How to change of sentences from passive into active
Assertive Sentence
(i) the agent after by becomes the subject in the active +
(ii) auxiliary verb (if necessary) +
(iii) main verb according to tense, number and person +
(iv) the subject of the passive becomes object in the active.
Passive | Active |
Rice is eaten by him. | He eats rice. |
Football was being played by Azad. | Azad was playing football. |
His pen has been stolen. | Someone has stolen his pen. |
He was murdered at day light. | Some one murdered him at day light. |
English is spoken all over the world. | People speak English all over the world. |
I had been invited to the party. | My friend invited me to the party. |
The ship was burnt. | Fire burnt the ship. |
Note : If the object remains implied in the passive, in that case a subject should be used in the active according to the meaning of the passive.
Imperative Sentence
1. Passive beginning with 'let'
(i) present form of the main verb +
(ii) the subject becomes the object
Passive | Active |
Let the work be done. | Do the work. |
Let the door be opened | Open the door |
Let the letter be posted. | Post the letter. |
2. Passive beginning with "let not".
(i) don't +
(ii) main verb +
(iii) the subject becomes the object
Passive | Active |
Let not the letter be posted. | Don't post the letter. |
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3. Passive beginning with let + by + personal object as agent (me, us, you, them, him, her)
(i) let +
(ii) the agent (the personal object) +
(iii) present form of the main verb +
(iv) the subject becomes the object
Passive | Active |
Let the work be done by me. | Let me do the work. |
Let the math be solved by him. | Let him solve the math. |
1. Passive beginning with 'let + never'.
(i)never + )
(ii)present form of the main verb +
(v) the subject becomes the object
Passive | Active |
Let never a lie be told. | Never tell a lie. |
Let never the people be deceived. | Never deceive the people |
Interrogative Sentence
5. Interrogative sentence beginning with auxiliary verbs (am is are was were has have / had / do / does / did / will / shall etc.
(i) auxiliary verb according to number and person +
(ii) the agent becomes the subject +
(iii) main verb according to tense +
(iv) the subject becomes the object +
(v) question mark.
Passive | Active |
Has the work been done by you? | Have you done the work? |
Are you helped by him? | Does he help you? |
Was this work done by him? | Did he do this work? |
By Whom has this work been done?
| Who has done this work?
|
When was this work done by you? | When did you do this work? |
Are you doing this work? | Is this work being done by you?
|
Was she reading a novel? | Was a novel being read by her? |
Passive to active example
Passive Voice | Active Voice |
At dinner, six shrimp were eaten by Harry. | Harry ate six shrimp at dinner. |
The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes. | Beautiful giraffes roam the savannah. |
The flat tire was changed by Sue. | Sue changed the flat tire. |
A movie is going to be watched by us tonight. | We are going to watch a movie tonight. |
The obstacle course was run by me in record time. | I ran the obstacle course in record time. |
The entire stretch of highway was paved by the crew. | The crew paved the entire stretch of highway. |
The novel was read by Mom in one day. | Mom read the novel in one day. |
The house will be cleaned by me every Saturday. | I will clean the house every Saturday. |
The staff are required by the company to watch a safety video every year. | The company requires staff to watch a safety video every year. |
The entire house was painted by Tom. | Tom painted the entire house. |
The students' questions are always answered by the teacher. | The teacher always answers the students' questions. |
That piece is really enjoyed by the choir. | The choir really enjoys that piece. |
The whole suburb was destroyed by a forest fire. | A forest fire destroyed the whole suburb. |
The treaty is being signed by the two kings. | The two kings are signing the treaty. |
Every night, the office is vacuumed and dusted by the cleaning crew. | The cleaning crew vacuums and dusts the office every night. |
Money was generously donated to the homeless shelter by Larry. | Larry generously donated money to the homeless shelter. |
All the reservations are being made by the wedding planner. | The wedding planner is making all the reservations. |
Two dozen cookies will be baked by Susan for the bake sale. | Susan will bake two dozen cupcakes for the bake sale. |
The comet was viewed by the science class. | The science class viewed the comet. |
Instructions will be given to you by the director. | The director will give you instructions. |
The Grand Canyon is visited by thousands of tourists every year. | Thousands of tourists visit the Grand Canyon every year. |
The house was remodeled by the homeowners to help it sell. | The homeowners remodeled the house to help it sell. |
The metal beams were corroded by the saltwater. | The saltwater corroded the metal beams. |
The baby was carried by the kangaroo in her pouch. | The kangaroo carried her baby in her pouch. |
Sometimes the subject of the passive voice is not mentioned. one reasonable subject can be used when we change it into active.
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Passive | Active Voice |
Bangla is spoken in Bangladesh. | People Speak Bangla in Bangladesh. |
The rose is called the queen of flowers. | People call the rose the queen of flowers. |
I was asked my father’s name. | Someone asked my father’s name. |
Fish is eaten in Bangladesh. | The Banglees eat fish. |
Bangla is spoken in Bangladesh. | The Bangalees speak Bangla. |
I was asked my address. | Some one asked my address. |
He is thought to be an honest man. | People think him to be an honest man. |
The lion is said to be the king of beasts. | People say the lion the king of beast. |
He is thought to be a poet. | People think him to be a poet. |
It is believed that it is known to you. | People believe that you know it. |
The lion is called the king of beasts. | People call the lion the king of beasts.(cï) |
It is the college pond. | People call it the college pond. |
His speech was highly praised. | People highly praised his speech. |
English is spoken all over the world. | People all over the world speak English. |
It is known to people. | People knew |
It is said that he is a liar. | People say that he is a liar. |
He is called a liar. | People call him a liar. |
The procession was prohibited. | The authority prohibited the procession. |
Computer is widely used today. | People use computer widely today. |
The corrupt were arrested. | Police arrest the corrupt. |
The trees have been uprooted. | The storm has uprooted the trees. |
Rome was not built in a day. | The Romans did not build Rome in a day. |
Nothing can be gained without labour. | One can gain nothing without labour. |
Promises should be kept. | One must/should keep one’s promise. |
I was asked my name. | They asked me my name. |
I was compelled to do it. | Circumstances compelled me to do it. |
An honest man is loved everywhere. | All love an honest man everywhere. |
I am flattered here. | Some one flatters me here. |
The man was cheated there. | Some one cheated the man there. |
He is not known here. | Nobody knows him here. |
I was awarded a gold medal. | They awarded me a gold medal. |
Nothing can be acquired without hard labour. | We cannot acquire anything without hard labour. |
Football is played in the afternoon. | The boys played football in the afternoon. |
Jute is grown in Bangladesh. | The farmers grow jute in Bangladesh. |
I was called there. | They call me there. |
I have been named Rafiq. | Parents have named me Rafiq. |
The man is not known here. | None knows the man here. |
I am not known here. | Nobody knows me here. |
Kazi Nazrul Islam is called the rebel poet. | People call Kazi Nazrul Islam the rebel poet. |
It is known that the earth moves round the sun. | We know that the earth moves round the sun. |
He has been punished. | The authority has punished him. |
Passive Voice | Active Voice |
The ship was burnt easily. | Someone burnt the ship easily. |
I was obliged to go. | Someone obliged me to go. |
You were misguided. | Someone misguided you. |
I was compelled to do it. | Someone compelled me to do it. |
My car has been stolen. | Someone has stolen my car. |
I was invited to the party. | Someone invited to the party. |
CHANGE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO ACTIVE
1. Manure is spread on the ploughed lands to grow more crops.
2. Lands are cultivated at the outset of rain.
3, Water is polluted in many ways.
4. Pahela Baishakh is celebrated with traditional activities across the country.
5. We are helped by our teachers in many ways.
6. Neela's bag was snatched.
7, Junk food is produced for its pungent taste.
8. Greetings are exchanged after the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr.
9. Attempts should be made to establish an exploitation free society.
10. Eid-ul-Fitr is observed with due religious fervour and solemnity.
11. Bagerhat was called Kalifatabad.
12. Arsenicosis is caused by drinking tube-well water.
13. Building materials are washed away by acid pollution.
14. One striker was killed.
15. A new movement calling for an eight hour was held in 1880s.
16. The radio alarm was supposed to be real by the listeners.
17. Tea is taken to remove tiredness.
18. Verses from the holy Quran are recited on the occasion of a marriage ceremony.
19. The guests of a bridal party are entertained heartily.
20. Warm clothes are put on in winter.
CHANGE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO ACTIVE WITH ANSWER
1. Manure is spread on the ploughed lands to grow more crops.
Farmers spread manure on the ploughed lands to grow more crops.
2. Lands are cultivated at the outset of rain.
Farmers cultivate lands at the outset of rain.
3. Water is polluted in many ways.
People pollute water in many ways.
4. Pahela Baishakh is celebrated with traditional activities across the country.
People celebrate Pahela Baishakh with traditional activities across the country.
5. We are helped by our teachers in many ways.
Our teachers help us in many ways.
6. Neela's bag was snatched.
A snatcher snatched Neela’s bag.
7. Junk food is produced for its pungent taste.
The producers produce junk food for its pungent taste.
8. Greetings are exchanged after the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr.
People exchange greeting after the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr.
9. Attempts should be made to establish an exploitation free society.
We should make attempt to establish an exploitation free society.
10. Eid-ul-Fitr is observed with due religious fervour and solemnity.
People observe Eid-ul-Fitr with due religious fervor and solemnity.
11. Bagerhat was called Kalifatabad.
People call Bagerhat Kalifatabad.
12. Arsenicosis is caused by drinking tube-well water.
Drinking tube-well water causes Arsenicosis.
13. Building materials are washed away by acid pollution.
Acid pollution washes away building material.
14. One striker was killed.
The police killed one striker.
15. A new movement calling for an eight hour was held in 1880s.
The strikers held a new movement calling for an eight hour in 1880s.
16. The radio alarm was supposed to be real by the listeners.
The listeners suppose the radio alarm to be real.
17. Tea is taken to remove tiredness.
People take tea to remove tiredness.
18. Verses from the holy Quran are recited on the occasion of a marriage ceremony.
People recite verses from the holy Quran on the occasion of a marriage ceremony.
19. The guests of a bridal party are entertained heartily.
The host entertain the guests of a bridal party heartily.
20. Warm clothes are put on in winter.
People put on warm clothes in winter.
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