Active & Passive Voice — Patwari English Grammar
In Active Voice, the subject performs the action, while in Passive Voice, the subject receives/undergoes the action. This page gives the correct passive structure for every tense, with examples, all in one place.
- Class 6-8 grammar level
- 9 min read
The Basic Rule of Active and Passive Voice
In Active Voice, the word order is: Subject + Verb + Object — as in 'He draws a sketch'. In Passive Voice, the object becomes the subject and the original verb changes into 'be + the third form of the verb (V3)': 'A sketch is drawn (by him)'.
The original agent is added with 'by', but if the agent is general/obvious/unnecessary (such as 'by him', 'by people'), it can also be dropped from the sentence.
Active → Passive Structure by Tense
| Tense | Passive structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | is/am/are + V3 | A sketch is drawn (by him). |
| Present Continuous | is/am/are + being + V3 | A sketch is being drawn. |
| Present Perfect | has/have + been + V3 | A good treatment has been given to her. |
| Simple Past | was/were + V3 | A sketch was drawn. |
| Past Continuous | was/were + being + V3 | The wounded man was being helped. |
| Past Perfect | had + been + V3 | The letter had been stamped. |
| Simple Future | will/shall + be + V3 | A sketch will be drawn. |
| Modals (can/must) | modal + be + V3 | The work can be done. |
Identify the original sentence's tense and use exactly that row's passive structure — changing the tense is the most common source of mistakes.
The Passive of Negative and Question Sentences
In a negative sentence, 'not' comes after the same auxiliary verb used in the passive structure — as in 'They haven't stamped the letter' → 'The letter has not been stamped (by them)'.
Verbs that take no object (intransitive verbs, such as 'sleep', 'go', 'arrive') usually have no passive form, because the passive requires an object to become the subject.
The Passive of Imperative Sentences (Commands/Requests)
The passive form of imperative sentences is built with a different structure from ordinary sentences. 'Let + object + be + V3' is used for a command — for example, the passive of 'Close the door' is 'Let the door be closed'.
For request sentences, the structure 'You are requested to + V1' is used — for example, the passive of 'Please help me' is 'You are requested to help me'. It's important to recognise this distinction (command vs. request), because the two have different passive structures.
The Passive of Sentences with Two Objects (Direct/Indirect)
Verbs that take two objects (an indirect object + a direct object, such as 'give', 'teach', 'send') can have two possible passive forms — for example, 'He gave me a book' can become either 'I was given a book (by him)' or 'A book was given to me (by him)'.
It's generally considered more natural to make the person (the indirect object) the subject — so 'I was given a book' is the more common usage, although both sentences are grammatically correct.
The Passive Form of Modal Verbs
| Modal (Active) | Passive structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can | can be + V3 | The work can be done. |
| could | could be + V3 | The letter could be written. |
| may | may be + V3 | The problem may be solved. |
| might | might be + V3 | The mistake might be corrected. |
| must | must be + V3 | The rules must be followed. |
| should | should be + V3 | The homework should be finished. |
| will/would | will/would be + V3 | The task will be completed. |
The original modal word ('can', 'must') always stays the same; only 'be + V3' is attached after it — this rule is the same for every modal.
When and Why Is Passive Voice Used?
Passive voice is used when the agent isn't important, is unknown, or is obvious/self-evident — for example, in 'The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century', it isn't necessary to say who built it; the key information is the building and the time period.
Passive voice is especially common in scientific and formal writing, because the emphasis there is on the process/result (such as 'The mixture was heated for 10 minutes'), not on saying who performed it. Passive is also often used in news headlines when the agent is unknown, as in 'Two arrested in theft case'.
It's important to understand that the passive is not just a grammatical transformation but also a practical choice in language use — understanding it through real examples (news, science textbooks) rather than as a rule alone gives better results.
Memory Trick / Exam Tip
Remember 3 firm steps for forming the passive — (1) Make the Object the Subject, (2) give the verb the 'be + V3' form in the same tense as the original sentence (present perfect becomes 'has/have been + V3', continuous becomes 'is/was being + V3'), (3) add the original Subject at the end with 'by' (or drop it if it's a general agent). This same sequence applies identically to the passive of every tense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can every sentence be changed into the passive?+
No, only sentences with transitive verbs (which have an object) can take a passive form; sentences with intransitive verbs (such as 'He sleeps') usually have no passive form.
When can 'by + agent' be dropped in the passive?+
When the original agent is obvious, general or unnecessary (such as 'by people', 'by someone'), 'by + agent' can be dropped — for example, 'A sketch is drawn' is also correct.
What is the fastest way to recognise Passive Voice?+
Look for a form of 'be' (is/am/are/was/were/been/being) in the sentence together with the main verb's third form (V3, such as drawn, given, helped) — this is exactly what identifies the passive.
How do I form the passive of an Imperative Sentence?+
'Let + object + be + V3' is used for a command (Let the door be closed), and 'You are requested to + V1' is used for a request.
In a sentence with two objects, which object becomes the subject in the passive?+
It's generally considered more natural to make the person (the indirect object) the subject — for example, 'I was given a book' is more common from 'He gave me a book', although both forms are grammatically correct.
Where is Passive Voice used the most?+
Passive voice is used most in scientific/formal writing, where the emphasis is on the process or result, and in news headlines, where the agent is unknown or unnecessary.