Active Voice and Passive Voice

 Active Voice  and Passive Voice

The structure of active and passive voice sentences using the

[S+V+O (Subject + Verb + Object) format for active voice] and

[O+V+S (Object + Verb + Subject) format for passive voice].

This format should help you understand the transformation of

active voice sentences (S+V+O) into passive voice sentences (O+V+S).

Active voice:

S        +   V       +     O

 (Subject   +   Verb    +  Object)

Passive Voice:

      O    +      V    +   S 

(Object  +    Verb   +  Subject) 

Present Simple

• Active: Subject + Verb + Object

• Example: She (S) writes (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object    +    Verb    +    Subject

• Example: A letter (O) is written (V) by her (S).

• A letter is written by hes.

Present Continuous

• Active: Subject + is/am/are + Verb-ing + Object

• Example: She (S) is writing (V-ing) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object   +   is/am/are + being + Past Participle    +   by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) is being written (V) by her (S).

• A letter is being written by her.

Present Perfect

• Active: Subject + has/have + Past Participle + Object

• Example: She (S) has written (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object   +   has/have + been + Past Participle   +   by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) has been written (V) by her (S).

• A letter has been written by her.

Past Simple

• Active: Subject + Past Verb + Object

• Example: She (S) wrote (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object     +    was/were + Past Participle    +    by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) was written (V) by her (S).

• A letter was written by her.

Past Continuous

• Active: Subject + was/were + Verb-ing + Object

• Example: She (S) was writing (V-ing) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object      +       was/were + being + Past Participle     + by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) was being written (V) by her (S).

• A letter was being written by hes.

Past Perfect

• Active: Subject + had + Past Participle + Object

• Example: She (S) had written (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object     +     had + been + Past Participle      +   by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) had been written (V) by her (S).

• A letter had been written by her.

Future Simple

• Active: Subject + will + Base Verb + Object

• Example: She (S) will write (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object     +     will + be + Past Participle     +     by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) will be written (V) by her (S).

• A letter will be written by her.

Future Perfect

• Active: Subject + will + have + Past Participle + Object

• Example: She (S) will have written (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object    +  will + have + been + Past Participle   +  by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) will have been written (V) by her (S).

• A letter will have been written by her.

Modal Verbs

Can

• Active: Subject + can + Base Verb + Object

• Example: She (S) can write (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object     +    can + be + Past Participle   +  by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) can be written (V) by her (S).

• A letter can be written by her.

Should

• Active: Subject + should + Base Verb + Object

• Example: She (S) should write (V) a letter (O).

• Passive: Object    +    should + be + Past Participle    +    by Subject

• Example: A letter (O) should be written (V) by her (S).

• A letter should be written by her.

More Sentences of Active and Passive

Present Simple

• Active: The chef (S) cooks (V) the meal (O).

• Passive: The meal (O) is cooked (V) by the chef (S).

Present Continuous

• Active: The children (S) are playing (V) games (O).

• Passive: Games (O) are being played (V) by the children (S).

Present Perfect

• Active: The artist (S) has painted (V) a portrait (O).

• Passive: A portrait (O) has been painted (V) by the artist (S).

Past Simple

• Active: The teacher (S) explained (V) the lesson (O).

• Passive: The lesson (O) was explained (V) by the teacher (S).

Past Continuous

• Active: The cat (S) was chasing (V) the mouse (O).

• Passive: The mouse (O) was being chased (V) by the cat (S).

Past Perfect

• Active: The author (S) had written (V) the book (O).

• Passive: The book (O) had been written (V) by the author (S).

Future Simple

• Active: The company (S) will launch (V) a new product (O).

• Passive: A new product (O) will be launched (V) by the company (S).

Future Perfect

• Active: The team (S) will have completed (V) the project (O).

• Passive: The project (O) will have been completed (V) by the team (S).

Modal Verbs

Can

• Active: The engineer (S) can fix (V) the machine (O).

• Passive: The machine (O) can be fixed (V) by the engineer (S).

Should

• Active: The manager (S) should review (V) the report (O).

• Passive: The report (O) should be reviewed (V) by the manager (S).

All Model Verbs Active Voice and Passive Voice

Can:

• Active: She can solve the problem.

• Passive: The problem can be solved by her.

Could:

• Active: He could finish the task by tomorrow.

• Passive: The task could be finished by tomorrow.

May:

• Active: They may announce the results soon.

• Passive: The results may be announced soon.

Might:

• Active: She might attend the meeting.

• Passive: The meeting might be attended by her.

Must:

• Active: You must follow the rules.

• Passive: The rules must be followed by you.

Shall:

• Active: We shall discuss the matter later.

• Passive: The matter shall be discussed later.

Should:

• Active: He should complete the assignment.

• Passive: The assignment should be completed by him.

Will:

• Active: She will present the report.

• Passive: The report will be presented by her.

Would:

• Active: They would appreciate your help.

• Passive: Your help would be appreciated by them.

Ought to:

• Active: You ought to check the information.

• Passive: The information ought to be checked by you.