Active Voice to Passive Voice : Changing rules and Practice

 Active Voice to Passive Voice : Changing rules and Practice

Below is a complete and simple guide to change an Active Voice sentence into Passive Voice, specially written for elementary-level ESL students, using Indian names and context.

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1. What is Active Voice?

In Active Voice, the subject does the action.

Structure:

Subject + Verb + Object

Examples:

• Ravi eats an apple.

• Sita writes a letter.

• The teacher explains the lesson.

Here, Ravi, Sita, the teacher are doing the action.

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2. What is Passive Voice?

In Passive Voice, the action is done to the subject.

Structure:

Object + helping verb + past participle (V³) + by + subject

Examples:

• An apple is eaten by Ravi.

• A letter is written by Sita.

• The lesson is explained by the teacher.

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3. Basic Steps to Change Active into Passive

Follow these 5 simple steps:

Step 1: Find the Object

Look for what receives the action.

• Ravi eats an apple.
  Object = an apple

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Step 2: Make the Object the New Subject

• An apple becomes the subject.

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Step 3: Choose the Correct Helping Verb

Use am / is / are / was / were / has been / had been / will be
(according to tense and number)

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Step 4: Change the Main Verb into Past Participle (V³)

• eat → eaten

• write → written

• clean → cleaned

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Step 5: Add “by + subject” (optional)

• by Ravi

• by Sita

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4. Examples (Present Tense)

Simple Present

Active:

• Ramesh plays cricket.

Passive:

• Cricket is played by Ramesh.

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Present Continuous

Active:

• Meena is cooking food.

Passive:

• Food is being cooked by Meena.

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Present Perfect

Active:

• The boy has broken the window.

Passive:

• The window has been broken by the boy.

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5. Examples (Past Tense)

Simple Past

Active:

• The farmer grew rice.

Passive:

• Rice was grown by the farmer.

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Past Continuous

Active:

• The workers were building the road.

Passive:

• The road was being built by the workers.

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Past Perfect

Active:

• Rani had completed the work.

Passive:

• The work had been completed by Rani.

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6. Examples (Future Tense)

Simple Future

Active:

• They will paint the house.

Passive:

• The house will be painted by them.

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7. Changing Pronouns

Active	Passive
I	me
we	us
he	him
she	her
they	them
you	you

Example:

• He helped me.

• I was helped by him.

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8. When “by” is NOT needed

If the doer is unknown or unimportant, we remove by + subject.

Examples:

• My bag was stolen.

• The road is being repaired.

• English is spoken in India.

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9. Sentences That Cannot Be Changed

Sentences without an object cannot be changed.

Examples:

• The baby sleeps.

• He laughs.

(No object → No passive voice)

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10. Quick Formula Chart

Tense	Passive Form
Simple Present	am / is / are + V³
Present Continuous	am / is / are + being + V³
Present Perfect	has / have + been + V³
Simple Past	was / were + V³
Past Continuous	was / were + being + V³
Past Perfect	had + been + V³
Simple Future	will + be + V³

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11. Easy Practice Examples

Change into Passive Voice:

1. Sunita cleans the room.

2. The postman delivered the letter.

3. The students are writing the exam.

4. The carpenter will make a table.

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12. Simple Tip for Students

• Active Voice → Who does the work

• Passive Voice → What happens to the work

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Below is a simple and complete guide on changing Interrogative and Imperative sentences into Passive Voice, written for elementary-level ESL students, using Indian names and daily-life examples.

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A. INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

(Questions → Passive Voice)

1. What is an Interrogative Sentence?

An interrogative sentence asks a question.

Examples:

• Does Ravi play cricket?

• Did Sita write the letter?

• Is the teacher explaining the lesson?

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2. Basic Rule (Interrogative → Passive)

Active Structure:

Helping verb + Subject + Verb + Object?

Passive Structure:

Helping verb + Object + been / being (if needed) + V³ + by + Subject?

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3. Steps to Change Interrogative into Passive

Step 1: Find the object

• Did Rani clean the room?

Step 2: Make the object the subject

• The room

Step 3: Keep the question form

Helping verb comes at the beginning

Step 4: Use correct helping verb + V³

clean → cleaned

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4. Examples (Present Tense)

Simple Present

Active:

• Does Mohan read the newspaper?

Passive:

• Is the newspaper read by Mohan?

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Present Continuous

Active:

• Is Meena cooking the food?

Passive:

• Is the food being cooked by Meena?

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Present Perfect

Active:

• Has the boy broken the glass?

Passive:

• Has the glass been broken by the boy?

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5. Examples (Past Tense)

Simple Past

Active:

• Did the farmer grow rice?

Passive:

• Was rice grown by the farmer?

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Past Continuous

Active:

• Were the workers repairing the road?

Passive:

• Was the road being repaired by the workers?

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Past Perfect

Active:

• Had Raju completed the work?

Passive:

• Had the work been completed by Raju?

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6. Examples (Future Tense)

Simple Future

Active:

• Will they build the bridge?

Passive:

• Will the bridge be built by them?

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7. WH-Questions to Passive

Who → by whom

Active:

• Who wrote this letter?

Passive:

• By whom was this letter written?

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What / Which / Where (remain same)

Active:

• What did the teacher explain?

Passive:

• What was explained by the teacher?

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B. IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

(Orders / Requests → Passive Voice)

1. What is an Imperative Sentence?

An imperative sentence gives an order, advice, or request.

Examples:

• Open the door.

• Clean the room.

• Please help the poor.

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2. Basic Rule (Imperative → Passive)

Active Structure:

Verb + Object

Passive Structure:

Let + object + be + V³

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3. Steps to Change Imperative into Passive

Step 1: Find the object

• Close the window.

Step 2: Use “Let”

• Let the window

Step 3: Add “be + V³”

close → closed

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4. Examples (Simple Commands)

Active:

• Shut the door.

Passive:

• Let the door be shut.

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Active:

• Write the answers.

Passive:

• Let the answers be written.

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5. Negative Imperatives

Active:

• Do not touch the wire.

Passive:

• Let the wire not be touched.

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Active:

• Don’t waste water.

Passive:

• Let water not be wasted.

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6. Polite Requests

Active:

• Please give me water.

Passive:

• You are requested to give me water.

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Active:

• Kindly follow the rules.

Passive:

• You are requested to follow the rules.

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7. Advice / Instructions

Active:

• Take the medicine daily.

Passive:

• You are advised to take the medicine daily.

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8. Important Notes

1. Subject “you” is hidden in imperative sentences

2. “By you” is usually not used

3. Use Let + object + be + V³ for commands

4. Use requested / advised / ordered for polite forms

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9. Practice for Students

Change into Passive Voice:

Interrogatives

1. Did Anil complete the homework?

2. Is the teacher correcting the papers?

3. Who painted this picture?

Imperatives

4. Clean the classroom.

5. Do not pluck the flowers.

6. Please help the old man.

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10. Easy Memory Tip

• Question → Keep question form

• Order → Use “Let … be”

• Who → Change to “By whom”

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PRACTICE THESE QUESTIONS

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A. Declarative (Statements) – 1 to 30

1. Ravi writes a letter.

2. Sita cleans the room.

3. The teacher explains the lesson.

4. Ramesh plays cricket.

5. The farmer grows rice.

6. Meena cooks food.

7. The boy breaks the glass.

8. Sunita waters the plants.

9. The carpenter makes a table.

10. The doctor treats the patient.

11. The students read the lesson.

12. The postman delivers the letter.

13. The mother prepares breakfast.

14. The shopkeeper sells fruits.

15. The police catch the thief.

16. The painter paints the wall.

17. Anil opens the door.

18. The girl sings a song.

19. The workers repair the road.

20. The driver drives the bus.

21. Rani has finished the work.

22. The children are playing the game.

23. The mason was building the house.

24. Mohan bought a new cycle.

25. The boy had completed the task.

26. They will construct a bridge.

27. The teacher has corrected the papers.

28. The students were writing the exam.

29. The nurse gave medicine to the patient.

30. The gardener is cutting the grass.

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B. Interrogative (Questions) – 31 to 40

31. Does Ravi read the newspaper?

32. Is Meena cooking the food?

33. Did the farmer grow rice?

34. Has Sita written the letter?

35. Are the students cleaning the classroom?

36. Was the carpenter making the table?

37. Will they paint the house?

38. Had Raju completed the work?

39. Who wrote this story?

40. What did the teacher explain?

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C. Imperative (Commands / Requests) – 41 to 50

41. Open the window.

42. Close the door.

43. Clean the classroom.

44. Write the answers neatly.

45. Do not waste water.

46. Switch off the fan.

47. Bring the chalk.

48. Please help the poor.

49. Do not pluck the flowers.

50. Follow the school rules.

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Instruction for Students:

👉 Change each Active Voice sentence into Passive Voice.
👉 Use correct helping verbs and past participle (V³).

Below are the ANSWERS.
All Active Voice sentences are changed into Passive Voice, in simple English, suitable for elementary ESL students.

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A. Declarative (Statements) – Answers (1–30)

1. A letter is written by Ravi.

2. The room is cleaned by Sita.

3. The lesson is explained by the teacher.

4. Cricket is played by Ramesh.

5. Rice is grown by the farmer.

6. Food is cooked by Meena.

7. The glass is broken by the boy.

8. The plants are watered by Sunita.

9. A table is made by the carpenter.

10. The patient is treated by the doctor.

11. The lesson is read by the students.

12. The letter is delivered by the postman.

13. Breakfast is prepared by the mother.

14. Fruits are sold by the shopkeeper.

15. The thief is caught by the police.

16. The wall is painted by the painter.

17. The door is opened by Anil.

18. A song is sung by the girl.

19. The road is repaired by the workers.

20. The bus is driven by the driver.

21. The work has been finished by Rani.

22. The game is being played by the children.

23. The house was being built by the mason.

24. A new cycle was bought by Mohan.

25. The task had been completed by the boy.

26. A bridge will be constructed by them.

27. The papers have been corrected by the teacher.

28. The exam was being written by the students.

29. Medicine was given to the patient by the nurse.

30. The grass is being cut by the gardener.

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B. Interrogative (Questions) – Answers (31–40)

31. Is the newspaper read by Ravi?

32. Is the food being cooked by Meena?

33. Was rice grown by the farmer?

34. Has the letter been written by Sita?

35. Is the classroom being cleaned by the students?

36. Was the table being made by the carpenter?

37. Will the house be painted by them?

38. Had the work been completed by Raju?

39. By whom was this story written?

40. What was explained by the teacher?

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C. Imperative (Commands / Requests) – Answers (41–50)

41. Let the window be opened.

42. Let the door be closed.

43. Let the classroom be cleaned.

44. Let the answers be written neatly.

45. Let water not be wasted.

46. Let the fan be switched off.

47. Let the chalk be brought.

48. You are requested to help the poor.

49. Let the flowers not be plucked.

50. Let the school rules be followed.