Using Active and
Passive Voice
Grade 8/SMP2
Would you rather?
Watch Lebron play basketball or
some random person sitting in the
stands?
Verbs and Voice
Voice is the form a verb
takes to indicate
whether the subject of
the verb performs or
receives the action.
There are two types of
voice: active voice and
passive voice.
Active Voice
Active voice is used to show that the
subject of the sentence is performing
or causing the action.
Example:
Lebron threw the basketball before
the buzzer.
Lebron shot the basketball from the
free throw line.
Lebron scored three points.
Passive Voice
Passive voice is used when the subject
is the recipient of the action.
Example:
The ball was thrown by Lebron.
The basket was shot by Lebron.
The score was made by Lebron.
Why does it matter?
STRONG
WRITING USES
ACTIVE VOICE!!!!
Why does it matter?
Active voice is more direct and concise.
Passive voice is usually wordier.
Active voice is like watching Lebron
play.
Passive voice is like watching gum
stuck on the bleachers in the stands.
MOST OF THE TIME, YOU WANT TO USE
ACTIVE VOICE!!!!
When would you WANT to use
passive voice?
When intentionally trying to hide the subject of the
sentence.
For example, a politician might say, “The mistake was
made by someone.” Hiding the subject helps him/her
hide the blame.
When intentionally trying to minimize the guilt of the
subject.
For example, a cheating boyfriend might say, “Cheating
was committed by me.”
When passive voice better emphasizes the main point of
the message, such as “Children were harmed by the
drunk driver.”
Rule #1
Identify the (S+V+O) Subject, Verb and object
in the active sentence to convert to passive
voice.
Example: He drives car. (Subject – He, verb –
Drives, object – Car)
Rule #2
Interchange the object and subject with each other,
i.e., object of the active sentence become the
subject of the passive sentence.
Example: Active voice: She knits sweater. (Subject –
She, Verb – Knits, Object – Sweater)
Passive Voice: The sweater is knitted by her. (Object
sweater is interchanged with the subject She).
Rule #3
In passive voice sometimes the subject is
not used, i.e., the subject in passive voice
can be omitted if the sentence without it
gives enough meaning.
Example: Milk is sold in litres
Rule #4
Change the base verb in the active sentence into the past
participle i.e., third form verb in a passive sentence i.e.,
preceded by (By, With, to, etc). Base verbs are never used in
passive voice sentences.
Example: Active voice: She prepares dinner.
Passive voice: The dinner is prepared by her.
Active voice: She knows him.
Passive voice: He is known to her.
Active voice: Juice fills the jar.
Passive voice: The jar is filled with juice.
Rule #5
While conversion of Active voice sentence to Passive voice
sentence, the pronoun used in the sentence also changes
in the following manner.
Active Voice Pronoun Passive Voice Pronoun
I Me
We Us
He Him
She Her
They Them
You You
It It
Rule #6
Use the suitable helping or auxiliary verb (is/am/are/was, etc.). The
rules for using auxiliary verbs in passive voice sentences are
different for each tense.
Example:
● The letter is written by her.
● A book was not bought by her.
● Chocolates are being eaten by them
Simple Present Tense
Active Sentences Passive Sentences
base form or “-s/-es” form am/is/are + past participle
He writes an essay. An essay is written by him.
She cares for the rabbit. The rabbit is being cared for by her.
All humans are equal. All humans are created equal.
Present Continuous Tense
Active Sentences Passive Sentences
am/is/are + -ing am/is/are + being + -ed/-
en
They are eating bananas The bananas are being eaten
by them
She is waiting for Reema Reema is being waited for by
her
Samta is playing the piano A piano is being played by
Samta
Present Perfect Tense
Active Sentences Passive Sentences
has/have + -ed/-en has/have + been + -ed/-en
Has he done the work? Has the work been done by
him?
He created this masterpiece This masterpiece is created by
him
Simple Past
Active base + -ed or irregular Passive was/were + -ed/-en
form
On my fifteenth birthday, my The money was given to me to
uncle gave me one hundred buy new clothes
dollars
Ria paid the bills The bills were paid by Ria
She did not buy the fruits The fruits were not bought by her
Past Continuous Tense
Active was/were + -ing Passive was/were + being +
-ed/-en
They were waiting for him He was being waited for by them
Astha was learning French French was being learnt by Astha
Past Perfect Tense
Active had + -ed/-en Passive had + been + -ed/-en
She won the match The match had been won by her
I had finished her work Her work had been finished by me
He had missed the last metro The last metro had been missed
by him
Past Perfect Progressive
Active had + been + -ing Passive had + been + being +
-ed/-en
Simple Future Tense
Active will + base Passive will + be + -ed/-en
am/is/are going to + base am/is/are + going to be + -ed/-
en
Future Perfect Tense
Active will + have + -ed/-en Passive will + have + been + -
ed/en
Meena will not have changed the The bed sheet will not have been
bedsheet changed by Meena
They will have won the match The match will have been won by
them
Reena will have washed the skirt The skirt will have been washed
by Reena
Let’s Practice
Label the following sentences ACTIVE or PASSIVE.
1. Louise made the chocolate cake.
2. The chocolate cake was made by Louise.
3. The package was advertised by the travel agent.
4. The travel agent advertised the package.
5. The chain was broken by my brother.
6. My brother broke the chain on my bike.
7. I hemmed the prom dress.
8. The prom dress was hemmed by me.
9. The pencil on the floor was broken by him.
10.He broke the pencil on the floor.
Let’s Practice
Directions: Change the sentences below to
the active voice.
1. Never disobey your elders
2. You are asked not to disobey your elders.
3. You are ordered not to disobey your elders.
4. Do not disobey your elders.
5. You are not to disobey your elders.
Rewrite the following paragraph
in the active voice.
Last summer our house was painted by me.
First, the exterior was washed using warm water
and a mild detergent. Then all of the chinks in
the walls were sealed with putty. After the
putty had had a chance to dry, the exterior
could be painted. A latex paint was used
because it is easy to apply and cleans up with
water. A whole week was needed to finish this
part of the job. A color was used that was very
close to the original color. When the job was
finished, a great deal of satisfaction was felt by
me. Even my dad said that a good job was
done.
