SSCEXAMFORUM.

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ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE RULES

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ACTIVE VOICE = When the person or the thing in the subject does something is
called active voice; means the subject is in action.

PASSIVE VOICE = When something is done to the subject ; means the person or the
thing of the subject does not perform the action denoted by the verb is called passive
voice. ,

Read these two sentences and compare

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1. Ranjan writes a letter.

2. A letter is written by Ranjan.

Obviously the verb in the second sentence is IS WRITTEN. We see that Here the
structure of the verb is BE+V3 (THIRD FORM OF THE VERB). When such is the
structure of the verb i.e. BE+V3 the sentence is said to be in the passive voice.
Sometimes the structure of the passive verb is GET+V3. But GET+V3 construction is
not normally used in standard English. All other verb forms except an exception or two
are said to be in the active voice.

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So, the Hindi translation of the above two sentences is:

1. Ranjan writes a letter. (

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2. A letter is written by Ranjan. ( .)

NOTE: From the above we can say that verb forms BE+V3 or GET+V3 are in the
passive voice and all other verb forms are in the active voice.

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NECESSARY CHANGES
At times we have to change a sentence in the active voice into a sentence in the passive
voice. Lets see what changes are necessary.
1. As you see in the above two sentences the object of the active sentence becomes
the subject of the passive sentence, and the subject of the active sentence

4.
5.

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3 is important

2.
3.

becomes the object of the preposition BY or any other suitable preposition in the
passive sentence; sometimes this does not need to be mentioned.
The verb in the active becomes BE+V3.
The tense of the active sentence does not change at all. The tense of the verb in
the active is denoted by appropriate form of BE only; V3 of the passive does not
affect the tense form.
The type of sentence does not change; means it remains the same i.e. Assertive
Sentence remains Assertive, Interrogative remains Interrogative and so on.
Future Continuous Tense and all Perfect Continuous Tenses i.e.
Present/Past/Future Perfect continuous tenses cannot be converted into passive.

EXAMPLES

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1. Renu loves Geeta.

= Renu is loved by Geeta.
[You see Geeta is the object of the active sentence and the tense is
present simple. In the passive, as said above, the object Geeta
becomes the subject of the sentence in the passive, and the verb BE
(here IS) is in the present simple tense.]
2. Rahul is writing a book.
= A book is being written by Rahul.
[The verb in the active sentence is IS writing, means present
continuous. In continuous tenses the continuous form of BE in the
passive is BE+BEING; hence Is being written here.]
3. The peon opened the gate.
= The gate was opened by the peon.
4. Raju was eating a banana.
= A banana was being eaten by Raju.
5. I shall play badminton in the evening.
= Badminton will be played by me in the evening.
[The tense in the active, we see, is future simple; so we need future
simple of BE, of course it is SHALL BE or WILL BE. But we use SHALL
with the first person i.e. I or WE, here our subject is BADMINTON, so
we need WILL BE.]
6. I have finished my homework.
= My homework has been finished by me.

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[The tense in the active is present perfect, so the present perfect of BE

is needed. It will be HAS BEEN or HAVE BEEN. We use HAVE with I,
WE or YOU, so HAS BEEN is required here.]
7. Little strokes fell great oaks.
= Great oaks are felled with little strokes.
[The verb FELL is second form of the verb FALL and first form of the
verb FELL itself. The verb FALL is an intransitive verb, means without
having an object, whereas the verb FELL is a transitive verb, means
having an object. Here the object GREAT OAKS is given, therefore its
the first form, means the present simple tense. Note here the two
verbs: FALL FELL FALLEN and FELL FELLED FELLED]
8. The king reviewed the troops in the maidan.
= The troops were reviewed by the King in the maidan.
9. The legend tells us how the city received its name.
= We are told by the legend how its name was received by the city.
10. All desire wealth and some acquire it.
= Wealth is desired by all and acquired by some.
[When the same subject is associated with two or more verbs (Here
the subject WEALTH has two verbs DESIRE and ACQUIRE), we use
the helping verb only with the first one, so IS wont be again put
before ACQUIRED.]
11. Alas! We shall hear her voice no more.
= Alas! Her voice will be heard no more.
OR Alas! Her voice will not be heard anymore.
[The sentence in the active voice is EXCLAMATORY, so in the passive

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also it will remain EXCLAMATORY as type of a sentence remains the

same in both the voices.]
12. Do not insult the poor.
= Let the poor not be insulted.

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Change of MODALS in the passive

If a sentence in the active voice has a modal its passive is made by
MODAL+BE+V3
1. Rohit must shut the door.
= The door must be shut by Rohit.

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2. Rani ought to have told him.

= He ought to have been told by Rani.
3. You have to pay fifty-paise postage.
= Fifty-paise postage has to be paid by you.
[HAVE TO is a modal verb.]

When the subject of the active sentence is a person and its verb is not an
action or the subject in the active is not a person, we use WITH , TO, IN, AT,
etc, not BY in the passive.

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1. Smoke filled the room.

= The room was filled with smoke.
2. Paint covered the lock.
= The lock was covered with paint.
3. The boys work pleased the teacher.
= The teacher was pleased with the boys work.
4. I know her.
=She is known to me.
[The verb KNOW is not an action, rather its a state.]
5. He annoys me.
I am annoyed with him.
[The verb ANNOY is not an action, rather it's a state.]
6. His behaviour annoyed me.
= I was annoyed at his behaviour.
7. She vexes me.
= I am vexed at her.
8. This book has greatly interested me.
I have been greatly interested in this book.

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NOTE: With such verbs we do not use the preposition BY, rather any other
such as WITH, AT, IN, TO, etc. Different verbs take different prepositions.
The verb ANNOY takes WITH when used for a person, and it takes AT when
used for a thing.
How active verbs which are passive in sense are changed to the passive
voice

1. The rose smells sweet.

=The rose is sweet when it is smelt.
2. At least the play reads well.
= At least the play affects the readers well when it is read.

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WHEN does the subject of the active need not be mentioned in the passive?
1. When the doer of the action i.e. subject is obvious
2. When the subject in the active is vague like PEOPLE, ONE, SOMEONE, THEY,
WE, etc.

EXAMPLES

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1. The police arrested the thief.

= The thief was arrested.
2. People suspect him of receiving stolen goods.
= He is suspected of receiving stolen goods.
3. People suppose that they are living in Delhi.
= They are supposed to be living in Delhi.
4. One sees this sort of advertisement everywhere.
This sort of advertisement is seen everywhere.
5. Someone picked my pocket in the bus.
= My pocket was picked in the bus.
6. A Mr Rohan has bought the house next door.
= The house next door has been bought.
7. Our state government is building a new public library.
= A new public library is being built.
8. They sell TVs here.
= TVs are sold here.
9. They asked me my name.
= I was asked my name.
OR My name was asked.
10. They opened the theatre only last month.
= The theatre was opened only last month.
11. We will execute all orders promptly.
= All orders will be executed promptly.

TWO OBJECTS IN THE ACTIVE

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12. One should keep ones promises.

Promises should be kept.
13. We expect good news.
= Good news is expected.
14. Circumstances will oblige me to go.
= I shall be obliged to go.
15. The rules forbid passengers to cross the railway line.
= Passengers are forbidden to cross the railway line.

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Verbs that take two objects in the active voice, are changed into passive with
any of the objects as subject of the passive. But if the object denoting a
person is not made the subject of the passive, a suitable preposition like TO,
FOR, etc is put before it.

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1. The
guard
refused
him
admittance.
=He
was
refused
admittance
by
the
guard.
OR Admittance was refused to him by the guard.
2. I
bought
my
son
a
pen.
=
My
son
was
bought
a
pen.
OR A pen was bought for my son.
3. He
promised
me
a
gift.
=
I
was
promised
a
gift.
OR A gift was promised to me.
4. You
could
give
it
to
me.
=
It
could
be
given
to
me
by
you.
OR I could be given it by you.

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But when the two objects are the same person we can form only one
passive; that too with the person as subject only; e.g.
1. They made him king.
= He was made king.
[Here HIM and KING are representing the same person.]

2. We elected Hari captain.

Hari was elected captain.
[Here HARI and CAPTAIN are representing the same person.]

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When a VERB+PREPOSITION/ADVERB+OBJECT combination is there in

the active, the preposition remains immediately after the verb in the
passive

QUESTIONS IN PASSIVES

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1. You can play with these cubs quite safely.

= These cubs can be played with quite safely.
2. We must write to him.
= He must be written to.
3. They threw away the old newspapers.
= The old newspapers were thrown away.
4. They looked after the children well.
= The children were well looked after.
5. They laughed at the warnings and objected to all his proposals.
= His warnings were laughed at and all his proposals objected to.
6. You can never hear of a happy millionaire.
= A happy millionaire can never be heard of.

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1. Who did this?

= By whom was this done?
[In an interrogative sentence beginning with WHO the subject is
always WHO itself. In the above sentence THIS is the object; therefore
THIS will become the subject of the passive. As we need a question in
the passive also, the helping verb should come before the subject and
the main verb after it. So the helping verb WAS will come before THIS
and the main verb DONE after. As WHO is the subject of the active, it
will become the object of the passive, the objective case of WHO is
WHOM; also the preposition BY precedes the object in the passive, so
it will be BY WHOM. As its a WH word question in the active, in
passive also WH word is needed. Therefore the passive sentence will
begin with BY WHOM.]

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2. Who teaches you Mathematics?

= By whom are you taught Mathematics?
OR By whom is Mathematics taught to you?
3. Who taught you such tricks as these?
= By whom were you taught such tricks as these?
4. Who gave you those directions?
= By whom were you given those directions?
OR By whom were those directions given to you?
5. Who painted it?
= By whom was it painted?
6. Why did your brother write such a letter?
= Why was such a letter written by your brother?
7. When will you return my camera?
When will my camera be returned?
8. Shall I ever forget those happy days?
Will those happy days ever be forgot/forgotten?
9. Do you understand my meaning?
= Is my meaning understood?
10. What did they stole?
= What was stolen?
11. What makes these holes?
= By what are these holes made?
12. How else would you learn it?
= How else would it be learnt by you?
[IMPORTANT: When an interrogative pronoun such as WHO, WHAT, WHICH,

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etc. is the subject of a sentence and it needs a preposition, we put the preposition
before it, not to the end of the sentence. The preposition is such a case is often
taken to the end of the sentence, but it happens only in the informal English.
Therefore it's wrong to say 'Who are you taught by?'. The correct sentence is 'By
whom are you taught?']

IT in passive
If the verb in the active is acknowledge, believe, claim, consider, decide,
expect, find, know, report, say, suppose, tell, think, understand, etc you
can change the active into the passive in the following two ways

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1. People consider that Mohan is a fool.

= It is considered that Mohan is a fool .
OR Mohan is considered to be a fool.
2. People said that he was jealous of her.
= It was said that he was jealous of her.
OR He was said to be jealous of her.
3. People say he is handsome.
= It is said that he is handsome.
OR He is said to be handsome.
4. They know he has an idea.
= It is known that he has an idea.
OR He is known to have an idea.
5. They knew he had an idea.
= It was known that he had an idea.
OR He was known to have had an idea.
6. The public will learn with astonishment that war is imminent.
= It will be learned/learnt by the public with astonishment that war is imminent.
OR War will be learned/learnt to be imminent by the public with astonishment.
7. They propose to build a dam for irrigation.
= It is proposed that a dam be built for irrigation.
OR It is proposed to build a dam for irrigation.
OR A dam is proposed to be built for irrigation.
8. He decided to sell the house.
= He decided that the house should be sold.
OR It was decided (that) the house be/should be sold.

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9. The Greeks expected to win the international trophy.

= It was expected by the Greeks that they would win the international trophy.
[You cannot say 'The international trophy was expected to be won by the Greeks.'
This construction suggests the idea that THE GREEK WIN WAS EXPECTED BY
ALL. So, we can say that if the subject in the active sentence is specific, the
passive will always begin with 'IT' here.]

IT IS TIME
Active sentences beginning with 'IT IS TIME' are converted into passive by
'IT IS TIME + FOR + NOUN/PRONOUN + TO BE + V3', e.g.

1. It is time to close the shop.

= It is time for the shop to be closed.
2. It is time to give the final warning.
= It is time for the final warning to be given.

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THERE+BE

INFINITIVE RULES

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VERB+TO-INFINITIVE+OBJECT

1. Active sentences beginning with 'THERE+BE' are converted into passive by

'THERE + BE + NOUN/PRONOUN + TO BE + V3', e.g.
2. There are five letters to write.
= There are five letter to be written.
3. There is no time to loose.
= There is no time to be lost.

1. His colleagues started to respect Hari.

= Hari started to be respected by his colleagues.
2. People came to recognize her as the leading actress soon.
= She came to be recognized as the leading actress soon.
3. The team captain hoped to select Jadeja.
Jadeja hoped to be selected by the team captain.

He wants someone to take photographs.

= He wants photographs to be taken.

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Verbs of LIKING/LOVING/WANTING/WISHING+OBJECT+INFINITIVE
form their passive with passive infinitive, e.g.

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Verbs of
COMMAND/REQUEST/ADVICE/INVITION+OBJECT+INFINITIVE form
their passive by using the main verb in the passive; e.g.
1. He invited me to go.
=I was invited to go.
2. Mr Rajat taught Rohit to sing.
= Rohit was taught to sing.

INFINITIVES AFTER PASSIVE VERBS ARE NORMALLY TO-INFINITIVE,

but after the verb LET, use of infinitive is without TO.
[Some verbs such as SEE, MAKE, LET take bare infinitive (infinitive
without TO) in the active voice; but except LET every other verb in the
passive takes TO-INFINITIVE.]

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1. We saw them go out.

= They were seen to go out.
2. He made us work.
= We were made to work.
3. They let us go.
= We were let go.

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ADVISE/BEG/ORDER/RECOMMEND/URGE+OBJECT+INFINITIVE form
their passives in two ways
By making the main verb in the passive or by ADVISE/BEG, etc+THAT ---SHOULD+PASSIVE INFINITIVE; e.g.
He urged the employers to increase the salary.
= The employers were urged to increase the salary.
OR He urged that the salary should be increased.

AGREE/BE ANXIOUS/BE DETERMINED/DETERMINE,

DEMAND+INFINITIVE+OBJECT are usually expressed in the passive by
VERB+THAT ---- SHOULD+PASSIVE INFINITIVE.

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They demanded to withdraw all troops.

= They demanded that all troops should be withdrawn.
GERUND RULES

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ADVISE/INSIST/PROPOSE/RECOMMEND/SUGGEST+GERUND+OBJECT
are usually expressed in the passive by THAT ---- SHOULD
He recommended using bullet-proof glass.
He recommended that bullet-proof glass should be used.

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VERBS+OBJECT+GERUND +OBJECT are expressed by

SUBJECT+VERB+PASSIVE GERUND

I remember them taking me to the zoo.

=I remember being taken to the zoo.

VERB+PASSIVE GERUND
I enjoyed taking the children to the garden.
= The children enjoyed being taken to the garden.
OR I enjoyed the children being taken to the garden.

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PASSIVE VERB+GERUND
1. They saw him climbing over the fence.
= He was seen climbing over the fence.
2. I saw him opening the box.
= He was seen opening the box.

It needs washing.
It needs to be washed.

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But IT/THEY+NEED+GERUND can be expressed by

IT/THEY+NEED+PASSIVE INFINITIVE

SUPPOSE IN THE PASSIVE

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1. It is your duty to know how to drive. OR You should know how to drive.
= You are supposed to know how to drive.
2. You should have finished your homework by now.
= You are supposed to have finished your homework by now.
3. People suppose that he escaped disguised as a woman.
= He is supposed to have escaped disguised as a woman.

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PASSIVE TO ACTIVE

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1. The telephone lines have been cut.

Someone has cut the telephone lines.
2. The 1972 Asian Games were held in Delhi, India.
= They held the 1972 Asian Games in Delhi, India.
3. Without effort nothing can be gained.
= Without effort one/we/you can gain nothing.
OR Without effort one/we/you cannot gain anything.
4. Why should I be suspected by you?
= Why should you suspect me?

TYPICAL QUESTIONS ON VOICES

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5. The information is kept on our computer.

= We keep the information on our computer.
6. My purse was lost.
= I lost my purse.
7. He was refused admittance.
= They refused him admittance.
8. Our army has been defeated.
= The enemy has defeated our army.
9. It is said that the thief stole several wallets.
= They say that the thief stole several wallets.
10. The pigeons are said to carry a lot of diseases.
= People think that the pigeons carry a lot of diseases.

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1. It is time to shut the shop.

= It is time for the shop to be shut.
2. We admire the brave.
The brave are admired.
3. You must endure what you cannot cure.
= What cannot be cured must be endured.
4. The king immediately gave orders that he should be imprisoned.
= Orders that he should be imprisoned were immediately given by the king.
5. He ordered the police to pursue the thief.
= The police were ordered to pursue the thief.
6. Stones should not be thrown by those who live in glass houses.
= Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
7. He will be greatly surprised if he is chosen.
= He will be greatly surprised if they choose him.
8. The ship was set on fire and abandoned by the crew.
= The crew set the ship on fire and abandoned it.
9. He was arrested on a charge of theft, but for lack of evidence he was released.
= The police arrested him on a charge of theft, but released him for lack of
evidence.
10. I feel people have taken advantage of me.
= I feel I have been taken advantage of.

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11. They say that he cheats.

= It is said that he cheats.
OR He is said to cheat.
12. They think that I am dying.
It is thought that I am dying.
OR I am thought to be dying.
13. They report that she has come back.
= It is reported that she has come back.
OR She is reported to have come back.
14. They say that she will resign.
= It is said that she will resign.
OR She is said to be going to resign.
15. We expect you to complete the project.
= You are expected to complete the project.
OR We expect the project to be completed.
OR The project is expected to be completed. (double passive)
16. We attempted to complete the project.
= The project was attempted to be completed.
17. He described the situation to me.
= The situation was described to me.
[The verb DESCRIBE cannot take two objects. So its wrong to say that
HE DESCRIBED ME THE SITUATION; so its passive cannot be I WAS
DESCRIBED THE SITUATION.]
18. In future, they wont bring letters to the house, and we shall have to collect them
from the post office.

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= In future, letters wont be brought to the house, and they will have to be
collected from the post office.
19. We kill and injure many people on the road every day. Cant we do something
about this?
= Many people are killed and injured on the road every day. Cant something be
done about this?
20. Dogs guard the warehouse. The other day a thief tried to get in and a dog saw him
and chased him.
= The warehouse is guarded by dogs. The other day a thief who tried to get in was
seen by a dog and chased.

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21. He recommends fitting new tyres.

= He recommends that new tyres should be fitted.
22. Macbeth hoped to succeed Duncan.
It was hoped by Macbeth that he would succeed Duncan.
23. Rajat pretended to be a baron.
= It was pretended by Rajat that he was a baron.
24. India expected to win the match.
= It was expected by India that they would win the match.
25. Men with slide rules used to do these calculations; now a computer does them.
= These calculations used to be done by men; now they are done by a computer.
26. The hall porter polishes the knockers of all the flats every day. Well, he hasnt
polished mine for a week.
= The knockers of all the flats are polished every day; mine hasnt been polished.
27. We need not type this letter.
= This letter need not be typed.
28. You mustnt move this man; he is too ill. Youll have to leave him here.
= This man mustnt be moved; he is too ill. He will have to be left out.
OR This man mustnt be moved; he is too ill to be moved. He will have to be left
out.
29. Nobody has used this room for ages.
= This room has not been used for ages.
30. They say he is a spy.
= He is said to be a spy.
OR It is said that he is a spy.
31. They say he was a spy.

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= He is said to have been a spy.

OR It is said that he was a spy.
32. You are supposed to obey him.
= It is your duty to obey him.
33. Get someone to mend it.
= Have it mended.
34. We added up the money and found that it was correct.
= The money was added up and found to be correct.
35. Im employing a man to tile the bathroom.
= Im having the bathroom tiled.

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36. People know that he is armed.

= He is known to be armed.
37. We know that you were in town on the night of the crime.
= You are known to have been in town on the night of the crime.
38. We believe that he has special knowledge which may be useful to the police.
= He is believed to have special knowledge which may be useful to the police
OR It is believed that he has special knowledge which may be useful to the police
39. Its a little too loose; you had better ask your tailor to take it in.
= Its a little too loose; you had better have it taken in.
OR Its a little too loose; your tailor had better been asked to take it in.
40. He likes people to call him sir.
= He likes to be called sir.
41. Dont touch this switch.
= Let this switch not be touched.
OR This switch isnt to be touched.
OR This switch mustnt be touched.
42. You will have to get someone to see to it.
= You will have to have it to be seen to.
OR You will have to get it to be seen to.
OR It will have to be seen to.
43. It is impossible to do this.
= This cant be done.
44. You have to see it to believe it.
= It has to be seen to be believed.
45. You order me about and I am tired of it.

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= I am tired of being ordered about.

46. He doesnt like people laughing at him.
= He doesnt like being laughed at.
47. You dont need to wind this watch.
= This watch neednt be wound.
OR This watch doesnt need to be wounded.
48. They are to send letters to the leaders of charitable organizations.
= Letters are to be sent to the leaders of charitable organizations.
49. We dont allow smoking.
Smoking is not allowed.

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50. It is time to stop writing.

It is time for writing to be stopped.
51. No one can do anything unless someone gives us accurate information.
= Nothing can be done unless we are given accurate information.
52. One must do one's duty.
= Duty must be done
[When the subject of the active (here ONE) is not mentioned in passive, its
possessive pronoun (here ONE's) also not to be used.]
53. The officer wants his subordinates to obey him..
= The officer wants to be obeyed by his subordinates.
54. He wants that he should be treated as king.
= He wants to be treated as king.
55. His reply shocked me.
I was shocked at his reply.