Active and Passive Voice

​Active and Passive Voice

Prepared by Melissa Hilary, Assistant Professor, Department of English, St. Xavier's college.​

A verb is said to be in active voice when the subject performs the verb.

Examples:​

Rama killed Ravana.

I like icecream.

Cows eat grass​

​

​Active Voice: Subject + verb + Object

Passive Voice: Object + be form + Past participle of the verb (v3) + by + Subject

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.​

It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action. (It is okay if you don't mention the subject).

Examples

Ravana was killed by Rama

Grass is eaten by Cow

​

Subject | Subject

Multiple Choice

Ravana was killed by Ravana

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

The thief stole the purse

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

The work has been completed by them

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

He writes poems

• Active

• Passive

Poems are written by him.

Guitar is played by Sarah.

Hari is helped by John.

Juliet is loved by Romeo.​

​Passive

He writes poems.​

Sarah plays guitar.

John helps Hari

Romeo loves Juliet.​

​Active

Simple Present tense -

Object + is/am/are + past participle + by + Subject

Multiple Choice

Sita bakes cakes

• Cakes are baked by Sita

• Cakes are being baked by Sita

• Cake is baked by Sita

Multiple Choice

They speak English

• English is spoken by them

• English are spoken by them

• They are spoken by English

Multiple Choice

People play football all over the world

• Football is played all over the world (by people)

• Football are played all over the world

Multiple Choice

You like me

• I am liked by you

• You are liked by me

• I are liked by you

A song is being sung by him.

Pubg is being played by Sarah.

Hari is being helped by John.

A cake is being made by them​

PASSIVE

He is singing a song.

Sarah is playing Pubg.

​John is helping Hari

The are making a cake.

ACTIVE

Present Continuous tense -

Object + is/am/are + being + past participle + by +  Subject

Multiple Choice

Active: She is making cakes

Passive: Cakes .............. made by her.

• is being

• are being

• am being

Multiple Choice

Active: The children are playing football

Passive: Football ................by children

• is being played

• are being played

• is played

Multiple Choice

The boy is climbing a wall.

• A wall is being climbed by the boy

• A wall is climbed by the boy

• A boy is being climbed by the wall.

A song has been sung by him.

Pubg has been played by Sarah.

Hari has been helped by John.

A cake has been made by them.​

PASSIVE

He has sung a song.

Sarah has played Pubg.

John has helped Hari

They have made a cake.

​

ACTIVE

​Present Perfect tense -

Object + have/has + been + past participle + by + Subject

Multiple Choice

Active: My cousin has drawn these pictures.

Passive: These pictures .......................... by my cousin

• have been drawn

• has been drawn

• are been drawn

Multiple Choice

I have sold my bicycle.

• My bicycle has been sold by me

• My bicycle have been sold be me.

• My bicycle is being sold by me

Multiple Choice

Active: We have done the homework.

Passive: The homework .................. by us

• has been done

• has done

• have been done