal. |
The beauty of the girl marveled them. | They were marvelled at the beauty of the girl. |
His behaviour annoys me sometimes. | I am sometimes annoyed at his behaviour. |
The naughty boy annoyed the old man. | The old man was annoyed with the naughty boy. |
This ill news shocked Mother. | Mother was shocked at this ill news. |
Active to passive of the sentence having double objects:
The Passive Voice of verbs with two objects is formed changing either of the two objects into the Subject, and retaining the other as the Object, called the Retained Object. It is better to make the indirect object subject of the passive voice. (An indirect object denotes the person to whom or for whom some-: thing is given or done, while a direct object usually denotes a thing.)
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
S + verb+ indirect object+ direct object
| S + auxiliary verb +past participle+ retained object +by+ object subject + auxiliary verb +past participle + indirect object + direct object subject + auxiliary verb +past participle + direct object + [to/for] + indirect object |
Examples:
Father gave me a shirt. | I was given a shirt by father. Or, A shirt was given to me by father. |
The Headmaster teaches us English | We are taught English by the Headmaster. Or, English is taught us by the Headmaster. |
They handed him a leaflet | He was handed a leaflet by them Or, A leaflet was handed to him by them. |
The guard refused him admittance. | Admittance was refused to him by the ground Or, He was refused admittance by the guard |
The manager will give you a ticket. | A ticket will be given to you by the manager. You will be given a ticket by the manager.
|
Exception
If there is a preposition before any object that cannot be the subject of the passive voice
Active Voices | Passive Voices |
He did a lot of things for me. | A lot of things were done for me by him |
He explained the problem to the students | The problem was explained to the students by him. |
They suggested a plan to us. | A plan was suggested to us by them. |
The Form of Active Voice and Passive Voice in Tenses
Passive voice in Simple Present Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + infinitive + object | Formula: S + to be + past participle + by object |
Examples:
Simson cares the lion. | The lion is cared by Simson. |
Ana does the homework. | The homework is done by Ana. |
They sell that house. | That house is sell by them. |
Jessica always plays the piano. | The piano is always played by Jessica. |
She buys a book. | A book is bought by her. |
Passive voice in Present Continuous Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + to be (is, am, are) + present participle + object | Formula: S + to be (is, am, are) + being + past participle + by object |
Examples:
She is doing her homework. | The homework is being done by her. |
He is waiting for Dewi. | Dewi is being waited by him. |
They are giving the present. | The present is being given by them. |
Bobby is drawing a nice scenery. | A nice scenery is being drawn by Bobby. |
Ratna is writing the letter. | The letter is being written by Ratna. |
Passive voice in Present Perfect Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + have/has + past participle + object | Formula: S + have/has +been + past participle + by object |
Examples:
He has left that place. | That place has been left by him. |
I have finished my work. | My work has been finished by me. |
She has missed the last bus. | The last bus has been missed by her. |
Rudi has completed his speech. | His speech has been completed by Rudi. |
Passive voice in Simple Past Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + past participle + object | Formula: S + was/were + past participle + by object |
Examples:
She cleaned the house. | The house was cleaned by her. |
Jeffri bought a new car. | A new car was bought by Jeffri. |
The teacher called the students. | The students were called by the teacher. |
She saved her money. | Her money was saved by her. |
Rina paid all her purchase. | Her purchase were paid by Rina. |
Passive voice in Past Continuous Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: S + was/were + being + past participle + by object | Formula: S + was/were + being + past participle + by object |
Examples:
I was waiting for Dina. | Dina was being waited by me. |
She was reading a novel. | A novel was being read by her. |
Andi was learning an English. | An English was being learnt by Andi. |
They are building the house. | The house being built by them. |
He was playing a kite. | A kite was being played by him. |
Passive voice in Past Perfect Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + had + past participle + object | Formula: S + had been + past participle + by object |
Examples:
He had left that place. | That place had been left by him. |
I had finished my work. | My work had been finished by me. |
She had missed the last bus. | The last bus had been missed by her. |
He had posted the letter. | The letter had been posted by him. |
Rudi had completed his speech. | His speech had been completed by Rudi. |
Passive voice in Simple Future Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + will + infinitive + object | Formula: S + will + be + past participle + by object |
Examples:
I shall read a newspaper. | A newspaper will be read by me. |
She will sing a beautiful song. | A beautiful song will be sung by her. |
Budi will repair his bicycle. | His bicycle will be repaired by Budi. |
They will pay the tax. | The tax will be paid by them. |
We shall start this meeting. | This meeting will be started by us. |
Passive voice in Future Continuous Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + will be + present participle + object | Formula: S + will + be + ing + past participle + by object |
Examples:
He will be doing a test tomorrow. | A test will be being done by him tomorrow. |
They will be watching movie on next Saturday. | The movie will be being watched by them on next Saturday. |
Mita will be increasing her value next time. | Her value will be being increased by Mita next time. |
She will be applying a job tomorrow. | A job will be being applied by her tomorrow. |
Sinta will be learning her lesson next week. | Her lesson will be being learnt by Sinta. |
Passive voice in Past Future Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + would + infinitive + object | Formula: S + would + be +past pasrticiple + by object |
Examples:
I would buy a book tomorrow. | A book would be bought by me. |
They would play football next time. | Football would be played by them next time. |
Mita would wash her shoes tomorrow. | Her shoes would be washed by Nita tomorrow. |
My father would use Blackberry tomorrow. | Blackberry would be used by my father tomorrow. |
I would sell my laptop next week. | My laptop would be sold next week. |
Passive voice in Future Perfect Tense
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Formula: Subject + will/shall have + past participle + object | Formula: S + will/shall have +been+ past participle + by object |
Examples:
He will have left that place. | That place will have been left by him. |
I shall have finished my work. | My work will have been finished by me. |
Rudi will have completed his speech. | His speech will have been completed by Rudi. |
The following tenses cannot be changed into passive voice.
1. Present perfect continuous tense
2. Past perfect continuous tense
3. Future perfect continuous tense
Active and Passive Voice with Modal Verbs
Modals are special Helping Verbs. Modals express the mood of a the verb, such as ability, possibility, necessity or another condition. Models are - May, Might, Can, Could, Will, Would, Shall, Should, Must, Ought to. Rules of Passive voice of Modals (mentioned below) show that helping verb 'Be' is added after Modals and 3rd form of verb is used for making Passive Voice.
The structure of passive modal verbs
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
S + modal + verb+ object | S + modal + be+ past participle + by object |
Passive voices for Present and Future Modals(e.g. MAY, MIGHT, CAN, MUST, SHOULD, OUGHT TO)
Passive Voices for Present & Future Modals(e.g. MAY, MIGHT, CAN, MUST, SHOULD, OUGHT)Auxiliary Verb used in Passive Voice: Be | |
Active Voices | Passive Voices |
CAN | CAN BE |
He can drive a car. | A car can be driven by him. |
He cannot drive a car. | A car cannot be driven by him. |
Can he drive a car? | Can a car be driven by him? |
MUST | MUST BE |
He must learn this book. | This book must be learnt by him. |
He must not learn this book. | This book must not be learnt by him. |
Must he learn this book? | Must this book be learnt by him. |
MAY | MAY BE |
She may eat an apple. | An apple may be eaten by her. |
She may not eat an apple. | An apple may not be eaten by her. |
May she eat an apple? | May an apple be eaten by her? |
MIGHT | MIGHT BE |
She might kill the snake. | The snake might be killed by her. |
She might not kill the snake. | The snake might not be killed by her. |
Might she kill the snake? | Might the snake be killed by her? |
SHOULD | SHOULD BE |
I should buy this clock. | This clock should be bought by me. |
I should not buy this clock. | This clock should not be bought by me. |
Should I buy this clock? | Should this clock be bought by me? |
OUGHT TO | OUGHT TO BE |
You ought to help her. | She ought to be helped by you. |
You ought not to help her. | She ought not to be helped by you. |
More Examples:
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
You can do this work. | This work can be done by you. |
Police could not catch the thief. | The thief could not be caught by police. |
You may read this book. | This book may be read by you. |
He might suffer a great loss. | A great loss might be suffered by him. |
You should respect your parents. | Your parents should be respected by you. |
She would teach us today. | We would be taught by her today. |
We must help the poor. | The poor must be helped by us. |
We ought to respect our elders. | Our elders ought to be respected by us. |
Future Tense with Going To
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
S + am/is/are + going to+ verb+ object | S + am/is/are + going to+ be +past participle+ by+ object |
Examples:
She is going to cook the food | The food is going to be cooked by her |
Shubham is going to write homework | Homework is going to be written by Shubham |
Sachin is going to play cricket. | Cricket is going to be played by Sachin. |
Our teacher is going to give me a prize. | I am going to be given a prize by our teacher. |
She is going to open a bank account. | A bank account is going to be opened by her. |
Our teacher is going to give me a prize. | I am going to be given a prize by our teacher. |
He is going to set up a school. | A school is going to be set up by him. |
Passive voices for Past Modals(e.g. MIGHT HAVE,MAY HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, OUGHT TO HAVE, MUST HAVE)
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
S + modal + have+ past participle +object | S + modal + have+ been+ past participle + by object |
Passive Voices for Past Modals(e.g. MIGHT HAVE, MAY HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, OUGHT HAVE, MUST HAVE)Auxiliary Verb used in Passive Voice: BEEN | |
Active Voices | Passive Voices |
SHOULD HAVE | SHOULD HAVE BEEN |
I should have started a job. | A job should have been started by me. |
I should not have started a job. | A job should not have been started by me. |
Should I have started a job? | Should a job have been started by me? |
MUST HAVE | MUST HAVE BEEN |
He must have passed the exam. | The exam must have been passed by him. |
He must not have passed the exam. | The exam must not have been passed by him. |
MAY HAVE | MAY HAVE BEEN |
You may have helped the kids. | The kids may have been helped by you. |
You may not have helped the kids. | The kids may not have been helped by you. |
MIGHT HAVE | MIGHT HAVE BEEN |
He might have killed the snake. | The snake might have been killed by her. |
He might have not killed the snake. | The snake might not have been killed by her. |
OUGHT TO HAVE | OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN |
You ought to have finished the task. | The task ought to have been finished by you. |
You ought not to have finished the task. | The task ought not to have been finished by you. |
Assertive Sentence
The sentences denoting ‘a statement of fact’ or ‘declaration’ is known as Assertive sentences or Declarative sentences, and also the pattern of this type of sentences is ‘S + V + O’.
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
S + verb+ object | Subject + auxiliary verb +past participle+ by+ object |
Examples:
She has done her work. | Her work has been done by her. |
He did the work. | The work was done by me. |
They help us. | We are helped by them. |
Exercise
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