Active and Passive Voice: Difference, Rules & Examples

Understanding Active and Passive Voice: A Simple Guide

Table of contents

1. Introduction to Active and Passive Voice

2. Rules for changing the voice from active to passive

3. Advantages and Disadvantages

4. When to Use Active Voice vs. Passive Voice?

5. Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice Effectively

6. Conclusion

7. FAQs

1. Introduction to Active and Passive Voice

Have you ever wondered why sentences sound different even when they convey the same message? That's where active and passive voice come into play. Understanding the difference between these two can greatly enhance your writing skills and make your communication clearer and more effective.  
In English grammar, there are two types of voices active and passive.

1. Active voice
2. Passive voice

1.1 What is Active Voice?

Active voice is a sentence construction where the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. It is direct, concise, and often preferred in most types of writing. In active voice sentences, the subject is the "doer" of the action.

In active voice importance is given to the subject.

e. g. John plays football.  
In the above example “John” is a doer of an action “Play”, Hence “John” is a subject, and the action of playing is done on football therefore “Football” is an object. Importance is given to the subject "John".

1.2 What is Passive Voice?

Passive voice, on the other hand, is a sentence construction where the subject is the recipient of the action. In passive voice sentences, the subject is not the "doer" of the action but rather the one being acted upon. While passive voice has its uses, it can sometimes make sentences less clear and engaging.

In passive voice importance is given to the object.

e. g. Football is played by John.

In the above example, Importance is given to the object “Football”. 

In both the voices meaning of the sentence does not change only the structure of the sentence changes.

Remember,

• Voice of only transitive verbs can be changed.
• Voice of intransitive verbs cannot be changed.

2. Rules for changing the voice from active to passive:

1. No object no passive
2. Object becomes subject
3. Use helping verb according to tense (see the table)
4. Use V3 (Past Participle) after the helping verb
5. Subject comes with “by” in objective case (Sometimes “to/with” is used instead of “by”)

Active	Passive
Simple Present Tense	am/is/are + V3
Simple Past Tense	was/were + V3
Simple Future Tense	will be + V3
Present Continuous Tense	am/is/are + being + V3
Past Continuous Tense	was/were + being + V3
Present Perfect Tense	have/has + been + V3
Past Perfect Tense	had + been + V3
Future Perfect Tense	will have + been + V3
Modal Auxiliaries (Can, Could, May, Might, Shall, Should, Will, Would, etc.)	Modal Auxiliary + be + V3
going to (Future)	am/is/are + going to + be + V3

Remember,

• Voices of Future Continuous Tense and all Perfect Continuous Tenses cannot be changed.
• It is not necessary that we always use “by” sometimes “to/with” can be used.

For example:

• They know English.(Active)
• English is known to them.(Passive)

• Snow covered the mountains. (Active)
• The mountains were covered with snow. (Passive)

2.1 Tenses in Active and Passive Voice 

Understanding how tenses work in active and passive voice is essential. Let's look at how to form sentences in different tenses for both voices. Here are some examples:

1. Present Simple 

• Active Voice: The chef cooks the meal.
• Passive Voice: The meal is cooked by the chef.

2. Past Simple 

• Active Voice: The teacher taught the lesson.
• Passive Voice: The lesson was taught by the teacher.

3. Future Simple

• Active Voice: The team will win the match.
• Passive Voice: The match will be won by the team.

4. Present Continuous 

• Active Voice: She is writing a letter.
• Passive Voice: A letter is being written by her.

5. Past Continuous 

• Active Voice: The kids were playing a game.
• Passive Voice: A game was being played by the kids.

6. Present Perfect 

• Active Voice: They have completed the project.
• Passive Voice: The project has been completed by them.

7. Past Perfect 

• Active Voice: She had finished the book.
• Passive Voice: The book had been finished by her.

8. Future Perfect

• Active Voice: We will have finished our dinner by 8.
• Passive Voice: Our dinner will have been finished by 8.

9. Modal Auxiliaries

• Active Voice: No one can convince him.
• Passive Voice: He cannot be convinced. OR
• Passive Voice: He can be convinced by no one.

2.2 Types of Sentences in Active and Passive Voice 

Let's explore how active and passive voice work in different types of sentences.

1. Declarative Sentences 

• Active Voice: The manager approved the plan.
• Passive Voice: The plan was approved by the manager.

2. Interrogative Sentences 

• Active Voice: Did the scientist discover a new element?
• Passive Voice: Was a new element discovered by the scientist?

• Active Voice: What are you doing?
• Passive Voice:What is being done by you?

3. Imperative Sentences 

• Active Voice: Please open the window.
• Passive Voice: Let the window be opened.

4. Exclamatory Sentences 

• Active Voice: May God bless you with health!
• Passive Voice: May you be blessed with good health!

Note: Not all imperative and exclamatory sentences can be easily converted to passive voice, as passive constructions are more common in declarative and interrogative sentences.

2.3 What if there are two objects (Direct & Indirect)

It is grammatically correct either you choose the direct or indirect object. But, preference should be given to the object which denotes the person.

Example 1:  

• Active Voice: The teacher gave the students homework.

• Passive Voice: The students were given homework by the teacher. (Indirect Object)
• Passive Voice: The homework was given to the students by the teacher. (Direct Object)

Example 2:

• Active Voice: Who gave him this gift?  (Subject=Who; Indirect Object=him; Direct Object=this gift)

• Passive Voice: By whom was he given this gift? OR
• Passive Voice: Who was he given this gift by? OR
• Passive Voice: By whom this gift was given to him? OR
• Passive Voice: Who was this gift given to him by?

2.4 When to omit "by"

If the subject is in general case (Someone, a person, one, they, you, people, etc.).

• Active Voice: Someone stole my briefcase.
• Passive Voice: My briefcase was stolen.

2.5 How to change voice of sentences of "Let"

• Active Voice: Let me polish my shoes.
• Passive Voice: Let my shoes be polished.

2.6 Verbs: like, love, want, wish

• Active Voice: I want someone to clean this whole system.
• Passive Voice: I want this whole system to be cleaned.

(In the above example Subject=someone; Infinitive=to clean; Object of infinitive=this whole system)

2.7 To Infinitive

• Active Voice: I want them to play the match.
• Passive Voice: I wanted the match to be played.

2.8. Gerund

• Active Voice: They left without playing the match.
• Passive Voice: They left without the mach being played.

2.9. Suggestion or Order (Imperative Sentences)

• Active Voice: Don't smoke here.
• Passive Voice: You are requested not to smoke here.

• Active Voice: Keep quiet.
• Passive Voice: You are ordered to keep quiet.

• Active Voice: Behave yourself.
• Passive Voice: You are warned to behave yourself.

2.10 Reporting verbs

• Active Voice: They say that elephants have good memory.
• Passive Voice: It is said that elephants have good memory. OR
• Passive Voice: Elephants are said to have good memory.

3. Advantages and Disadvantages

3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Active Voice

Advantages of Using Active Voice

• Clarity: Active voice makes it clear who is doing what in a sentence, which can help readers understand your message more easily.
• Engagement: Active voice tends to be more engaging and dynamic, making your writing more interesting to read.
• Directness: It allows you to convey your ideas more directly, leading to a stronger impact on your audience.
• Conciseness: Active voice often results in shorter, more concise sentences, which can improve readability.

Disadvantages of Using Active Voice

• Overuse: Using active voice exclusively can make your writing sound monotonous. It's important to vary your sentence structure for better flow.
• Blame Assignment: In some contexts, using active voice might inadvertently assign blame or responsibility, which may not always be desirable.

3.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Passive Voice

Advantages of Using Passive Voice

• Emphasis on the Action: Passive voice can shift the focus onto the action itself rather than the doer, which can be useful in certain contexts.
• Object Emphasis: It allows you to highlight the object of the action, which can be beneficial when the object is more important or interesting than the doer.
• Formality: Passive voice is often used in formal writing, such as scientific papers or official documents.

Disadvantages of Using Passive Voice

• Ambiguity: Passive voice can sometimes lead to ambiguity, as it may not be clear who is performing the action.
• Wordiness: Passive voice often requires more words to convey the same message, which can make your writing less concise.
• Lack of Clarity: It can make your writing sound vague or impersonal, which may not be suitable for all audiences or purposes.

4. When to Use Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

When to Use Active Voice

• Clear Communication: Use active voice when you want to clearly communicate who is doing what in a sentence.
• Engagement: Active voice is great for keeping your readers engaged and interested in your writing.
• Directness: When you want to be direct and straightforward in your communication, active voice is the way to go.

When to Use Passive Voice

• Emphasizing the Action or Object: Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action or the object of the action rather than the doer.
• Formal Writing: Passive voice is often preferred in formal writing contexts, such as academic papers or official reports.
• Shifting Blame or Responsibility: In some situations, passive voice can be used to shift blame or responsibility away from the doer.

5. Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice Effectively

• Know Your Audience: Consider who will be reading your writing and choose the voice that will best resonate with them.
• Vary Your Sentence Structure: Use a mix of active and passive voice to keep your writing interesting and varied.
• Focus on Clarity: Regardless of the voice you choose, prioritize clarity and make sure your message is easy to understand.
• Edit and Revise: Take the time to review your writing and make necessary changes to improve clarity and effectiveness.
• Practice: Like any aspect of writing, mastering active and passive voice takes practice. Keep writing and experimenting with different sentence constructions.

6. Conclusion

Active and passive voice are powerful tools that can significantly impact the clarity and effectiveness of your writing. By understanding when and how to use each voice, you can elevate your writing skills and better connect with your audience. Remember to consider your purpose, audience, and message when choosing between active and passive voice, and don't be afraid to experiment to find the right balance for your writing. Happy learning!

FAQs for Active Voice & Passive Voice

Q1: What is the Active Voice? 

A1: In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. For example: "The cat chased the mouse." Here, "the cat" (subject) is doing the action of chasing.

Q2: What is the Passive Voice? 

A2: In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. For example: "The mouse was chased by the cat." Here, "the mouse" (subject) is receiving the action of being chased.

Q3: How can I identify Active Voice and Passive Voice? 

A3: In active voice, the subject comes before the verb and does the action. Example: "John wrote the letter." In passive voice, the object becomes the focus and the verb is usually followed by “by”. Example: "The letter was written by John."

Q4: When should I use Active Voice? 

A4: Use active voice when you want to be direct, clear, and concise. It makes the sentence more engaging and easy to understand. For example: "She won the award." (Active) sounds clearer than "The award was won by her." (Passive)

Q5: When should I use Passive Voice? 

A5: Use passive voice when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, or when the doer is unknown or unimportant. For example: "The window was broken." (The doer might not be important here.)

Q6: How do you change a sentence from Active to Passive Voice? 

A6: Identify the object in the active sentence. Move the object to the beginning of the sentence. Use the appropriate form of the verb "to be" (is/was/are) and add the past participle of the main verb. If needed, add "by..." to mention who did the action. 

Example:

• Active: "The chef cooked dinner."
• Passive: "Dinner was cooked by the chef."

Q7: Are there tenses for Passive Voice? 

A7: Yes, you can form passive voice sentences in different tenses. Examples include:

• Present Simple: "The book is read by students."
• Past Simple: "The book was read by students."
• Future Simple: "The book will be read by students."

Q8: Does Passive Voice make sentences longer? 

A8: Yes, passive voice often makes sentences longer and more complicated because it uses helping verbs like “is,” “was,” or “has been” and adds “by” to show the doer. Active voice is usually shorter and more straightforward.

Q9: Is it wrong to use Passive Voice? 

A9: Not at all! Both active and passive voices have their purpose. Just be sure to use passive voice when it’s necessary and active voice for clearer, direct sentences.

Q10: Can I use both Active and Passive Voice in one paragraph? 

A10: Yes! Mixing active and passive voice can make your writing more dynamic. Just remember to use active voice for clarity and directness, and passive voice when the action or result is more important than the doer.