Introduction

In active voice subject acts upon object, while in passive voice object is acted upon by subject. It can also be said, in active voice subject does a work on object, while in passive voice object is worked on by subject. The normal structure of an active voice sentence is subject+verb+object but in passive the normal structure of sentence is reversed according to certain rules and becomes.i.e. object+verb+subject.

For instance
Subject + Verb + Object Object + Verb + 3 +by+ Subject
rd

1. The places of subject and object are interchanged i.e. the object shifts to the place of subject and subject shifts to the place of object in passive voice.Example. Active voice: I write a letter. Passive voice: I letter is written by me. Subject (I) of sentence shifted to the place of object (letter) and object (letter) shifted to the place of subject (I) in passive voice. 2. Sometimes subject of sentence is not used in passive voice. Subject of sentence can be omitted in passive voice, if without subject it can give enough meaning in passive voice.Examples. Passive voice: cloth is sold in yards 3. 3rd form of verb (past participle) is always used as main verb in sentences of passive voice for all tenses. Base form of verb or present participle will be never used in passive voice. The word by is used before subject in sentences in passive voice.Example. Active voice: He sings a song. Passive voice: A song is sung by him. 4. The word by is not always used before subject in passive voice. Sometimes words with, to, etc may also be used before subject in passive voice. Examples. Active voice: The water fills the tub. Passive voice: The tub is filled with water.

Adeel + plays + cricket Cricket + played + by + Adeel

A verb can be either transitive or intransitive. A transitive verb needs an object (in sentence) to give complete meaning while intransitive verb does need an object (in sentence) to give complete meaning. For example, Transitive verb. He sent a letter. (Send is a transitive verb and it needs an object i.e. letter to express full meaning.) Intransitive Verb. He laughs. (Laugh is an intransitive verb and it does not need object for expressing full meaning.) e.g. Sleep, go, reach, sit, die, are examples of intransitive verbs. Intransitive verb cannot be changed into passive voice T he sentences having intransitive verbs (belonging to any tense) cannot be changed into passive voice. The reason is that there is not any object in such sentences and without object of sentence passive voice is not possible. A sentence can be changed into passive voice if it has subject and object. Sometimes subject may

not be written in passive voice but it does not mean that it has no subject. Such sentences have subject but the subject is so common or familiar or known that if even it is not written in passive voice, it gives full meaning. For example Cloth is sold in yards.

Active voice: He knows me. Passive voice: I am known to him. 5. Auxiliary verbs are used passive voice according to the tense of sentence.

Passive voice of imperative sentences

(command and request)
A sentence which expresses command or request or advice is called imperative sentence. For example, Open the door. Turn off the television. Learn your lesson. For changing these sentences in to passive voice, auxiliary verb be is used. The word Let is added before sentence in passive voice. Auxiliary verb be is added after object in sentence in passive voice. Main verb (base form) of imperative sentence is changed to 3rd form of verb (past participle) in passive voice. For best understand read the following examples. Examples
Passive voice of Imperative Sentences Active Voice Open the door. Complete the work. Turn off the television. Learn your lesson. Kill the snake. Punish him. Speak the truth. Help the poor. Passive Voice Let the door be opened. Let the worked be completed. Let the television be tuned off. Let your lesson be learnt. Let the snake be killed. Let him be punished. Let the truth be spoken. Let the poor be helped.

Interrogative Voices with who

The passives start with who the rules are bit different. 1. 2. 3. 4. Convert Subject into Object Convert Object into Subject Use 3rd form Use by with Objects

Rules for the Interrogative with who Whenever the interrogative with who is converted into passive voice there is a bit different rule to be applied, whereas all the other rules are the same. By is used at the beginning with whom. Since who is the subject and it converts into whom in passive voice.

Examples Who is knocking at the door? (active voice) By whom the door is being knocked at? (passive voice) Who is calling me? (active voice) By whom am I being called? (passive voice) Who invited you? (active voice) By whom are you invited? (passive voice) Who made this? (active voice) By whom is this made? (passive voice)

Revise your book. Clean your room.

Let your book be revised. Let your room be cleaned.

Person Singular

1st 2nd 3rd Plural 1st 2nd 3rd

Cases Subjective (used before verb) I You He,She,It We You They

Possesive form

Objective form(used after verb)

Mine Yours His ,Hers,Its Ours Yours Their

Me You Him,Her,Its Us You Them

Passive voice for Present/Future Modals CAN, MAY, MIGHT, SHOULD, MUST, OUGHT TO Auxiliary verb in passive voice: be

The places of subject and object in sentence are inter-changed in passive voice. 3rd form of verb (past participle) will be used only (as main verb) in passive voice. be is added after modal in sentence.
Passive voice: CAN BE A violin can be played by her. A violin cannot be played by her. Can a violin be played by her?

Passive voice for Present/Future Modals MAY HAVE, MIGHT HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, MUST HAVE, OUGHT HAVE TO Auxiliary verb in passive voice: been

The places of subject and object in sentence are inter-changed in passive voice. 3rd form of verb (past participle) will be used only (as main verb) in passive voice. To change sentences having past modal into passive voice, auxiliary verb been is added after modal in sentence.
Active voice: MAY HAVE BEEN The opportunity may have been availed by you. The opportunity may not have been availed by you. Active voice: MIGHT HAVE BEEN Meal might have been eaten by him. Meal might not have been eaten by him. Active voice: SHOULD HAVE BEEN The book should have been studied by you. The book should have not been studied by you. Active voice: MUST HAVE BEEN Job must have been started by you. Job must not have been started by you. Active voice: OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN He ought to have been helped by you

To change sentences having present/future modal into passive voice, auxiliary verb

Active voice: CAN She can play a violin. She cannot play a violin. Can she play a violin? Active voice: MAY I may buy the computer. I may not buy the computer. May I buy the computer? Active voice: MIGHT Guests might play chess. Guests might not play chess. Active voice: SHOULD Students should study all lessons. Students should not study all lessons. Should students study all lessons? Active voice: MUST You must learn the test-taking strategies. You must not learn the test-taking strategies.

Active voice: MAY HAVE You may have availed the opportunity. You may not have availed the opportunity. Active voice: MIGHT HAVE

Active voice: MAY BE The computer may be bought by me. The computer may not be bought by me. May the computer be bought by me? Active voice: MIGHT BE Chess might be played by guests. Chess might not be played guests. Active voice: SHOULD BE All lessons should be studied by students. All lessons should not be studied by students. Should all lessons be studied by students? Active voice: MUST BE Test-taking strategies must be learnt by you. Test-taking strategies must not be learned by you.

He might have eaten meal. He might not have eaten meal. Active voice: SHOULD HAVE You should have studied the book. You should not have studied the book. Active voice: MUST HAVE He must have started job. He must not have started job. Active voice: OUGHT TO HAVE You ought to have helped him.

Active voice: OUGHT TO They ought to take the examination.

Active voice: OUGHT TO BE The examination ought to be taken by them.

PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE

Helping verbs: is, am, and are. Singular subjects: use of is Plural subjects: use of are Subject I: use of am Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey is played by him.

Helping verbs: was and were. Singular objects: use of was Plural objects: use of were Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey was played by him.

Helping verbs: will. Be is used after helping verb and before verb. Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + be + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey will be played by him.

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey was not played by him.

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not + be + Verb + by + Objective Form. Example: Hockey will not be played by him.

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey is not played by him.

Interrogative passive voice

Helping verb +Object + Verb + by + Objective Form +? Was hockey played by him?

Interrogative passive voice

Helping verb +Object + be + Verb + by + Objective Form +? Will hockey be played by him?

Interrogative passive voice

Helping verb +Object + Verb + by + Objective Form +? Is hockey played by him?

Interrogative and negative

Helping verb+ Object +not + Verb + by + Objective Form. Was hockey not played by him?

Interrogative and negative

Interrogative and negative

Helping verb+ Object +not + Verb + by + Objective Form. Is hockey not played by him?

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Object + Helping Verb + Verb + By + Objective Form. Why is hockey not played by him?

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Wh word + Helping Verb + Object + Verb + By + Objective Form. Why was hockey not played by him?

Helping verb+ Object +not + be + Verb + by + Objective Form. Will hockey not be played by him?

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Wh word + Helping Verb + Object + be + Verb + By + Objective Form. Why will hockey not be played by him?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

Helping verbs: is, am and are. Singular objects: use of is Plural objects: use of are Form of verb: 3rd form of verb. Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb +being+ Verb + by + Objective Form. Example: Hockey is being played by him.

Helping verbs: was and were. Being is used after helping verb and before verb. Singular subjects: use of was Plural subjects: use of were Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + being + Verb + by + Objective Form. Example: Hockey was being played by him.

Helping verbs: will be and shall be. Being is used after helping verb and before verb Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + being + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey will be being played by him.

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not+ being + Verb + by + Objective Form. Example: Hockey is not being played by him.

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not + being + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey will not be being played by him.

Interrogative passive voice

Helping verb +Object +being+ Verb + by + Objective Form +? Is hockey being played by him?

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not + being + Verb + by + Objective Form. Example: Hockey was not being played by him.

Interrogative passive voice

Helping verb +Object + being +Verb + By + Objective Form

Interrogative and negative

Helping verb+ Object +not +being+ Verb + by + Objective Form. Is hockey not being played by him?

Interrogative passive voice

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Wh word+ Helping Verb+object +being+ Verb + By + Objective Form. Why is hockey not being played by him?

Helping verb +Object +being + Verb + by + Objective Form Interrogative and negative +? Was hockey being played by him? Helping verb+ Object +not + being + Verb + By + Objective Form. Interrogative and negative Will hockey not be being played by him? Helping verb+ Object +not + being + Verb + by + Objective Double Interrogative and negative Form. Was hockey not being played by him? sentences

+? Will hockey be being played by him?

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Wh word + Helping Verb + Object + being + Verb + By + Objective Form. Why was hockey not being played by him?

Wh word + Helping Verb + Object + being +Verb + By + Objective Form. Why will hockey not be being played by him?

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

PAST PERFECT TENSE

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

Helping verbs: has and have. Use of been after helping verb and before verb. Singular objects: use of has Plural objects: use of have Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + been + Verb + by + Objective Form. Example: Hockey has been played by him.

Helping verbs: had. Been is used after helping verb and before verb. Objects: only had is used with all kinds of objects. Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + been + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey had been played by him.

Helping verbs: will have been/shall have been.

Been is always used after helping verb and before verb

Objects: use of will have been Form of verb: 3rd form of verb Simple passive voice
Object + Helping Verb + been + Verb + By + Objective Form. Example: Hockey will have been played by him.

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not + been + Verb + by + Objective Form.

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not + been + Verb + By +

Negative passive voice

Object + Helping Verb + Not +have + been+ Verb + by +

Example: Hockey has not been played by him.

Interrogative passive voice

Objective Form. Example: Hockey had not been played by him.

Objective Form. Example: Hockey will not have been played by him.

Helping verb +Object + been + Verb + by + Objective Form Interrogative passive voice +? Helping verb +Object + been + Verb + By + Objective Has hockey been played by him? Form + ? Had hockey been played by him? Interrogative and negative Helping verb+ Object +not + been + Verb + by + Objective Form. Has hockey not been played by him?

Interrogative passive voice

Helping verb +Object + have + been + Verb + By + Objective Form + ? Will hockey have been played by him?

Interrogative and negative

Interrogative and negative

Helping verb+ Object +not + have + been + Verb + By + Objective Form. Will hockey not have been played by him?

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Wh word+ Helping Verb + object + been + Verb + By + Objective Form. Why has hockey not been played by him?

Helping verb+ Object +not + been + Verb + By + Objective Form. Had hockey not been played by him ?

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Wh word + Helping Verb + Object + been + Verb + By + Objective Form. Why has hockey not been played by him?

Double Interrogative and negative sentences

Wh word + Helping Verb + Object + have + been+ Verb + By + Objective Form. Why will hockey not have been played by him?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUES TENSE

PAST PERFECT CONTINUES TENSE

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUES TENSE

HAS NO PASSIVE VOICE

Harry ate six shrimp at dinner. (active) At dinner, six shrimp were eaten by Harry. (passive) Beautiful giraffes roam the savannah. (active) The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes. (passive) Sue changed the flat tire. (active) The flat tire was changed by Sue. (passive) We are going to watch a movie tonight. (active) A movie is going to be watched by us tonight. (passive) I ran the obstacle course in record time. (active) The obstacle course was run by me in record time.

HAS NO PASSIVE VOICE

The teacher always answers the students questions. (active) The students questions are always answered by the teacher. (passive) The choir really enjoys that piece. (active) That piece is really enjoyed by the choir. (passive) Who taught you to ski? (active) By whom were you taught to ski? (passive) The forest fire destroyed the whole suburb. (active) The whole suburb was destroyed by the forest fire. (passive) The two kings are signing the treaty. (active)

HAS NO PASSIVE VOICE

The wedding planner is making all the reservations. (active) All the reservations will be made by the wedding planner. (passive) Susan will bake two dozen cupcakes for the bake sale. (active) For the bake sale, two dozen cookies will be baked by Susan. (passive) The science class viewed the comet. (active) The comet was viewed by the science class. (passive) Who ate the last cookie? (active) The last cookie was eaten by whom? (passive)

(passive) The crew paved the entire stretch of highway. (active) The entire stretch of highway was paved by the crew. (passive) Mom read the novel in one day. (active) The novel was read by Mom in one day. (passive) The critic wrote a scathing review. (active) A scathing review was written by the critic. (passive) I will clean the house every Saturday. (active) The house will be cleaned by me every Saturday. (passive) The staff is required to watch a safety video every year. (active) A safety video will be watched by the staff every year. (passive) She faxed her application for a new job. (active) The application for a new job was faxed by her. (passive) Tom painted the entire house. (active) The entire house was painted by Tom. (passive)

The treaty is being signed by the two kings. (passive) The cleaning crew vacuums and dusts the office every night. (active) Every night the office is vacuumed and dusted by the cleaning crew. (passive) Larry generously donated money to the homeless shelter. (active) Money was generously donated to the homeless shelter by Larry. (passive) No one responded to my sales ad. (active) My sales ad was not responded to by anyone. (passive) The saltwater eventually corroded the metal beams. (active) The metal beams were eventually corroded by the saltwater. (passive) The kangaroo carried her baby in her pouch. (active) The baby was carried by the kangaroo in her pouch. (passive)

Alex posted the video on Facebook. (active) The video was posted on Facebook by Alex. (passive) The director will give you instructions. (active) Instructions will be given to you by the director. (passive) Thousands of tourists view the Grand Canyon every year. (active) The Grand Canyon is viewed by thousands of tourists every year. (passive) The homeowners remodeled the house to help it sell. (active) The house was remodeled by the homeowners to help it sell. (passive) The team will celebrate their victory tomorrow. (active) The victory will be celebrated by the team tomorrow. (passive) Some people raise sugar cane in Hawaii. (active) Sugar cane is raised by some people in Hawaii. (passive)

interrogative sentence
Read the following sentences: Active: Do the children play football? Passive: Is football played by the children? (NOT Do football played by the children?) Active: Did Alice invite you? Passive: Were you invited by Alice? (NOT Did you invited by Alice?) Note:As you may have noticed, the auxiliaries do, does and did are not used in the passive.

Imperative Sentence
Sentences which express request, order, advice, suggestion, prohibition etc., are called imperative sentences. The imperative sentence in the passive voice has the following structure: Let + object + be + past participle When the active voice begins with do not, the passive voice has the following structure: Let not + object + be + past participle

More examples are given below: Active: Please lend me some money. Passive: You are requested to lend me some money. Active: Kindly do this work. Passive: You are requested to do this work. Active: Get me a glass of water. Passive: You are ordered to get me a glass of water. Active: Let us go for a walk. Passive: It is suggested that we should go out for a walk.

Active: Have you finished the work? Passive: Has the work been finished by you? Notes: The auxiliaries has, have and had are used in the passive, but they change their form according to the number and person of the passive subject. Active: Can anyone cure it? Passive: Can it be cured? Active: Will he accept our invitation? Passive: Will our invitation be accepted by him? Note: The auxiliaries can, may, will and shall do not change their beginning position when active voice is changed into the passive voice. Active: Whom did you laugh at? Passive: Who was laughed at by you? Active: Who killed the snake? Passive: By whom was the snake killed? Note: Who changes to by whom in the passive; (by) whom changes to who in the passive. Active: Why did he punish you? Passive: Why were you punished by him? Notes: The question words when, where, why, how and what do not change their beginning position when the sentence is changed from the active to the passive.

In some sentences it is possible to put not after the object or be. Examples are given below: Active: Bring it home. Passive: Let it be brought home. Active: Do it at once. Passive: Let it be done at once. Active: Do not beat the dog. Passive: Let the dog not be beaten. Active: Let me do it. Passive: Let it be done by me. OR Let me be allowed to do it. You can begin the sentence with you if you want to put emphasis on the person addressed to. Examples are given below: Active: Please help me. Passive: Let me be helped. Passive: You are requested to help me. Active: Dont touch it. Passive: Let it not be touched. Active: You are warned not to touch it. The passive form has to begin with you, when the object of the verb in the active voice is not given. Active: Work hard. (No object) Passive: You are advised to work hard. Active: Get out. (No object) Passive: You are ordered to get out.

Note that suggest is followed by a -that clause and not an infinitive. Sentences with modals Active: You ought to respect your parents. Passive: Your parents ought to be respected by you. Active: You should learn your lessons. Passive: Your lessons should be learned by you. In sentences where God is invoked the passive voice will be as follows: Active: May God bless you! Passive: May you be blessed bGod