Active Voice and Passive Voice

Examples:

• The letter was written by Maya.
• The ball was chased by the dog.
• A new product was launched by the company.
• The lesson was explained by the teacher.

In each sentence, the subject (the letter, the ball, a new product, the lesson) receives the action.

Difference Between Active and Passive Voice

A side-by-side comparison of the two voices will give you a clear understanding and effective use of the Active and passive voices. Do not confuse active and passive voice with direct and indirect speech.

Rules to be Followed When Converting the Active Voice to the Passive Voice

To convert any active sentence into passive voice, use this structure:

Object + appropriate form of "be" + Past Participle (V3) + by + Subject

Five core rules:

1. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
2. The subject becomes the agent after "by" — and is dropped when unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
3. The main verb changes to its past participle (V3), preceded by the matching form of "be".
4. The tense never changes — only the verb form does.
5. Pronouns shift: I → me, we → us, he → him, she → her, they → them, who → whom.

Active and Passive Voice Rules for All 12 Tenses

The formula stays the same; only the "be" verb shifts with the tense.

Note: The three perfect continuous tenses and future continuous are not normally used in the passive — the structure becomes awkward. Rephrase in a different tense instead.

100+ Examples of Active and Passive Voice (By Tense)

Each pair below shows the active sentence on the left and its passive form on the right, grouped by tense.

Simple Present Tense 

Simple Past Tense 

Simple Future Tense 

Present Continuous Tense 

Past Continuous Tense 

Present Perfect Tense

Past Perfect Tense 

Future Perfect Tense 

Modal Verbs

With modals (can, could, may, might, should, must, ought to, have to), the structure is: Object + modal + be + V3 + by + Subject.

Imperative Sentences 

Imperatives use "Let + object + be + V3" or "You are requested to + V1".

Interrogative Sentences 

Keep the question word or auxiliary at the front, then apply passive structure.

How to Change Active Voice to Passive Voice

Worked example: The chef cooked the meal.

Step 1 — Identify subject, verb, and object. Chef / cooked / meal.

Step 2 — Move the object to the subject position. The meal …

Step 3 — Match the form of "be" to the tense. Simple past, singular → was.

Step 4 — Add the past participle (V3). The meal was cooked …

Step 5 — Add "by" + the original subject (or drop it). The meal was cooked by the chef.

When to Use Active vs Passive Voice

Use active voice when:

• You want clarity, directness, and energy.
• The doer of the action is important.
• You're writing emails, blog posts, instructions, or stories.

Use passive voice when:

• The doer is unknown — My phone was stolen.
• The doer is obvious or irrelevant — English is spoken here.
• You want to emphasise the action or receiver — The patient was rushed to surgery.
• You're writing scientific reports, news, or legal text — The sample was tested at 37°C.

Mix both in academic and journalistic writing. Overusing passive feels detached; overusing active in technical writing sounds informal.

Active and Passive Voice Worksheet

Convert each active sentence into the passive voice. Try them yourself, then check the answers.

1. The dog chased the cat.
2. She is writing a story.
3. They have completed the task.
4. He will deliver the parcel tomorrow.
5. The students respect their teacher.
6. Mother baked the cake.
7. Workers are repairing the road.
8. The thief had stolen my watch.
9. She must finish the assignment.
10. Open the gate.

Answers:

1. The cat was chased by the dog.
2. A story is being written by her.
3. The task has been completed by them.
4. The parcel will be delivered by him tomorrow.
5. The teacher is respected by the students.
6. The cake was baked by mother.
7. The road is being repaired by workers.
8. My watch had been stolen by the thief.
9. The assignment must be finished by her.
10. Let the gate be opened.

Conclusion

Active and passive voice are essential grammar concepts that help you communicate with clarity and precision. By understanding their rules, structures, and tense changes, you can choose the right voice for any situation and write more effectively. 

For more grammar guides and learning resources, explore the educational content from Sunbeam World School, helping students build strong English language skills for academic success.