Learn Active Voice & Passive Voice

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In English, a sentence can either be said in Active voice or Passive voice. Active and Passive are the two forms of verb that are used in sentences.  The distinction between the two can be rather tricky, but is essentially quiet simple.

active voice and passive voice

Active Voice :

In an Active voice sentence, the subject has the main focus and is actively performing the action, whereas, the object merely receives it.

The normal structure of an Active Voice sentence is: Subject + Verb + Object.

For e.g. :

  • Ram throws a ball.

    Here, the main focus is on Ram, who is the subject and the ball, which is the object is merely receiving the action. Hence, this is an Active Voice sentence.

Passive Voice :

Whereas, in Passive voice sentences, the subject takes a back seat and is acted upon. The main focus is on the object instead.

The normal structure of a Passive Voice sentence is: Object + Verb + Subject.

For e.g. :

  • The ball is thrown by Ram.

    Here, the main focus is on the ball, which is the object and Ram, who is the subject of the sentence, has taken a back seat as opposed to the sentence in the Active Voice.

Both Active and Passive voice sentences, tell us the exact same thing, but in different ways. These are just two ways of putting the same thing across.

Some more examples of Active and Passive Voice sentences are given below for your better understanding:

Active Voice

  • Shyam painted the entire house.

  • The forest fire destroyed the whole suburb

  • The lion caught the mouse

    • Someone has cleaned the window

    • The teacher will give you the instructions

    • Ravi changed the flat tire

      • I will clean the house on Saturday

      Passive Voice

      • The entire house was painted by Shyam.

      • The whole suburb was destroyed by the forest fire

      • The mouse was caught by the Lion

        • The window has been cleaned by someone

        • The instructions will be given to your by the teacher

        • The flat tire was changed by Ravi

          • The house will be cleaned by me on Saturday

          Rules for shifting from Active to Passive Voice sentences:

          active and passive voice rules

          1.

          In case the active voice sentence is in simple present tense, verb in first form is changed to “is + verb in third form”.

          For eg. :

          Active Voice

          • Ram throws the ball

          Passive Voice

          • The ball is thrown by Ram

          2.

          In case the active voice sentence is in present continuous tense, “is + verb in first form + ing” is changed to “is + being + verb in third form”.

          For e.g. :

          Active Voice

          • Ram is throwing a ball

          Passive Voice

          • A ball is being thrown by Ram

          3.

          In case the active voice sentence is in simple past tense, “verb in second form” is changed to “was + verb in third form”.

          For e.g.:

          Active Voice

          • Ram threw the ball

          Passive Voice

          • A ball was thrown by Ram

          4.

          In case the active voice sentence is in past continuous tense, “was + verb in first form + ing” is changed to “was + being + verb in third form”.

          For e.g.:

          Active Voice

          • Ram was throwing a ball

          Passive Voice

          • A ball was being thrown by Ram

          5.

          In case the active voice sentence is in simple future tense, “will + verb in first form + ing” is changed to “will + be + verb in third form”.

          For e.g.:

          Active Voice

          • Ram will throw a ball

          Passive Voice

          • A ball will be thrown by Ram

          6.

          In case the active voice sentence is in future continuous tense, “will +be + verb in first form + ing” is changed to “will + be + being + verb in third form”.

          For e.g.:

          Active Voice

          • Ram will throw a ball

          Passive Voice

          • A ball will be thrown by Ram

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