Active voice and Passive voice

Active voice and passive voice are two ways to structure a sentence that change the emphasis on who or what is performing the action. 

Active Voice

In the active voice, the subject performs the action. This structure is typically more direct, clear, and concise, making it the preferred choice for most everyday writing and storytelling. 

• Structure: Subject + Verb + Object.
• Example: "The dog chased the cat." (The subject, dog, performs the action, chased, on the object, cat). 
• Passive Voice

The passive voice focuses on the action or the recipient, with the subject receiving the action. It's often used when the doer is less important or unknown, such as in scientific writing or legal documents. 

• Structure: Object + form of "be" + past participle + (optional) "by the subject".
• Example: "The cat was chased by the dog." (The subject, cat, receives the action was chased). 

When to Use Each

Feature	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Focus	Subject (doer)	Action or object
Tone	Direct, strong	Formal, objective
Usage	General writing	Scientific/legal documents, when doer is unknown

To change active sentences with phrasal verbs into passive voice, follow these steps:

 

1.Identify the object of the active sentence — this will become the subject of the passive sentence.

2.Keep the phrasal verb intact — the verb and its particle/preposition do not change their order or split. The particle/preposition stays with the verb in the passive.

3. Use the correct form of the verb "to be" plus the past participle (V3) of the main verb. The particle/preposition follows the past participle exactly as in the active form.

4. Optionally, include the agent (doer) after "by" if needed, but it can be omitted if not important.  

    Examples:
Active: "Ram looks after his mother.

Passive: "His mother is looked after by Ram."
Active: "They called off the match."
Passive: "The match was called off."
Active: "She will pick up her sister from the station."

Passive: "Her sister will be picked up from the station by her."

Some phrasal verbs change smoothly to passive (e.g., look after, call off), while others may sound awkward or be difficult to passivize. The key is to maintain the verb + particle structure and convert the verb to its passive form with "be" + past participle.

Thus, when converting active to passive with phrasal verbs:

Keep the particle/preposition with the verb,

Use "be" + past participle,Make the object the passive subject,

Add "by" + agent if mentioning the doer.

This approach ensures correct and clear passive sentences with phrasal verbs.

Here are some example questions using phrasal verbs in the active voice, change into passive voice practice:

Change the active sentence into passive:

1. They called off the meeting.
2. She looked after the children.
3. The team will pick up the package tomorrow.
4. He put off the appointment.
5. Someone broke into the house last night.

Make these active sentences passive:

1. The manager ran through the report quickly.
2. They turned down the offer.
3. The police chased down the suspect.
4. The company set up a new office.
5. We took over the old building.

Change the following into passive voice (phrasal verbs):

1. The crew blew up the old bridge.
2. They handed out the flyers.
3. The teacher handed in the assignments.
4. She fixed up the old car.
5. Someone took away the trash.

Here are the passive voice answers to the phrasal verb sentences from the previous examples:

1. The meeting was called off.
2. The children were looked after.
3. The package will be picked up tomorrow.
4. The appointment was put off.
5. The house was broken into last night.

Answers:

1. The report was run through quickly by the manager.
2. The offer was turned down.
3. The suspect was chased down by the police.
4. A new office was set up by the company.
5. The old building was taken over.

Phrasal verb answers:

1. The old bridge was blown up by the crew.
2. The flyers were handed out.
3. The assignments were handed in by the teacher.
4. The old car was fixed up by her.
5. The trash was taken away.

These answers show the correct use of "be" + past participle with the phrasal verb particle remaining attached, and "by" + agent is used when the doer is specified or important. 

questions sentences for active passive

Here are example question sentences in both active and passive voice forms:

Yes/No Questions

Active:Did he finish the report?
Passive: Was the report finished by him?

Active: Are they cleaning the office?

Passive: Is the office being cleaned by them?

Wh- Questions

Active: Who wrote the letter?

Passive: By whom was the letter written?

Active: What did she cook for dinner?

Passive: What was cooked for dinner by her?

Active: When will they complete the project?

Passive: When will the project be completed by them?

Modal Verb Questions

Active: Must you submit the assignment today?

Passive: Must the assignment be submitted by you today?

Active: Can he repair the car?

Passive: Can the car be repaired by him?

Examples with "Need" and "Dare"

Active: Does she need to finish the work?

Passive: Does the work need to be finished by her?

Active: Dare he speak in the meeting?

Passive: Dare the speech be given by him in the meeting? (Less common but possible in formal style)

These examples show how to form question sentences in passive from active for different question forms and modal auxiliaries. The key is moving the object to the subject position, using the correct tense and form of “be,” and adding appropriate question words and auxiliary verbs.

To choose the correct tense (present, past, or future passive) for the blanks, you need to carefully read each sentence for clues about when the action happens.

Here’s how you decide:

How to Choose the Tense -

• Look for time indicators in the Sentence words  like "yesterday," "last year," "recently" mean past tense.
• Words like "tomorrow," "will," "shall," "next week" mean future tense.
• Words like "always," "every day," or no time indicator at all usually mean present tense.

 Check the instructions

• If the instruction says to use passive forms of all tenses, fill each blank with the tense that naturally fits the context. If no clue is given, use the tense most likely needed (often future for events, present for habits, and past for completed actions).

Example:

1.The Sports Meet ________ (begin) and the torch ________ (light) by the Sports Minister.

•  No time indicator is given.
• If you are talking about a future event: use future passive (“will be begun”, “will be lit”).
• If you want to talk about an event that has already happened: use past passive (“was begun”, “was lit”).
• If describing a general fact: use present passive (“is begun”, “is lit”).

 2.All the teams are ________ (tell) to follow the rules.

“are” is already given, showing present passive: “are told”.

3.Various events________ (hold) all through the day.

“all through the day” suggests a present event: “is held”.

"is held" (present passive) or "will be held" (future passive) is preferred.

4.The prize distribution ceremony _______ (take) place in the evening.

If referring to a general future schedule, use “will be taken”; more naturally, 

Summary:

If sentence points to... (Usages of Tense)

Completed action (past)-Past passive

Event happening/regular-Present passive

Future scheduled event-Future passive

Always match your tense to the time indicator or sense of the sentence. If unclear, use the most logical/neutral tense (often present or future for event descriptions in exercises).

Active and passive voice describe two different ways of structuring a sentence. In academic and advanced contexts, understanding these structures is critical for choosing the precise emphasis and tone required by formal writing conventions.

  

1. Active Voice: Direct and Emphatic  

In the active voice, the subject performs the action. This structure prioritizes the actor and is characterized by clarity, directness, and conciseness.  

• Structure: Subject (Agent) + Verb + Object (Receiver)

• Emphasis: On the agent of the action.

• Academic Use: Generally preferred in most humanities and many social science fields for clear attribution and engaging prose.  

Example:  

• "The researchers analyzed the data."
• Researchers (Subject/Agent) perform the action analyzed (Verb).

2. Passive Voice: Impersonal and Objective 

In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon. This structure de-emphasizes or entirely removes the agent, shifting focus instead to the action itself or the recipient of the action. 

• Structure: Object (Receiver) + Form of "to be" + Past Participle (V3) + (optional: "by the Subject")

• Emphasis: On the action or the object/recipient.

• Academic Use: Essential in natural sciences, technical writing, and reports where objectivity is paramount, and the process is more important than who conducted it.   

Example: 

• "The data were analyzed by the researchers."

• "The data were analyzed." (Agent removed)

Data (New Subject/Receiver) receives the action were analyzed.   

3. Rules for Transformation (Advanced) 

Converting a sentence requires careful handling of tense and auxiliary verbs: 

1. Identify S-V-O: Locate the Subject, Verb, and Object.
2. Swap S and O: The active object becomes the passive subject.
3. Use "Be" + V3: Change the main verb to its past participle form (V3) and place the correct tense of the auxiliary verb "to be" before it. The tense of "to be" must match the original active verb's tense.
4. Introduce "by": The original subject can be added using a "by" phrase (e.g., "by the team"), but this is often omitted in formal writing.       

4. Advanced and Academic Considerations   

Mastery of voice in academic writing involves strategic choices rather than simply following a blanket rule to "avoid the passive voice."   

Strategic Use of the Passive Voice 

Academic disciplines use the passive voice for specific rhetorical reasons: 

• Maintaining Objectivity: By omitting the "by [agent]" phrase, the writing maintains an impersonal, objective tone, as is standard in lab reports and scientific abstracts ("The sample was heated to 100°C").
• Focusing on the Phenomenon: It draws attention to the procedure or the result itself ("The treatment was administered over five days").
• When the Agent is Unknown: ("The manuscript was stolen sometime last night").    

Avoiding the Passive (Pitfalls)      

Overuse of the passive voice can lead to prose that is: 

• Wordy and Cumbersome: "It has been determined by the committee that the proposal must be revised." (Active: "The committee determined that...")
• Ambiguous: Who is responsible? ("Mistakes were made.")
• Weak or Evasive: In non-academic settings, it can sound as though the speaker is avoiding responsibility. 

Tense forms (Active Verb)	Passive Auxiliary ("to be") +V3	Example (Active  $\to$ Passive)
Present Simple	is/are/am V3	The board approves the budget.  The budget is approved.
Past Simple	was/were V3	The earthquake damaged the bridge.  The bridge was damaged.
Present Perfect	has/have been V3	The audit has confirmed the error. $\to$ The error has been confirmed.
Modals	modal + be V3	We must address the issue. $\to$ The issue must be addressed.

 In the above-mentioned sentences "by" (the subject which changed into object) phrase is omitted.

Passive Voice Conversion – Future Tense Examples

1. Active:

People will follow the leader in the years to come.

Passive:

 The leader will be followed by people in the years to come.

Explanation:

- The object “the leader” becomes the subject of the passive voice.

- The verb “will follow” changes to “will be followed.”

- The agent “by people” shows who performs the action.

2. Active (Question):

How will they cross the desert in this hot summer?

Passive:

 How will the desert be crossed by them in this hot summer?

Explanation:

- “The desert” becomes the subject.

- The auxiliary verb “will” is followed by “be” + past participle “crossed.”

- The question structure is maintained.

- The agent “by them” remains optional.

3. Active (Question):

When will she throw a party for her friends?

Passive:

When will a party be thrown by her for her friends?

Explanation:

- The object “a party” becomes the subject.

- “Will throw” → “will be thrown.”

- The interrogative structure is preserved.

- The agent “by her” clarifies who performs the action.

4. Active:

The loud music will disturb my neighbour.

Passive:

 My neighbour will be disturbed by the loud music.

Explanation:

- “My neighbour” is the new subject.

- “Will disturb” → “will be disturbed.”

- “By the loud music” expresses the cause/agent of disturbance.

5. Active:

I will borrow your pen later.

Passive:

Your pen will be borrowed by me later.

Explanation:

- “Your pen” becomes the subject.

- “Will borrow” changes to “will be borrowed.”

- “By me” identifies the doer of the action.

📘 Passive Voice Structure (Future Tense):

Active Voice:

👉 Subject + will/shall + verb (base form) + object

Passive Voice:

👉 Object + will/shall + be + past participle (V₃) + (by + subject)

Example:

Active: She will finish the work.

Passive: The work will be finished by her.

Active and passive voice can be applied to almost all 12 major verb tenses in English grammar. The core rule for forming the passive voice is to use the correct form of the auxiliary verb "to be" followed by the past participle (V3) of the main verb.    

Here is a clear breakdown of the tense forms with examples using the verb write:

Tense Category	Tense	Active Voice Structure	Passive Voice Structure	Active Example	Passive Example
Present	Simple	Subject + V1/V5	Object + am/is/are + V3	She writes a letter.	A letter is written by her.
	Continuous	Subject +am/is/are + V-ing (V4)	Object + am/is/are + being + V3	She is writing a letter.	A letter is being written by her.
	Perfect	Subject + has/have + V3	Object + has/have + been + V3	She has written a letter.	A letter has been written by her.
	Perfect Cont.	Passive form is (not possible) rarely used
Past	Simple	Subject + V2	Object + was/were + V3	She wrote a letter.	A letter was written by her.
	Continuous	S + was/were + V-ing	O + was/were + being + V3	She was writing a letter.	A letter was being written by her.
	Perfect	S + had + V3	O + had + been + V3	She had written a letter.	A letter had been written by her.
	Perfect Cont.	Passive form is rarely used
Future	Simple	Subject + will + V1	Object + will be + V3	She will write a letter.	A letter will be written by her.
	Continuous	Passive form is rarely used
	Perfect	S + will have + V3	O + will have + been + V3	She will have written a letter.	A letter will have been written by her.
	Perfect Cont.	Passive form is rarely used

Note: The future continuous, present perfect continuous, past perfect continuous, and future perfect continuous tenses rarely have a natural passive voice construction in standard English writing.

For further information and interactive practice, resources like the British Council grammar lessons provide excellent guides.Detailed Note on Passive Voice Constructions in English

This note explains the different types of passive constructions in English, based on Oxford and Cambridge grammar sources. It includes examples, rules, and uses for each type.

1. Standard Passive Voice

Form: Subject + (form of) 'be' + past participle (+ by + agent)

Example: The desert will be crossed by them in this hot summer.

Tenses: Passives can be formed for all major tenses (present, past, future, perfect, progressive, modal).

2. Passive with Indirect Objects

Sometimes the indirect object can become the subject in passive voice.

Examples:

Active: They gave her a gift.

Passive: She was given a gift (by them).

Passive: A gift was given to her (by them).

3. Passives with Infinitives or Gerunds (Special Passives)

Verbs followed by objects + infinitive/gerund can be used in passive.

Examples:

Active: He made her cry.

Passive: She was made to cry (by him).

Active: They kept me waiting.

Passive: I was kept waiting.

4. Prepositional Passive

The object of a preposition becomes the subject.

Example:

Active: They looked into the complaint.

Passive: The complaint was looked into.

5. Reporting Passive (with 'it' or 'to' infinitive)

Used for verbs like say, believe, think, report, etc.

Examples:

It is said that she is honest.

She is believed to be honest.

6. Causative Passive

Structures with 'have' or 'get' in passive form.

Example:

Active: The cleaner cleaned the windows.

Causative Passive: I had the windows cleaned.

7. Get-Passive

Uses 'get' instead of 'be' in informal contexts.

Examples:

He got promoted.

Our house got flooded.

Additional Passive Constructions

• Impersonal Passive: Used in scientific or formal writing when the doer is not important.

  Example: Many vaccines have been developed.

• Passive in Subordinate Clauses: Can be formed inside that-clauses or relative clauses.

  Example: He knew that the church had been built in 1915.

Summary Table of Passive Types

1. Standard Passive (with 'be')

2. Passive with Indirect Object

3. Passive with Infinitive/Gerund

4. Prepositional Passive

5. Reporting Passive (It/To-infinitive)

6. Causative Passive (have/get)

7. Get-Passive

When to Use Regular Passive

Use regular passive (subject + 'be' + past participle) when you want to:

• Emphasize the action or the receiver, not the doer.

• The doer (agent) is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious.

• Keep clarity and simplicity in writing.

Examples:

The cake was eaten.

Your pen will be borrowed.

When to Use Special Passive Constructions

Use special passive constructions for more advanced, formal, or nuanced writing. These include:

• Double-object passives (indirect object as subject):

  Example: She was given a gift.

• Infinitive and gerund passives:

  Example: She was made to wait. / I was kept waiting.

• Prepositional passives:

  Example: The proposal was looked into.

• Reporting/Impersonal passives:

  Example: It is reported that the match was cancelled. / She is believed to be honest.

• Causative constructions ('have/get' passives):

  Example: I had the report written.

• Get-passive:

  Example: He got injured.

Why Choose Special Passive Constructions

• To avoid ambiguity in sentences with multiple objects.

• To match formal, academic tone in writing.

• To create variety and advanced structures.

• To omit the doer for stylistic or narrative reasons.

• To satisfy specific verb patterns requiring infinitive/gerund forms.

Summary

Use regular passives for straightforward transformations and most writing.

Use special passives for advanced, formal, or academic contexts where focus, clarity, or structure requires it.

Special passives allow more flexible and formal alternatives when regular passives are insufficient.

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