Topic: Active and Passive Voice

Subject: English Grammar

Active/Passive Voice Rules Chart

(i) The Object of the verb takes the position of Subject.
(ii) The Subject of the verb in the active voice becomes the object and is usually preceded by
the preposition ‘by’.
(iii) The tense of the verb in the passive voice remains the same as in the active voice.
(iv) In the passive voice, third form of the verb is used.
(v) Take care of singular and plural nature of nouns or pronouns.
(vi) Verb/helping verb requires to be adjusted accordingly.
(vii) Interrogative sentences beginning with ‘wh’ words like what, why, when etc. The question
word is retained in the beginning of the sentence. An interrogative sentence in the active
voice remains an interrogative in the passive form.
(viii) An imperative sentence is a sentence showing order, advice or request. So, accordingly, in
the passive voice, we say: You are requested/ordered/advised + infinitive with ‘to’.

S.
Tenses Passive Voice Structure
No.
PRESENT
1. Present Simple Tense O + is/am/are + V3 + S
2. Present Continuous Tense O + is/am/are + being + V3 + S
3. Present Perfect Tense O + has/have + been + V3 + S
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense X
PAST
5. Past Simple Tense O + was/were + V3 + S
6. Past Continuous Tense O + was/were + being + V3 + S
7. Past Perfect Tense O + had + been + V3 + S
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense X
FUTURE
9. Future Simple Tense O + will/shall + be + V3 + S
10. Future Continuous Tense X
11. Future Perfect Tense O + will/shall + have + been + V3
+S
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense X
OTHER RULES
13. Modal Verb: will, shall, would should, can, Modal verb + be + V3
could, may, might, must, ought to + V1
14. Infinitive: to + V1 to be + V3
15. Imperative: V + O (do not have a known Let + object + be + past participle
subject)
16. Intransitive Verb Sentences (without object) X
– sit, go, lie, arrive, die etc.
17. I, We, He, She, They are changed into me, us, him, her, them

(ix) Sentences involving order/advice are preferably changed into passive by using the word
‘let’ or ‘should’. E.g. – (i) Please close the door. You are requested to close the door. (ii)
Save your soul. Your soul should be saved/ Let your soul be saved. (iii) Do it. Let it be
done/ It should be done.
(x) In the case of a verb having two objects in Active Voice, either of them can be retained in
the passive. E.g. - Hari gave me an apple. I was given an apple by Hari/ An apple was given
to me by Hari.
(xi) Intransitive verbs do not have passive forms. E.g. – (i) I go to school. Go is intransitive
verb. So no passive form. (ii) He arrived. (no passive)
(xii) With some verbs, preposition ‘by’ is not used. Like know (to), surprise (at), annoy (with),
contain (in), vex (with), please (with), displease (at), alarm (at), line (with), throng (with).