Section outline

  • Rules to convert active to passive voice:

    1. Sentences with transitive verbs can only be changed into passive voice.
    2. The object of the verb in active voice becomes the subject in passive voice.
    3. The subject in active voice = by + agent (doer) in passive voice.
    4. The form of verb changes as per the tenses.

    Examples: 

    Active Voice Passive Voice
    Sam sung a song. A song was sung by Sam.
    Jane read a book. A book was read by Jane.

     Here,

    1. 'Sung, read' are transitive verbs.
    2. The objects 'song, book' in active voice changed to subjects in passive voice.
    3. 'Sam, Jane' are agents in passive voice.
    5. Personal pronouns change in passive voice.

    Examples: 

    Active Voice Passive Voice
    I ate an apple. An apple was eaten by me.
    She bought a book. A book was bought by her.

    List of change of personal pronouns is given below:

    Active voice Passive voice
    I me
    we us
    he him
    she her
    they them

    Exception:

    You & it remain same in passive voice.

    6. Retain the interrogative form in passive voice.

    Examples: 

    Active Voice Passive Voice
    Is she baking a cake?  Is the cake being baked by her?

    Let's see the rules for changes in tenses in detail.