i have done my homework passive voice

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Mastering the Passive Voice: Understanding "Have Something Done"

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Introduction:

Welcome to an insightful grammar lesson on the passive voice construction: "Have something done." In this lesson, we'll explore how this structure is used to indicate actions arranged by someone else, as well as its alternative form, "get something done." Additionally, we'll discuss a distinct usage of "have something done" to express events happening to someone or their belongings. Let's dive in!

Understanding "Have Something Done":

In English, "have something done" is a construction used to express actions arranged for someone else to perform. Let's break down its usage with the help of an example:

Example: Lisa had the roof repaired yesterday.

This sentence indicates that Lisa arranged for someone else to repair the roof, rather than doing it herself.

Key Points:

• For example: "Lisa had her car serviced," "We are having a garage built."
• It's important to note the word order: "have + object + past participle."

Alternative Form: "Get Something Done":

An alternative to "have something done" is "get something done," which serves the same purpose. This form is particularly common in conversational English. Let's see an example:

When are you going to get the roof repaired? This sentence has the same meaning as "have the roof repaired."

Distinct Usage:

It's crucial to understand that "have something done" can also express events happening to someone or their belongings rather than actions arranged by them. Let's clarify with an example:

Paul and Karen had their bags stolen while they were travelling.

In this context, "had their bags stolen" simply means that their bags were stolen, not that they arranged for someone to steal them.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You've mastered the passive voice construction "have something done." You now understand how to use it to indicate actions arranged by someone else, as well as its alternative form "get something done." Remember to pay attention to the word order and context to accurately convey your intended meaning. Keep practising, and soon, you'll wield this grammatical tool with confidence.

Happy learning!

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Passive Voice: Important Rules and Useful Examples

Posted on Last updated: December 21, 2023

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Understanding how to construct sentences in the passive voice is an essential skill that can enhance the variety and sophistication of your communication. Throughout this lesson, we will delve into the key rules that govern the formation of passive constructions and explore their appropriate usage in various contexts.

Table of Contents

Understanding Passive Voice

Definition of Passive Voice

Passive voice  occurs when the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. The focus is not on who is performing the action, but rather on the action itself or the recipient of that action. Sentences in passive voice typically follow this structure: the object + be + past participle + by + the subject. For example, “ The cake was eaten by us ,” puts emphasis on the cake and the action of it being eaten.

Active vs. Passive Voice

Active Voice

The active voice illustrates a sentence where the subject performs the action that stated by the verb.

Form: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT.

• I do my home work.
• My mom cooks the dinner.
• Our teacher gives us a lot of homework.
• She receives a letter from her father.

Passive Voice

In contrast, passive voice is describe a sentence in which the subject receives an action.

Form: SUBJECT + VERB + “TO BE” + PAST PARTICIPLE.

• My homework is done (by me).
• The dinner is cooked (by my mom).
• We are given a lot of homework (by our teacher).
• A letter from her father is received (by her).

Note: “By+…” can be taken out in passive voice.

When to Use Passive Voice?

 1. In formal texts

• Active: They invite him to the party.
• Passive: He is invited to the party. (sounds more formal)

2. To show interest in the person or object that receive an action rather than the person or object that performs the action.

• The party was held in a luxury hotel. (we’re interest in the party rather than who held it.)
• All tickets were sold out! (we’re interest in the ticket rather than who sold it.)

3. When we don’t know (or do not want to express) who performed the action.

• My purse was stolen!
• A whole pot of jam was eaten!

Passive Voice For All Tenses

Passive voice for all tenses in English.

• V1 : Base Form of Verb
• V2 : Past Simple
• V3 : Past Participle

Present Simple Tense

Learn passive voice for present simple tense in English.

• Active : S + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + is/am/are +V3.
• Active : He receives a letter.
• Passive : A letter is received by him.

Present Continuous Tense

• Active : S + am/are/is +V-ing + O.
• Passive : S + am/are/is +being + V3.
• Active : She is cooking the dinner.
• Passive : The dinner is being cooked by her.

Past Simple Tense

• Active : S + V2+O.
• Passive : S+was/were+V3.
• Active : I did my homework last night.
• Passive : Homework was done by me last night.

Past Continuous Tense

• Active : S + was/were + V-ing + O.
• Passive : S+was/were + being +V3.
• Active : He was playing the volleyball yesterday afternoon.
• Passive : The volleyball was being played by him yesterday afternoon.

Present Perfect Tense

• Active : S + have/has + V3 + O.
• Passive : S+have/has been +V3.
• Active : I have studied English for 10 years.
• Passive : English has been studied for 10 year.

Past Perfect Tense

• Active : S + had + V3 + O.
• Passive : S + had been +V3.
• Active : I had bought a new car.
• Passive : A new car had been bought by me.

Future Simple Tense

• Active : S + will + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + will be +V3.
• Active : I will make a cake on my Mom’s birthday.
• Passive : A cake will be made on my Mom’s birthday.

Future Tense with Going to

• Active : S + am/are/is going to + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + am/are/is going to be +V3.
• Active : She is going to do housework.
• Passive : Housework is going to be done by her.

Modals Verb

• Active : S + can/could/may/might… + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + can/could/may/might…be +V3.
• Active : She could lift this box.
• Passive : This box could be lifted by her.

Modal Perfect

• Active : S + should/could/may/might…have + V3+ O.
• Passive : S + should/could/may/might…have been + V3.
• Active : You should have finished the task on time.
• Passive : The task should have been finished on time.

Interactive Exercises

Exercise 1: change from active to passive voice.

Rewrite the following active sentences in the passive voice. Be sure to keep the same tense.

• The team is preparing the report.
• The chef cooked a delicious meal.
• The students will present the project next week.
• The company has shipped your order.
• The mechanic fixed the car.
• The teacher is grading the exams.
• The artist painted a beautiful portrait.
• The gardener has planted new flowers.
• The committee will announce the results tomorrow.
• The kids are making a mess in the living room.
• The report is being prepared by the team.
• A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.
• The project will be presented by the students next week.
• Your order has been shipped by the company.
• The car was fixed by the mechanic.
• The exams are being graded by the teacher.
• A beautiful portrait was painted by the artist.
• New flowers have been planted by the gardener.
• The results will be announced by the committee tomorrow.
• A mess is being made in the living room by the kids.

Exercise 2: Identify the Correct Passive Voice Sentence

Choose the correct passive voice sentence from the options provided.

• The novel (was written/was wrote) by the author last year.
• The windows (are cleaned/were cleaned) every Saturday.
• The song (has been sung/was been sung) by the choir beautifully.
• The homework (must be finished/must finished) before the deadline.
• The instructions (will be given/are given) by the instructor shortly.
• The trophy (is being awarded/was being awarded) to the winner as we speak.
• The agreement (has been signed/had been signed) by both parties.
• The message (was being delivered/is being delivered) when the system crashed.
• The new policy (is being implemented/was being implemented) starting next month.
• The cake (was being baked/is being baked) when the power went out.
• was written 
• are cleaned 
• has been sung
• must be finished 
• will be given 
• is being awarded 
• has been signed 
• was being delivered 
• is being implemented 
• was being baked 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I convert a sentence from active to passive voice?

To convert from active to passive, you first identify the object of the active sentence. Make this object the subject of the passive sentence. Then, add the appropriate form of the verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb. If necessary, you may include “by” followed by the original subject to indicate who performed the action.

Can you provide some examples of passive voice in different tenses?

Sure, here are some examples:

• Present simple: “The mail is delivered daily.”
• Past simple: “The window was broken by the storm.”
• Future simple: “The project will be completed by next week.”
• Present perfect: “The agreement has been signed.”

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using passive voice?

Common mistakes include overusing passive voice, which can make writing seem dull or evasive. Make sure the subject of your sentence is clear, as sentences with obscured subjects can be confusing. Also, watch out for the correct form of ‘to be’ to match the tense of your sentence.

In what situations is using passive voice considered inappropriate?

Passive voice is typically avoided in writing that requires action and clarity, such as in most forms of academic writing, journalism, and calls to action. It’s also less appropriate when it’s important to know who performed the action.

How does passive voice affect the clarity of writing?

While passive voice can reduce the clarity of writing by shifting the focus away from the subject performing the action, it can also be used intentionally to emphasize the action itself or when the performer is unknown or irrelevant.

What tools can help me check if I’ve used passive voice correctly?

Grammar checking tools like Grammarly can help identify passive constructions. Additionally, word processing software often has built-in grammar checks that can highlight passive voice, allowing you to reconsider its usage.

Ali md shapon

Thursday 11th of January 2024

I think it’s good memory.

Mustapha mohammed lawan

Tuesday 24th of October 2023

It's educating and so Interesting!

Tuesday 6th of December 2022

i am not going to school is it passive?

Friday 8th of July 2022

So confused with this.. difficult to get!

Friday 16th of July 2021

I AM SOOO CONFUSED

hehheheheeheh

Passive Voice - Exercises on Form

>mixed exercise on passive voice.

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

• John collects money. -
• Anna opened the window. -
• We have done our homework. -
• I will ask a question. -
• He can cut out the picture. -
• The sheep ate a lot. -
• We do not clean our rooms. -
• William will not repair the car. -
• Did Sue draw this circle? -
• Could you feed the dog? -

Passive Voice (with Examples)

What is the difference between the active voice and the passive voice in English?

Compare these two sentences:

Active = “The doctor gave me a prescription” Passive = “I was given a prescription”

The first sentence is in the “active voice”. The subject is the doctor, and the verb is “gave”. In active sentences, the focus of the sentence is on the subject.

The second sentence is in the “passive voice”. The object of the sentence (“I”) becomes the focus of the sentence.

How to form a passive sentence

1. Firstly, you need to make the object (from the active sentence) into the new subject.

For example, in “John helped me”, “me” is the object. The subject form of “me” is “I”.

Here is a list of objects and subjects:

me – I you – You him / her – He / She us – We them – They

2. Then you make the verb passive.

Put the verb “to be” into the same tense as the verb in the active sentence. For example, in the sentence “John helped me”, “helped” is the past tense. Therefore, you need the past simple tense of the verb “to be”, which is “was” or “were”.

“I was…”

Here’s a list of tenses for the verb “to be”:

Present simple – am / are / is Present continuous – is being / are being Present perfect – has been / have been Simple past – was / were Past continuous – was being / were being Modals will, can etc – will be, can be etc.

3. Then add the past participle of the verb. For example “gave” – “given”, “help” – “helped”

“I was helped by John.” “I was given a prescription by the doctor.”

4. If necessary, you can say who did the action. To do this, add “by” at the end of your sentence. “She was awarded a degree by the University of London .”

When to use the passive voice

As a general rule, speak and write in the active voice. But passive forms can be useful in formal writing (such as scientific reports) when the emphasis is on process and results, rather than on who did the action.

1. To change the focus of a sentence. Sometimes, the object of the sentence is more important than the subject. We can change the focus of the sentence by changing an active sentence into a passive sentence. For example, in the following sentence, the focus is on beautiful designs and colours – not on who creates or chooses them.

“Our beautiful designs are created by a team of experts. The colours are carefully chosen to blend in with the surroundings…”

2. If we don’t know who does an action. “My bicycle has been stolen” – I don’t know who has stolen it.

3. If we don’t want to say who did something. “The lights were left on all night.” (I don’t want to say that you left the lights on.)

4. If it is obvious who does something. “I was given a prescription” – I know that only doctors give prescriptions, so I don’t need to add “by the doctor”. “He was arrested” I know that the police arrest people, so I don’t need to add “by the police”.

Passive or Active?

Decide if the sentence is passive or active.

Your answer:

Correct answer:

Your Answers

PASSIVE VOICE [vb]

STEP 1: DEFINITION

English has two voices: active and passive. The active voice is used when the action is done by the subject: The dog ate my homework.

The passive voice (BE + V+-ed/-en/-t) is used when the action of the sentence is not being done by the subject: My homework was eaten by the dog.

The passive is formed with any time frame of the verb TO BE + the PAST PARTICIPLE.

The passive voice is often used:

• to describe artistic, scientific and literary endeavors:
• to explain directions and procedures:
• to describe legal and governmental matters and to avoid placing direct blame:

When active sentences have verbs with direct objects (are transitive), they can become passive:

Active : She is reserving a table. Passive : A Table is being reserved. __________________

Active : A theif stole my stereo. Passive : My stereo has been stolen by a theif.

Errors using the passive voice often occur when students do not edit for subject-verb agreement, omit the verb TO BE, or use the incorrect form of the past participle.

Incorrect : Legends has been passed down.

Correct : Legends have been passed down.

Incorrect : The lecture delivered by a famous professor tomorrow.

Correct : The lecture will be delivered by a famous professor tomorrow.

Incorrect : The missing man was last seeing at a park.

Correct :The lecture will be delivered by a famous professor tomorrow.

STEP 2: PRACTICE EXERCISES

Practice 1 - Recognizing passive voice errors in sentences Practice 2 - Recognizing passive voice errors in paragraphs

STEP 3: LEARNING MORE

For more information on the passive and active voice, follow these links: http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blpassive.htm http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/passive.htm

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General Education

Though fun, writing can also get pretty darn confusing, especially when you’re trying to figure out whether to use the active or passive voice. What is the difference between active and passive voice? When and how should you use them?

In this complete active voice vs passive voice guide, we'll go over how each voice works in English grammar, when to use the two voices, and how to change a sentence from passive to active (and vice versa). We’ll also give you an active vs passive voice quiz to test your skills. Let's get started!

What Is Active Voice?

The active voice is when the subject of a sentence performs an action on an object. In other words, the subject does the action, and the object receives the action .

The active voice is easy to identify in writing because it follows a simple form, which is the basis of English grammar:

Subject ( doer ) → Verb → Object ( recipient )

Here’s an example of a sentence using the active voice:

The dog ate my homework.

In this example, "the dog" is the subject, "ate" is the verb, and "my homework" is the object. Here’s a diagram to better show this connection:

Here, "the dog" is doing (or, in this case, has already done) the action: it is the one that "ate." Meanwhile, "homework" is the object that is receiving this action of eating.

Here’s another example of the active voice at play:

She is writing an essay.

In this example, "she" is the subject, "is writing" is the verb (in the present progressive tense), and "an essay" is the object.

Once again, the subject ("she") is the one performing the action: "she" is "writing." And what is she writing? An "essay," i.e., the noun that’s receiving the action.

Finally, here's an example of the active voice being used without an object:

In this sentence, we have a subject ("he") and a verb ("sings") but no object. Regardless, because the subject is performing the act of singing, we can identify this as the active voice .

What Is Passive Voice?

The passive voice is basically the opposite of the active voice: it’s when the subject is acted upon by the object. In other words, the subject receives the action, and the object does the action .

The passive voice is a little trickier to identify, as it uses more words than the active voice. The basic structure is as follows:

Subject ( recipient ) → Verb ( past participle of "to be" form ) → Object ( doer )

Note that the object here is always preceded by the word "by."

Additionally, the verb takes its "to be" form (meaning it’s preceded by "is/are" for the present tense and "was/were" for the past tense) and is put in the past participle (e.g., "eaten" for the verb "eat" or "given" for the verb "give").

Here’s an example of a sentence using the passive voice:

The ice cream was bought by the little girl.

In this example, "the ice cream" is the subject, "bought" is the verb, and "the little girl" is the object. Here’s a diagram to help you understand this grammar pattern better:

As you can see, "the ice cream" (as the subject) is the one receiving the action, while "the little girl" (as the object) is the one performing the action.

Here's another passive voice example:

Our tests were graded by the teacher.

Here, the subject is "our tests," the verb is "were graded," and the object is "the teacher." Again, the subject ("our tests") is receiving the action from the object ("the teacher") , which is, in turn, performing it (i.e., the one who is grading).

Sometimes you’ll see the passive voice being used without an object (i.e., without identifying the doer of the action—only the recipient). Here’s an example:

The tea was poured.

In this sentence, "the tea" is the subject and "was poured" is the verb; however, there’s no object performing the action of pouring . Simply put, we don’t know who poured the tea! Nevertheless, we can identify this sentence as passive based on its setup: a subject followed by a verb in its past participle "to be" form.

If we wanted to insert an object here, we'd simply add the word "by" followed by a noun:

The tea was poured by my grandmother.

Now, we have an object, or doer, of this act of pouring tea: "my grandmother."

Active vs Passive Voice: When Do You Use Them?

The active and passive voice express the same ideas, just in different ways. In terms of when we actually use them, though, what is the difference between active and passive voice?

In general, you should always aim to use the active voice whenever you write. This is because the active voice is clearer and more direct, while the passive voice is wordier and more confusing.

That being said, this doesn’t mean that the passive voice is inherently wrong. There are many cases in which you might opt for the passive voice over the active voice.

Here are some scenarios in which you might want (or need) to use the passive voice:

• When you want to emphasize the recipient of the action
• When you want to emphasize the action itself
• When you don’t know who or what is performing the action
• When the doer of the action is irrelevant or unimportant

For example, say you’re writing an essay about the Declaration of Independence and you come up with the following sentence:

Most people believe that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, but this is not actually the case.

Let’s parse this out a bit. 

While part of the sentence is clearly in the active voice (the "most people believe" section), the crux of it ("the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4") is in the passive voice. Doing this lets you keep the emphasis on the document, i.e., the topic of your essay .

In addition, there were many people who signed the Declaration of Independence, but listing them all here would only make the sentence longer and more convoluted; this is why the passive voice is a better fit.

Changing From Passive to Active Voice (and Vice Versa)

There are many times you might want to change a sentence from passive to active, or even from active to passive. To do this, you’ll need to understand exactly how the two types of voices work.

First, recall that the primary difference between active and passive voice lies in the roles of the subject and object : whereas in active voice the subject is the doer and the object is the recipient of the action, in passive voice the subject is the recipient of the action and the object is the doer.

Here’s an example of a sentence in the active voice vs passive voice:

Active: She created a travel blog. Passive: A travel blog was created by her.

Below is another way of looking at the difference between active and passive voice:

As you can see here, in the active voice, "she" is the subject and doer, whereas "a travel blog" is the object and recipient of the verb "created."

But in the passive voice, these designations swap : as the original subject, "she" becomes the object (but is still the doer of the action), whereas "a travel blog," which was originally the object, becomes the subject (but is still the recipient of the action).

In addition, the verb, which began in the simple past, has been converted into its past participle "to be" form .

To sum up, to convert from active to passive voice, here’s what you must do:

• Switch the positions of the subject and object so the original object is now the subject and the original subject is now the object
• Add the word "by" before the new object
• Convert the verb into its "to be" past participle form  based on the original tense used
• Switch the positions of the subject and object so the original subject is now the object and the original object is now the subject
• Delete the word "by" used before the original object (now subject)
• Convert the "to be" past participle form of the verb into the appropriate tense as indicated by the verb and overall sentence

The verb is arguably the trickiest part of converting from passive to active. You want to make sure you’re keeping the same tense as indicated by the original verb and sentence.

As an example, here's how you'd change various tenses of the word "do" from passive to active:

• is done → do/does
• is/are being done → is/are doing
• was/were done → did
• was/were being done → was/were doing
• will be done → will do

Finally, know that you cannot convert from active to passive or passive to active if you do not have an object . You can see why this doesn’t work in these active vs passive voice examples:

Active (Without Object): I drank. Passive: ??? was drunk by me.

Without an object, we have no idea what "I" actually "drank."

Passive (Without Object): The project will be completed by tomorrow. Active: ??? will complete the project by tomorrow.

Without an object, we cannot explain who "will complete the project."

Active vs Passive Voice Quiz

It’s time to test out what you learned in an active vs passive voice quiz. 

Before you start, make sure you know what the three types of questions expect you to do:

• Questions 1-3: Identify whether the sentence is active or passive
• Questions 4-5: Fill in the blanks to create a grammatically correct sentence
• Questions 6-8: Convert the sentence from active to passive, or vice versa

Answers and explanations will be provided at the end of the quiz. Good luck!

#1: Active or Passive?

This novel was not written by Charlotte Brontë but rather her sister Emily.

#2: Active or Passive?

The mail arrived on time yesterday.

#3: Active or Passive?

A study on the gender wage gap was conducted in 2018.

#4: Fill in the Blank

This gift was given to me _____ my sister.

#5: Fill in the Blank

The toy will soon be _____ by him. (past participle of "fix")

#6: Convert to Passive

Jessica is teaching me how to speak Italian.

#7: Convert to Active

He was advised by his dentist to floss more.

#8: Convert to Active

The valuable painting is finally going to be sold this year.

Active vs Passive Voice Quiz: Answers + Explanations

In this sample sentence, the subject is "the novel," the action is "was not written," and the object is "Charlotte Brontë" — we can leave out that last part since it’s not really important to understanding the voice here.

Because the object ("Charlotte Brontë") is the doer of the action — that is, she’s the one who did not write "the novel" —you should be able to tell right away that  this sentence is in the passive voice . (You might also be able to tell it’s passive due to the use of the word "by" before the object.)

Here, "the mail" is the subject and "arrived" is the verb — there is no object. Because "the mail" is the one doing the action of "arriving," this sentence uses the active voice .

In this example, "a study" is the subject and "was conducted" is the verb; there’s no object. Since "a study" is receiving the action instead of performing it, this sentence is in the passive voice .

(Just in case you’re wondering, the reason we don’t see "by" is that the object, or doer, of the action is either unknown or irrelevant.)

Right away you should recognize this as the passive voice. "This gift" is the subject, "was given" is the verb, and "my sister" is the object who is performing the action of giving.

As you know, the word "by" must come before the object in a passive sentence , so this is the missing word. The sentence should therefore read, "This gift was given to me by my sister."

Again, you should recognize this example as a passive sentence since it calls for the past participle of the verb and has the word "by" before the object. The past participle of the verb "fix" is the same as its simple past: "fixed" ; t herefore, the sentence should read, "The toy will soon be fixed by him."

To convert this sentence from active to passive, you must switch the positions of the subject and object and then convert the verb (in present progressive) to its past participle "to be" form. Don't forget that "me" must transform into its subject form ("I") when going from an object to a subject. ("Jessica" is a name and proper noun and therefore does not change form.)

Finally, place the word "by" before the new object ("Jessica"). This should give you the following passive sentence: "I am being taught how to speak Italian by Jessica."

To convert this example from passive to active, you’ll need to switch the subject and object, change the verb form from "to be" past participle to simple past, and eliminate the "by." Note that "he" will turn into "him" when converted from a subject into an object.

Doing all this correctly should give you this: "His dentist advised him to floss more."

If you didn’t know it already, this question is actually a trick! But how? Because there is no object in this passive sentence, there’s no way to convert it into the active voice. In other words, we have no idea who is going to sell the painting.

If we tried to convert it, we’d get this nonsensical statement: "??? is finally going to sell the valuable painting this year." As such, we cannot create a sentence in the active voice without a subject .

What’s Next?

Now that you understand active voice vs passive voice examples, want to brush up on your English grammar? Then check out our detailed guides on semicolons , verbs , prepositions , proper nouns , and parts of speech .

To ace the SAT/ACT, you'll need to have an excellent grasp of the English language.  Learn the most important SAT grammar rules and ACT grammar rules so you can earn an amazing score.

Need help with using and identifying literary devices? Our expert guide explains more than 30 key literary devices and how they work to help you become a pro at reading and writing.

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Questions you might have..., most unusual words:, most frequently used words:, listen to the audio lesson now, podcast on passive voice, boost your learning with adept english, explanation of passive voice, passive voice changes the focus of the sentence, uses of the passive voice, present tense, future tense, are you speaking english like yoda, download the podcast audio & transcript, hilary’s passive voice quiz answers, your essential guide to passive voice ep 672.

📝 Author: Hilary

📅 Published: August 31, 2023 08:51am

💬 3737 words ▪️ ⏳ Reading Time 19 min

📥 Download MP3 & PDF 12.3 Mb ▪️ 👓 Read Transcript ▪️ 🎧 Listen to Lesson

English grammar passive voice: The secret weapon you never knew you needed.

Have you ever been puzzled by the passive voice? Do you wonder why native English speakers use it so frequently in everyday conversation? Say hello to the ultimate guide that'll unravel all the intricacies of the #passivevoice in English!

Here's Why This Lesson Is a Game-Changer:

• 💡 Clarity: Breaks down what passive voice is, how to construct it, and why it’s so darn important.
• 🎯 Real-world Examples: Helps you understand when and where passive voice is commonly used—like in news reporting, politics, and scientific studies.
• 🤔 Quiz Time: Provides a thorough quiz at the end of the lesson to help you test your mastery.
• 🎧 Replay Value: Complex topic made simple! Listen a few times, and you'll get the hang of it.
• 👋 Instructor-led: Led by Hilary, a seasoned expert from Adept English, guiding you every step of the way.
• 📚 Multi-Tense Coverage: Tackles passive voice across all tenses, so you get a complete understanding.

The passive voice is safe. ⭐ William Zinsser, from: On Writing Well

✔Lesson transcript: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/grammar-english-understanding-passive-voice/

In today's lesson, we'll dig deep into the passive voice-a trick of the trade that even 82% of our listeners wanted to know more about! This isn't just some grammar rule that collects dust in academic textbooks; people use it in everyday conversations, news reports, and even in science journals. We'll not only show you what it is, but how to construct it, flip it, and master it across all tenses.

Oh, and for those who think they're already experts? Buckle up! We've got a 'Passive Voice Quiz' that might just humble you a bit. It's practice made perfect! Don't let your #englishlearning hit a snag. Discover how to confidently use passive voice and sound more like a native speaker. This lesson is not just a one-time listen; it's your long-term English companion!

Your grammar is a reflection of your image. Good or bad, you have made an impression. And like all impressions, you are in total control. ⭐ Jeffrey Gitomer

So, are you in or are you out? Dive into this lesson, and elevate your English skills like never before! 📌 Visit adeptenglish.com for this lesson and hundreds more! 👇 Don't Forget to Share & Review! 🌟

More About This Lesson

Unlock the mysteries of the passive voice with Adept English! Our latest podcast dives deep into learning this crucial aspect of English. Perfect for learners interested in British English, the lesson offers a hands-on quiz and uses real-world examples to make your learning stick.

Don’t let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. ⭐ Steve Jobs

Things you will learn listening to this English grammar lesson:, you will discover:

• Introduction of Passive Voice Topic: Sets clear expectations for what the lesson will cover.
• Real-World Usage of Passive Voice: Highlights that native speakers use it in daily conversations.
• Explanation of Passive Voice: Clearly defines what it is and how to construct it.
• Quiz Mention: Adds an interactive element for self-assessment.
• Active vs Passive Voice: Demonstrates the difference with simple, relatable sentences.
• Use Cases in Different Fields: Shares how scientists, teachers, and reporters use passive voice.
• Detailed Examples: Walks through sentence structure in both active and passive forms.
• Tense Coverage: Comprehensive review of passive voice in various tenses.
• Quiz: Opportunity for practical application and reinforcement.
• Answers to Quiz: Instant feedback to help learners gauge their understanding.
• Encouragement for Repetition: Stresses the importance of repeat listening for mastery.
• Sign-off & Additional Resources: Directs listeners to where they can find more lessons.
• Deep Understanding : Don't just learn the basics. We dissect passive voice across all tenses.
• Active Engagement : Our Passive Voice Quiz lets you test your knowledge on the spot.
• Real-world Use : See how the passive voice works in daily life, from conversations to scientific papers.

Become Fluent Faster: Sharpen your English skills effortlessly by tuning into easy-to-follow explanations and real-world examples.

• Why Master Passive Voice : Many learners struggle with it, but native speakers use it often.
• Quiz for Hands-On Learning : Test what you've learned with our interactive quiz.
• From Basic to Expert : We take you step-by-step, making the complex simple.
• Solve Your Fears : We tackle common worries about using the passive voice, offering solutions for each.

Grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason. ⭐ Richard C. Trench

Repeat and Retain : Listen multiple times for deep learning that sticks.

• Don't Get Lost in Conversation : Master passive voice to understand native speakers with ease.
• Be Test-Ready : Our quiz prepares you for any language test that covers the passive voice.
• Speak with Confidence : Know when and how to use each voice when you speak.

Ready to turn your English up a notch? Don't miss out on this game-changing lesson. Plug in your earphones and let's crack the code of passive voice together! Unlock the keys to fluent conversation. Learn the ins and outs of passive voice today! #FluentInEnglish

Imagine you're a musician, fine-tuning your instrument. The passive voice in English is like that elusive note—hard to pin down but essential for the full symphony of language. This English lesson is your musical score, guiding you through the composition of sentences. It equips you with the tools to create a compelling linguistic masterpiece, toggling between the active and passive voice like a maestro wielding his baton. This isn't just English; it's your orchestrated English life! Dive deep, practice with the interactive quiz, and master this crucial note in your language repertoire.

• What is the main goal of the lesson on passive voice? The main goal of the lesson is to enhance your English fluency by diving deep into the construction and usage of the passive voice. It breaks down its different tenses and offers a quiz for hands-on practice.
• Why is it important to understand passive voice when learning British English? Understanding passive voice matters because native speakers use it frequently, even in casual conversations. Mastering this concept enriches your comprehension of British English, allowing you to engage more naturally in various settings.
• How does the podcast quiz contribute to my understanding of passive voice? The quiz serves as a practical exercise to test your grasp of the passive voice across different tenses. It reinforces your learning, making it easier for you to use the passive voice accurately.
• Does the passive voice hold any real-world applications? Absolutely. Passive voice is commonly used in science, news reporting, and politics to shift focus from the "doer" to the action or outcome. For example, instead of saying "Scientists fed rats Omega-3 supplements," you'd hear "Rats were fed Omega-3 supplements."
• What tenses are covered when discussing the passive voice? The lesson provides comprehensive coverage of all major English tenses in passive voice, from simple present to future perfect. The goal here is to familiarize you with how the passive voice works across different tenses.
• Podcast : An online audio show you can listen to.
• Construct : To build or make something.
• Norm : A rule or standard that most people follow.
• Adjective : A word that describes a noun (like "big" or "happy").
• Tenses : Different forms of verbs that show when an action happens.
• Quiz : A short test to check what you know.
• Evasive : Not clear or direct, often on purpose.
• Mechanics : How something works or the rules of how something is done.
• Diplomatic : Skilled in dealing with people and not causing offence.
• Recap : A quick review or summary of what has been said or done.

Transcript: Your Essential Guide to Passive Voice

Hi there. Remember the podcast I did on sentence structure recently - and word order? It was podcast 669 - very recent. Well, we did a Spotify poll and 82% of you said you’d like a whole podcast on the passive voice. So ‘no time like the present’ as we say in English - here it is! Did you know that native English speakers use the passive voice a lot, even in casual conversations? Surprised? Well, it’s not just used in formal speech or written English. Stick around, because today we're going to cover passive voice thoroughly and practise using it, in all of its tenses!

One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way. ⭐ Frank Smith

I’ll explain what the passive voice is - and how to construct it. I’ll talk about why and where it’s used. And for everyone, but especially the 6% of you, who said they knew the passive voice well enough - listen to the end of this podcast and use my ‘Passive Voice Quiz’ to test how well you know it. The quiz will test that you know the different tenses in the passive voice. It’s good to practise!

Hello, I’m Hilary, and you’re listening to Adept English. We will help you to speak English fluently . All you have to do is listen . So start listening now and find out how it works.

Don’t forget what else Adept English offers!

Don’t forget - if you like our podcasts, there are hundreds more on our website at adeptenglish.com, including many more grammar podcasts. And of course you can always buy our podcast downloads too. Just go to the Courses page to see what we offer. And if you’re on Spotify, don’t forget that you can help Adept English by sharing this podcast. I’m sure you know someone else who’d like to learn the passive voice.

So, most sentences in English are in the ‘active voice’ - that’s the norm. The word ‘active’, ACTIVE as an adjective means you’re ‘busy, full of action, always doing things’. And by contrast, the word ‘passive’, PASSIVE as an adjective means ‘you sit back, allow things to be done to you, wait and see what happens’. That’s ‘passive’. So if you’re the subject of the sentence and the verb is in active voice - you’re the one doing the action - ‘I hugged my daughter’. But if you’re the subject of the sentence in passive voice, you’re being acted upon - ‘I was hugged by my daughter’. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

So passive voice came up when I was talking in podcast 669 about word order and how in statements, it’s usually Subject-Verb-Object. ‘The dog chased the cat’. ‘I ate the apple’. ‘Millions of people watched the film’. So in those active voice sentences, the subject, the one doing the action comes first, then the verb, then the object - the thing that the action is being done to. But how do they sound in passive voice? Active voice first….

The dog chased the cat - becomes in passive voice - the cat was chased by the dog. I ate the apple - becomes in passive voice - the apple was eaten by me. Millions of people watched the film - becomes in passive voice - the film was watched by millions of people.

Your Essential Guide To Passive Voice Ep 672 Article Image

A photograph of a scientist. Grammar Mastery: Learn to build passive voice sentences like a pro, and know when to use them

Notice how the focus shifts from the doer of the action to the receiver of the action?

Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going. ⭐ Rita Mae Brown

We’ve swapped around the subject and the object of the sentence - so what was the object in the active voice has jumped to become first in word order in the passive voice and it’s become the subject of the verb, so the verb must agree with it. So ‘the cat’, ‘the apple’ and ‘the film’ are now each the subject in the new passive voice sentences. And the person or thing that was the subject in the active voice sentence - well, it’s like they’ve been ‘demoted’. They may be mentioned after the verb, but it makes the person or thing doing the action less important, an afterthought even. And you can even leave them out altogether. Sometimes that makes a less meaningful sentence - ‘the cat was chased’ or ‘the film was watched’. Both of those may have you thinking ‘Who by?’ or ‘By whom?’. But sometimes, passive voice allows us flexibility and choice. We can name who ate the apple - or we can simply leave that information out - and say ‘The apple was eaten’. We may not know who ate it - or we may not want to ‘point the finger of blame’! We’re being diplomatic in other words and not ‘naming names’.

There are many other reasons why you may want to leave out who did the action. Sometimes we don’t know. Imagine being in school again and someone has done something naughty and the teacher’s telling off the class of children. She might say ‘The window has been broken’ or ‘The bin has been tipped over and rubbish has been left on the floor’. Or ‘The classroom scissors have been lost’. The teacher may have her suspicions, but she doesn’t know for sure who’s done it. So she’s using passive voice because she doesn’t know who did it!

Let's say you're reading a scientific paper. You might find sentences like "Rats were fed Omega-3 supplements." Who fed them? It doesn’t really matter. The focus is on the experiment and the results. That's why scientists use the passive voice all the time, to write up their studies - it highlights the important information.

Passive voice is also used in news reporting and politics. Sometimes things are done by governments - and again, it’s not important which person, which civil servant or government employee actually collected the data or put together the report. The focus is on the content of the report or the data itself. So the passive voice has its uses. Sometimes, the passive voice can seem a little ‘evasive’ - we’re not saying ‘who did it’, we’re not naming names - even if it might be more honest. But there’s nothing wrong grammatically with using the passive voice - there are very good reasons for using it.

The grammar of the Passive Voice

So grammar. How do you make an ‘active voice’ sentence into a ‘passive voice ‘sentence’?

As I’ve said - what was the object of the verb in the active voice, swaps to become the subject and first in the word order in the passive voice. But the verb also changes. For passive voice, we use the verb ‘to be’, which must agree with the subject and have the correct tense. Finally we add the past participle. Yes, the past participle - despite its name, it isn’t just used for the past tense! So examples of past participles are ‘chased’, ‘cleaned’, ‘done’, ‘found’ and we use it for passive voice. ‘The windows were cleaned’, ‘The homework will be done’, ‘The lost puppies have been found’. Let’s cover all the tenses in English - so this will be a quick recap for many of you on tenses. I’ll give you the form for the passive voice for each one.

Simple present ‘I do the cooking’ in the passive voice becomes - ‘The cooking is done by me’.

Present Continuous tense - ‘I am doing the cooking’ in the passive voice becomes ‘The cooking is being done by me’. If you know it, try and say it ahead of me.

Simple past - ‘I did the cooking’ becomes in passive voice ‘The cooking was done by me’. Past Continuous tense ‘I was doing the cooking’ becomes ‘The cooking was being done by me’. Present Perfect tense - ‘I have done the cooking’ becomes in passive voice ‘The cooking has been done by me’. Past Perfect Tense - ‘I had done the cooking’ becomes ‘The cooking had been done by me’.

Simple Future - ‘I will do the cooking’ becomes ‘The cooking will be done by me’. Future Perfect - ‘I will have done the cooking’ becomes ‘the cooking will have been done by me’.

OK. You might want to listen to that a few times, so that the mechanics of the passive voice become clearer and easier to remember.

Hilary’s Passive Voice Quiz

Let’s do a quiz? Chance for you to practise your tenses and changing sentences between active and passive voice. So I’ll say whether it’s active or passive - and I’ll say the sentence. Then you need to change it to the other one. And remember - you need the verb agreeing with the new subject and use the same tense as I use. Quite a lot to do then! Here goes.

Active voice ‘The dogs were chasing the rabbit’. You do passive voice?

Passive voice ‘The biscuits had been baked by the neighbour’s children’. You do active voice.

Active voice ‘They have seen the boy who smashed the window.’ Can you put that into the passive voice?

In the passive voice ‘The dinner will have been eaten by them, by the time you arrive’. Can you put that into the active voice?

Active voice ‘He is using up the leftover chicken.’ What does the passive voice sound like?

Passive Voice ‘The doors and windows are checked each evening by my father’. What does the active voice sound like?

Last one...

• Active Voice ‘I will pick the apples on the tree’. You do passive voice.

OK. You can pause there after the quiz and listen again.

Solve The Maths Problem To Download Podcast & Transcript

Or you can continue straight to the answers. I’ll say the original sentence and then I’ll say whether active or passive and the tense. See if you can say the tense too and then I’ll give you the answer.

‘The dogs were chasing the rabbit’ - that’s active and past continuous tense. So in the passive voice - ‘The rabbit was being chased by the dogs’.

‘The biscuits had been baked by the neighbour’s children’. That’s passive voice and past perfect tense. In the active voice - ‘The neighbour’s children had baked the biscuits’.

‘They have seen the boy who smashed the window’ - active voice and present perfect tense. In the passive voice - ‘The boy who smashed the window has been seen by them’.

The dinner will have been eaten by them, by the time you arrive’. So that’s passive voice and future perfect tense. In the active voice - ‘They will have eaten the dinner by the time you arrive’.

‘He is using up the leftover chicken.’ So active voice, present continuous tense. Same sentence in the passive voice? ‘The leftover chicken is being used up by him’.

‘The doors and windows are checked each evening by my father’ - that’s passive voice and simple present tense. In the active voice? ‘My father checks the doors and windows each evening’.

‘I will pick the apples on the tree’. So that’s active voice and future tense - simple future. In the passive voice - ‘The apples on the tree will be picked by me’.

OK. How did you find that? Listen to this podcast a few times until you get the hang of it. Passive voice is not easy, but it’s repeat listening, hearing it over and over that will help you automatically know how to do it.

Enough for now. Have a lovely day. Speak to you again soon. Goodbye.

Thank you so much for listening. Please help me tell others about this podcast by reviewing or rating it . And, please share it on social media. You can find more listening lessons and a free English course at adeptenglish.com

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Active and Passive Voice Examples for all Tenses

Explore the Active and Passive Voice Examples for all Tenses with this helpful guide in this article. This will enhance your language skills and confidently use active and passive constructions in various contexts.

Discover the Active and Passive Voice Examples for all Tenses in English. Learn how to construct sentences in active and passive forms for various tenses, with practical illustrations for better understanding.

The Active and Passive Voice Examples for all Tenses are essential components of English grammar that allow us to express actions and events in different ways.

Understanding how to use both the Active and Passive Voice Examples for all Tenses is crucial for effective communication and clear expression.

In this article, we will explore Active and Passive Voice Examples for all Tenses, providing valuable insights and practical applications to enhance your language proficiency.

Present Tense has four forms of Active Voice. Passive Voice Present Tense can be of four types in terms of structures in sentences.

Simple Present Tense

Active voice :.

• Active voice object becomes passive voice subject.
• Active voice subject becomes passive voice object.

Passive Voice:

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the simple present tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I eat rice. Passive: Rice is eaten by me.

Active: He beats you. Passive: You are beaten by him.

Active: We make noise. Passive: Noise is made by us.

Active: You do the homework. Passive: Homework is done by You

Active: She drives a car. Passive: A car is driven by her.

Active: They play chess. Passive: Chess is played by them.

Active: Ravi recites a poem. Passive: A poem is recited by Ravi.

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Present Continuous Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the present continuous present tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I am eating rice. Passive: Rice is being eaten by me.

Active: He is writing a letter. Passive: A letter is written by him.

Active: We are making noise. Passive: Noise is being made by us.

Active: You are doing the homework. Passive: Homework is being done by You

Active: She is driving a car. Passive: A car is being driven by her.

Active: They are watching a cricket match. Passive: A cricket match is being watched by them.

Active: Ravi is reciting a poem. Passive: A poem is being recited by Ravi.

Present Perfect Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the present perfect tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I have eaten rice. Passive: Rice has been eaten by me.

Active: He has written a letter. Passive: A letter has been written by him.

Active: We have made mistakes. Passive: Mistakes have been made by us.

Active: You have done your homework. Passive: your homework has been done by you.

Active: She has read a novel. Passive: A novel has been read by her.

Active: They have finished the work. Passive: The work has been finished by them.

Active: Ravi has completed the task. Passive: The task has been completed by Ravi.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the present perfect continuous tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I have been eating rice. Passive: Rice has been being eaten by me.

Active: He has been writing a letter. Passive: A letter has been being written by him.

Active: We have been making mistakes. Passive: Mistakes have been being made by us.

Active: You have been doing your homework. Passive: your homework has been being done by you.

Active: They have been finishing the work. Passive: The work has been being finished by them.

Active: Ravi has been completing the task. Passive: The task has been being completed by Ravi.

Past Tense Structure and Examples

Past Tense has four forms of Active Voice. Passive Voice Past Tense can be of four types in terms of structures in sentences.

Active and Passive Voice in Simple Past Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the simple past tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I ate rice. Passive: Rice was eaten by me.

Active: He rebuked you. Passive: You were rebuked by him.

Active: We made noise. Passive: Noise was made by us.

Active: You did the homework. Passive: Homework was done by You

Active: She drove a car. Passive: A car was driven by her.

Active: They played chess. Passive: Chess was played by them.

Active: Ravi recited a poem. Passive: A poem was recited by Ravi.

Past Continuous Tense

Active voice structure:.

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the past continuous tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I was eating rice. Passive: Rice was being eaten by me.

Active: We were making noise. Passive: Noise was being made by us.

Active: You were doing the homework. Passive: Homework was being done by You

Active: She was driving a car. Passive: A car was being driven by her.

Active: They were watching a cricket match. Passive: A cricket match was being watched by them.

Active: Ravi was reciting a poem. Passive: A poem was being recited by Ravi.

Past Perfect Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the past perfect tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I had eaten rice. Passive: Rice had been eaten by me.

Active: We had made mistakes. Passive: Mistakes had been made by us.

Active: You had done your homework. Passive: your homework had been done by you.

Active: She had read a novel. Passive: A novel had been read by her.

Active: They had finished the work. Passive: The work had been finished by them.

Active: Ravi had completed the task. Passive: The task had been completed by Ravi.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the past perfect continuous tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I had been eating rice. Passive: Rice had been being eaten by me.

Active: He had been writing a letter. Passive: A letter had been being written by him.

Active: We had been making mistakes. Passive: Mistakes had been being made by us.

Active: You had been doing your homework. Passive: your homework had been being done by you.

Active: They had been finishing the work. Passive: The work had been being finished by them.

Active: Ravi had been completing the task. Passive: The task had been being completed by Ravi.

Future Tense Structure and Examples

Future Tense has four forms of Active Voice. Passive Voice Future Tense can be of four types in terms of structures in sentences.

Simple Future Tense

Passive voice structure:.

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the simple future tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I shall eat rice. Passive: Rice will be eaten by me.

Active: He will rebuke you. Passive: You will be rebuked by him.

Active: We shall make noise. Passive: Noise will be made by us.

Active: You will do the homework. Passive: Homework will be done by You

Active: She will drive a car. Passive: A car will be driven by her.

Active: They will play chess. Passive: Chess will be played by them.

Active: Ravi will recite a poem. Passive: A poem will be recited by Ravi.

Future Continuous Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the future continuous tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I shall be eating rice. Passive: Rice will be being eaten by me.

Active: He will be writing a letter. Passive: A letter will be written by him.

Active: We shall be making noise. Passive: Noise will be being made by us.

Active: You will be doing the homework. Passive: Homework will be being done by You

Active: She will be driving a car. Passive: A car will be being driven by her.

Active: They will be watching a cricket match. Passive: A cricket match will be being watched by them.

Active: Ravi will be reciting a poem. Passive: A poem will be being recited by Ravi.

Voice in Future Perfect Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the future perfect tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I shall have eaten rice. Passive: Rice will have been eaten by me.

Active: He will have written a letter. Passive: A letter will have been written by him.

Active: We shall have made mistakes. Passive: Mistakes will have been made by us.

Active: You will have done your homework. Passive: Your homework will have been done by you.

Active: She will have read a novel. Passive: A novel will have been read by her.

Active: They will have finished the work. Passive: The work will have been finished by them.

Active: Ravi will have completed the task. Passive: The task will have been completed by Ravi.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Study the examples of active and passive voice in the future perfect continuous tense. This will help you to learn the process of conversion from active voice to passive voice.

Active: I shall have been eating rice. Passive: Rice will have been being eaten by me.

Active: He will have been writing a letter. Passive: A letter will have been being written by him.

Active: We shall have been making mistakes. Passive: Mistakes will have been being made by us.

Active: You will have been doing your homework. Passive: Your homework will have been being done by you.

Active: They will have been finishing the work. Passive: The work will have been being finished by them.

Active: Ravi will have been completing the task. Passive: The task will have been being completed by Ravi.

Mastering the art of Active and Passive Voice Examples for all Tenses can significantly enhance your writing skills. By seamlessly switching between these modes, you can craft sentences that suit different contexts and emphasize different aspects of your message. Practice and experimentation are key to finding the right balance between the two voices and using them to your advantage.

FAQs: Active and Passive Voice Examples for All Tenses

Q: What is the active voice?

A: In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action described by the verb. It is more direct and engaging.

Q: What is the passive voice?

A: In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action described by the verb, and the doer of the action may be unknown or less important.

Q: Why should I use active voice?

A: Active voice is preferred for its clarity, engagement, and emphasis on the subject as the doer of the action.

Q: When is passive voice useful?

A: Passive voice is useful when the emphasis is on the action itself, the object, or when the doer is less relevant or unknown.

Q: How do I convert present simple tense from active to passive?

A: To convert present simple tense, use the structure: Object + Am/Is/Are (conjugated) + Past Participle of the Main Verb + By + Subject (optional). Example: “The chef cooks a delicious meal.” (Active) -> “A delicious meal is cooked by the chef.” (Passive)

Q: Can you provide an example of past continuous tense in passive voice?

A: Sure! “They were building a new house.” (Active) -> “A new house was being built by them.” (Passive)

Q: What’s the passive form of the future perfect tense?

A: To form the passive future perfect tense, use the structure: Object + Will have + Been + Past Participle of the Main Verb + By + Subject (optional). Example: “He will have completed the project by next week.” (Active) -> “The project will have been completed by him by next week.” (Passive)

Q: When should I use passive voice in my writing?

A: Passive voice is suitable when you want to shift the focus to the object or the action itself rather than the doer. It can create a more formal tone or be used tactfully in certain situations.

Q: Is it okay to mix active and passive voice in the same paragraph?

A: Yes, using a mix of active and passive voice can add variety to your writing and make it more engaging. However, ensure it aligns with the tone and context of your content.

Q: How can I improve my active and passive voice usage?

A: Regular practice, reading extensively, and studying grammar rules will enhance your understanding and proficiency in using active and passive voice effectively.

Q: What is the present simple tense in active and passive voice?

A (Active): The chef cooks a delicious meal.

A (Passive): A delicious meal is cooked by the chef.

Q: How do you convert sentences from the past simple tense to passive voice?

A (Active): The team won the championship.

A (Passive): The championship was won by the team.

Q: Can you provide an example of the future simple tense in both active and passive voice?

A (Active): They will finish the project tomorrow.

A (Passive): The project will be finished by them tomorrow.

Q: In the present continuous tense, how do you convert active voice to passive voice?

A (Active): She is painting a beautiful landscape.

A (Passive): A beautiful landscape is being painted by her.

Q: How is the past continuous tense formed in passive voice?

A (Active): They were building a new house.

A (Passive): A new house was being built by them.

Q: Can you give an example of the future continuous tense in both active and passive voice?

A (Active): He will be watching a movie tonight.

A (Passive): A movie will be being watched by him tonight.

Q: Provide an example of the present perfect tense in both active and passive voice.

A (Active): She has written a letter.

A (Passive): A letter has been written by her.

Q: How do you convert sentences from the past perfect tense to passive voice?

A (Active): They had finished the work before the deadline.

A (Passive): The work had been finished by them before the deadline.

Q: Show an example of the future perfect tense in both active and passive voice.

A (Active): He will have completed the project by next week.

A (Passive): The project will have been completed by him by next week.

Q: When should I use active voice over passive voice in my writing?

A: Use active voice when you want to emphasize the subject and make the sentence more direct and engaging. Use passive voice when the emphasis is on the action or when the doer of the action is less important or unknown.

Q: Is one voice better than the other for all tenses?

A: Both active and passive voice have their uses depending on the context and emphasis you want to convey. Choose the voice that best suits the tone and clarity of your message.

Q: How can I practice using active and passive voice in all tenses?

A: Practice by converting sentences from active to passive voice and vice versa in various tenses. Use writing exercises and read extensively to identify different voice constructions in published works.

Q: Are there instances where passive voice is preferred over active voice?

A: Yes, in scientific, technical, or legal writing, passive voice is commonly used to maintain objectivity and focus on the action itself rather than the doer.

Q: Can I switch between active and passive voice within the same paragraph or text?

A: Yes, mixing active and passive voice can add variety and engagement to your writing. However, ensure that the switches are smooth and do not cause confusion for the reader.

1. I see pictures. 2. The boy is catching a bird. 3. He has been doing the job. 4. We fed them. 5. He was requesting Bimal. 6. I had called him before he awoke. 7. The boy will kick the ball. 8. He will be doing the work. 9. Children like fruits. 10. Lionel Messi scored the goal.

Related Posts:

Active-Passive Voice Converter

Boost your SEO and communicate more clearly by switching between active and passive voices seamlessly. Enhances readability and improve quality in a matter of seconds.

Instructions

1. Enter the existing text in the designated area.

2. Choose the desired output: active or passive voice.

3. [Optional] Select output length from the drop-down menu.

4. Click "Change Voice"

5. Paste the generated copy into a document or rewrite your copy using our paraphrasing tool.

💡Pro Tip: Break down complex sentences into simpler ones before converting voice.

What is Active and Passive Voice?

Active and passive voice are two different ways of constructing a sentence. The active voice focuses on the subject of the sentence, who is taking direct action. It provides clear, straightforward sentences where the agent of action is easily identifiable, making it a favored choice in most writing styles.

The passive voice shifts the focal point to the recipient of the action. The subject becomes secondary to the action itself, thus presenting a more impartial narrative. It is extensively used in scientific and formal writing where the primary focus is the action, not the doer.

How to Identify Active and Passive Voice?

Active Voice: In active voice, the subject performs the action. It's direct and concise.

Example: "The chef (subject) prepared (action) a delicious meal."

Passive Voice: In passive voice, the subject receives the action. It's indirect and often used when the doer of the action is less important.

Example: "A delicious meal (subject) was prepared (action) by the chef."

Advanced Tip: To identify passive voice, look for forms of "to be" (e.g., was, were) followed by the past participle (e.g., prepared). In active voice, the subject acts on the object, making it easier to spot.

How to Convert Sentences From Active Voice to Passive Voice

Step 1: Identification of Subject, Object, and Verb

A sentence usually comprises the doer (subject), the action (verb), and the receiver (object). In "John reads a book," 'John' is the subject, 'reads' is the verb, and 'a book' is the object. Recognizing these essential components of a sentence is the first step to getting your transformations right.

Step 2: Reposition the Subject-Object Placement

You need to reverse the subject's and object's roles to convert an active voice sentence to passive voice. That means the object becomes the sentence's new subject, and the subject becomes a part of the sentence after the verb.

Taking the same example, the sentence changes to "The book is read by John."

Step 3: Alter Verb Form

The verb in a passive voice sentence typically involves a form of 'be' (is, am, are, was, were) followed by a past participle. So, 'reads' in active voice changes to 'is read' in passive voice.

Step 4: Include Preposition

When the original subject is included in the passive sentence, it is usually introduced by a preposition like 'by'. For example, 'by John' in our previous illustration. However, if the focus of your sentence is the action rather than the doer, you can omit this prepositional phrase.

To recap, the original sentence "John reads a book." is coverted to "The book is read by John" in passive voice.

When to Use A Sentence Voice Changer?

Use passive to active voice sentence converter when:.

1. You want to emphasize the action itself rather than the doer.

2. The doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.

3. Keeping the focus consistent throughout a series of sentences.

4. Avoid putting responsibility on a specific person or group.

5. To sound objective, scientific, technical, or logical.

Passive to Active Voice Example

Passive Voice: "The cake was baked by John."

Active Voice: "John baked the cake."

In the passive voice sentence, the subject (the cake) is acted upon by the verb. The primary attention is on the action done to the subject. In the active voice sentence, the subject (John) is performing the action of the verb. The primary attention shifts to who is doing the action.

Use Active to Passive Voice Sentence Converter When:

1. You want to emphasize the doer of the action.

2. Writing clear and concise instructions.

3. Avoiding ambiguity.

4. Writing non-scientific content.

Active to Passive Voice Example

Active Voice: "John ate the apple."

Passive Voice: "The apple was eaten by John."

In the active voice sentence, the subject (John) is the one doing the action (eating). In the passive voice sentence, the subject (The apple) is the one being acted upon, and the actor (John) is mentioned at the end of the sentence.

Who Benefits From Converting Sentence Voice?

Converting sentences between active and passive voice benefits a wide array of individuals.

1. Writers, editors, linguists, and students studying language or literature can enhance their craft and comprehension.

2. Professionals in marketing or PR sectors can critically analyze text, heightening their ability to produce persuasive content.

3. SEO specialists can optimize content, making it more engaging and search-engine friendly.

How to Make the Most of Active Passive Sentence Voice Changer?

Start by understanding the power of structure in your sentence. Don't merely convert your text; use this tool as an opportunity to refine your content, enriching your writing with diversity in sentence formation.

Apply variety by alternating between active and passive voices, enhancing your writing style and engaging your readers more effectively. Modify the sentence length according to your document needs, whether brief sentences for a swift read or lengthy, descriptive ones for detailed insights.

Convert Sentence Voice & More With Content AI!

You already know how to use our free sentence voice converter tool. But with Content AI, you can do so much more.

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Sentence Voice Changer FAQs

Is an ai sentence voice converter reliable.

Our AI sentence voice converter is highly reliable, guaranteeing consistent and accurate results for your writing needs. The tool is trained on massive datasets of text and code, which allows them to accurately identify and convert sentences between active and passive voice.

Is the copy generated plagiarism-free?

The content produced by our sentence voice converter tool is entirely plagiarism-free, ensuring your originality and peace of mind. It uses a variety of techniques to ensure that the output is unique.

Should you use active voice or passive voice in SEO & content marketing?

You should predominantly use active voice in SEO and content marketing as it makes your writing clearer, more direct, and easier to understand. However, passive voice can be used sparingly for variation or when the focus is on the action rather than the actor.

Learn more about SEO & Content Marketing

Content optimization guide.

Learn how to optimize content like landing pages, B2B blogs, buying guides, and e-commerce websites.

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Passive Voice – Free Exercise

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the passive.

• I don’t have to buy the paper because it (deliver)     to our house every day. simple present (signal: every day )|3 rd person singular: is + past participle
• When Kylie went to school, she (pick up)     by her parents every day. simple past (signal: went )|3 rd person singular: was + past participle
• You don’t have to clean the bathroom. It (clean/already)     by someone else. present perfect (signal: already, first clause in simple present)|3 rd person singular: has + adverb + been + past participle
• Relax! From now on, I promise that everything (do)     for you. will future (signal: from now on, I promise )| will be + past participle|irregular verb: do-did-done
• When I came home, dinner (cook/not)     yet. past perfect (signal: yet, first clause in simple past)| had been + past participle

Rewrite the sentences in the passive voice. Use the same tense as in the active sentence. Only use by if necessary.

• They offer free trials twice a year. simple present|3 rd person plural: are + past participle|Do not include the agent when it is unknown/unimportant/obvious.   twice a year.
• Someone is cutting the grass next door. present progressive|3 rd person singular: is being + past participle|irregular verb: cut-cut-cut |Do not include the agent when it is unknown/unimportant/obvious.   next door.
• All parties have signed the contract. present perfect|3 rd person singular: has been + past participle|Use by to introduce the agent.   .
• A car hit the traffic light. simple past|3 rd person singular: was + past participle|irregular verb: hit-hit-hit |Use by to introduce the agent.   .

Rewrite the sentences in two ways: once in the impersonal passive and once in the personal passive.

• Visitors say that these museums have wonderful exhibits. It   these museums have wonderful exhibits. it is + participle of reporting verb + that |irregular verb: say-said-said These museums   wonderful exhibits. reporting verb: say (simple present) →|subject (3 rd person plural) + are + participle of reporting verb + main verb infinitive: to have |irregular verb: say-said-said
• Everybody agrees that this sculpture is the artist’s greatest work. It   this sculpture is the artist’s greatest work. it is + participle of reporting verb + that This sculpture   the artist’s greatest work. reporting verb: agrees (simple present)|subject (3 rd person singular) + is + participle of reporting verb + main verb infinitive: to be
• Experts assume that the diamond is priceless. It   the diamond is priceless. it is + participle of reporting verb + that The diamond   priceless. reporting verb: assume →|subject (3 rd person singular) + is + participle of reporting verb + main verb infinitive: to be
• Experts believe that this jewellery belonged to Cleopatra. It   this jewellery belonged to Cleopatra. it is + participle of reporting verb + that This jewellery   to Cleopatra. reporting verb: believe (simple present) →|subject (3 rd person singular) + is + participle of reporting verb + main verb perfect infinitive: to have belonged |Use the perfect infinitive when the active main verb is in the past.

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Maybe later

• have something done — Rewrite to Passive — Exercise 2
• 1. They were making a new gazebo in our garden. We were having a new gazebo made in our garden.
• 2. We will park John’s car outside the house. John will have his car parked outside the house.
• 3. The porter will bring your luggage. We will have our luggage brought.
• 4. My sister has solved all my maths exercises already. I have had all my maths exercises solved already.
• 5. Someone has fixed Liam’s phone. Liam has had his phone fixed.
• 6. The plumber will repair your drains immediately. You will have your drains repaired immediately.
• 7. Your neighbor has fed your dog already. You have had your dog fed already.
• 8. Your friend collected your books. You had your books collected.
• 9. Andy’s roommate is explaining the problem to him. Andy is having the problem explained.
• 10. The technician will complete all the repairs in my basement in time. I will have all the repairs in my basement completed in time.
• 11. The translator has edited the text of the contract for Ron. Ron had had the text of the contract edited.
• 12. My friend found my bag and brought it to me yesterday. I had my bag found and brought to me yesterday.
• 13. The porter carries heavy suitcases for the passengers of trains. The passengers of trains have their heavy suitcases carried.
• 14. The gardener takes care of my flower beds every day. I have my flower beds taken care of every day.
• 15. They were showing a new film for us at that time. We were having a new film shown at that time.
• have something done — Present Simple
• have something done — Past Simple
• have something done — Future Simple
• have something done — Present Continuous
• have something done — Present Perfect

Is done or Has been done Grammar Lesson( Was done or Have/Has Done)

“Is Done” and “Has been done” are both passive voice verb forms. We use “is done” to show something is finished in the present simple and “has been done” for the present perfect simple tense.

We use “Is done” to show that something is completed. It is common to use this when talking about a project, task, or cooking a dish.

The shepherd’s pie is done. Take it out of the oven.

We have finished that side of the wall. It is done.

“Is done” is an example of the passive voice in English . We use the passive voice in this context because it is not important who did the task, but rather the result is more important. 

“Was done” is also a passive voice example to show that something “was completed” in the past.

We often use “was done” when a task was completed but now something needs to be done again.

The shopping was done on Tuesday but with 5 children we need to do it again. 

Have/Has Done

“Have/Has Done” is the present perfect form of the verb “to do”.

I have done my homework.

We often use the present perfect to make a connection between something in the past and present. You can read more about the present perfect here.

Has been done

“Has been done” is the present perfect form in the passive voice.

We use “ has been done” when something was completed in the past but there is some connection to the present. (often that it doesn’t need to be done again)

That song has been done a thousand times. We don’t need to do it again. 

“Had done” is the past perfect of the verb “to do”. We use “had done” before another past action.

I had done the washing before you came in and added more!

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English Notes

English notes latest questions, have you done your homework “change into passive voice”.

Passive   Voice: Has  your homework been done by you?

Explanation:

ACTIVE VOICE: Subject + have/has + Verb[past participle/ v3] + object

PASSIVE VOICE: Object + Have/Has + been + verb[past participle/ v3] + By/to/with + Subject

Now, invert the word order to make it a question again.

Am I helping him

I am helping him.

He is being helped by me.

Invert the word order to make it a question again

Is he being helped by me?

Course on Active-Passive Voice

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